Yewstock School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The staff carefully plan all lessons and learning is individually tailored for each pupil.

As a result, teaching is outstanding and all pupils make rapid progress, often from very low starting points. The headteacher and senior staff set high expectations for pupils' development and have monitored the quality of teaching effectively to ensure these are achieved. Children make an excellent start in the outstanding Early Years class.

Lessons are carefully planned and include a wide range of activities which engage the children so that they relax and become keen to learn. The sixth form is outstanding and has become very well establ...ished since the last inspection. Older pupils make excellent progress and are given increasingly good opportunites to prepare for life after school.

All staff work very effectively together throughout the school, and support staff make a very strong contribution to lessons. Pupils are extremely well cared for. They are made to feel secure, appreciated as individuals and very safe.

The school has introduced rigorous checks on learning that provide a clear picture of all pupils' progress. The outstanding curriculum ensures that pupils have an extensive range of relevant activities. These help pupils to enjoy learning and make excellent progress.

Leadership and management are outstanding. The headteacher is extremely effective in developing the skills of the staff and making them all a part of the school improvement planning. Middle leaders are beginning to take the opportunity to monitor the quality of teaching in all subjects and to share the different, but highly effective, skills of their colleagues to the best possible effect.

Members of the governing body know the school very well and provide consistent support and challenge to drive improvement. The school has received very effective support from the local authority. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly supportive of the school and appreciate the excellent progress their children make.

Information about this school

Yewstock is an average-sized school for pupils with learning difficulties. There are more boys on roll than girls. All pupils enter school with a statement of special educational needs and many have associated disabilities, including autism, epilepsy and challenging behaviour.

There is Early Years Foundation Stage provision for children from the age of three. There is a sixth form for pupils aged 16 to 19. Pupils come from a wide area of Dorset.

Most pupils are from White British backgrounds and almost all speak English as their first language. Around a third of the pupils are supported by the pupil premium (additional government funding for pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals, who are looked after by the local authority or who have a parent or carer in the armed forces). This is above the national average.