Aspire Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy coming to Aspire Academy.

They feel safe and they enjoy their lessons. Leaders expect all pupils to behave well and to do their best. Leaders organise enrichment activities and therapies that supplement the curriculum so that pupils gain the social and emotional skills that they will need for their future lives.

Relationships between pupils and the adults that work with them are strong. Adults understand pupils' different needs and adapt lessons and other activities so that these needs are met. Staff are expert at spotting if a pupil needs extra help managing their behaviour or emotions.

They step in quickly to support, for example by suggesting ...going outside to jump on the trampoline or moving to a relaxing space for a short while. Pupils say that bullying is not a problem, but if it did happen that it would be sorted out quickly.

Leaders have put in place lots of different clubs and activities for pupils to get involved in.

These extra activities are carefully chosen to match the pupils' particular interests. Football and other physical activities are a popular choice and pupils often experience success and enjoyment in sports for the first time at the school.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders have ensured that an ambitious curriculum is in place which is tailored to the needs of pupils who attend the school.

It is broad and has interesting topics that pupils enjoy, like Vikings and Anglo Saxons. Teachers choose interesting activities to teach knowledge and skills in a creative way that captures pupils' interests.

Leaders have high expectations for all pupils to achieve well and to prepare for moving on to secondary school.

Leaders have designed a creative programme that helps pupils to work on the areas identified in their education, health and care plans. For example, activities to help pupils become emotionally resilient, more able to work alongside others and to develop the skills they need to manage their behaviour independently. Leaders have also ensured that there is a wide range of specialist therapies available at the school to support the pupils' mental health and well-being.

Teachers' subject knowledge is sound. In some subjects, leaders have clearly identified the component bits of knowledge that they want pupils to acquire. In other subjects this is still being implemented.

Leaders have provided a wide range of further training and support to develop teachers' skills even more. Adults understand the pupils' additional needs very well and they use this knowledge to make sure that support is carefully designed for each pupil. For example, some pupils improve their fine motor skills by strengthening their hands with flexible putty.

Other pupils develop their active listening skills in fun group activities.

Teachers use assessment well. Leaders make sure that all pupils are assessed as soon as they start at the school.

This identifies any gaps that they may have in their education. Teachers then check regularly that pupils are moving through the curriculum successfully. Leaders have ensured that there is a well-organised system in place for teaching pupils to read.

Pupils have regular times in the day dedicated to building their phonic knowledge and they read frequently. If pupils can read more fluently, they move on to more complex books and tasks.

Leaders have ensured that the approach to improving pupils' behaviour is effective.

Pupils at the school need extra help and support to manage their feelings and emotions and this is done in a respectful and consistent way. Leaders have high expectations that pupils will gain the skills needed to regulate their own behaviour. Pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Leaders have designed a well-thought-out programme to support the personal development of pupils. For example, pupils have been to see the Lion King, visited Colchester Zoo and have been on residential trips. The activities are carefully chosen to build self-esteem, develop confidence and to give pupils the skills that they will need for the future.

Leaders are committed to the well-being of the staff who work at the school. Staff say that leaders consider their workload and that they listen to them if they have any concerns.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders have ensured that the curriculum teaches pupils how to keep themselves safe, online and in the community. They learn what to do if they are worried about anything and how to ask for help.

Staff are vigilant in looking out for any signs that a pupil may need help.

All concerns are recorded, and leaders are rigorous in the way they follow up these concerns. Leaders work closely with external partners and make sure pupils and their families get the support they need if necessary.

Leaders have made sure that all statutory checks on staff employed at the school are in place.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, it is not clear what the key bits of knowledge that pupils should learn and remember are. This means that in these subjects, pupils find complex tasks difficult because they do not have a secure understanding of the underlying knowledge they need in order to succeed. Leaders should ensure that in all subjects, including those aimed at supporting pupils' social and emotional development, the key skills and knowledge are clearly identified so that teachers know what to teach and in which order.

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