Castlebar School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This exceptional school is highly valued by pupils and their parents and carers. Staff and leaders ensure consistently high-quality provision for pupils. They are deeply proud of their school and pupils' achievements.

All staff work together to make sure that pupils are safe and that they feel safe at school. Relationships between staff and pupils, and staff communication with pupils, are excellent. At rare moments when pupils become upset or angry, skilled support to help pupils feel calm is provided.

For instance, therapeutic strategies are used effectively.

Through the curriculum and staff interactions across the school day, pupils develop their communicat...ion and independence. Pupils learn to do daily tasks like putting on and removing their coats themselves.

They also learn to communicate politely and show regard for others.

Ambitious and determined school leaders and governors have driven continuous improvement. As a result, pupils gain secure knowledge across a well-designed curriculum.

Pupils receive the right support, at the right time, to learn to read. Pupils' enjoyment of their learning is clear to see.

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

The curriculum is very well designed and delivered.

The school has identified the most important knowledge that pupils need to learn, and how this builds over time. This means that pupils develop strong knowledge and achieve well. Teachers make careful checks of what pupils have understood.

They use this information well to inform the next stages of learning. For example, the school uses precise strategies to help pupils learn to count by specifically practising assigning each number to an object. This helps pupils count correctly and not to skip an item.

Pupils build well on what they already know and can do. The school uses pupils' personalised targets to effectively inform teaching.

Staff have the knowledge they need to teach phonics extremely well.

They gather and use precise information about how well individual pupils are learning to read. This means that pupils receive the right help to improve their reading. For instance, staff may model a mouth shape to help a pupil form the right letter sound.

Pupils practise reading through books matched to their level of knowledge. Staff are quick to identify pupils that need additional help with reading, or those that require different help to meet their learning needs. As a result, these pupils' reading improves.

Due to the school's superb support, pupils find joy in reading and achieve well.

Staff are expert in developing pupils' communication. For instance, staff use photographs, symbols, gestures, sign, and/or language to support their communication with pupils.

Pupils are skilfully supported by staff to use similar aids to express themselves. This range of communication support is well matched to individual pupils' needs. Communication support, strong staff-pupil relationships and clear routines help pupils to be consistently calm and happy.

Well-implemented guidance from specialists, such as speech and language and occupational therapists, also helps create readiness to learn. Staff and leaders work closely with parents to improve attendance, for instance helping pupils overcome anxiety about attending school.

The school's work to promote pupils' personal development is exceptional.

Pupils learn how to interact politely and respectfully with others. They learn cooperative play. Pupils gain appropriate knowledge of diversity through accessing stories from a range of cultures.

The curriculum is enriched by theatrical and musical performances and activities, including dry slope skiing and horse riding. For older pupils, a range of overnight stays are offered. Pupils are well prepared for their next steps in education.

Leaders ensure the voice of pupils, staff and parents are considered when implementing change. Governors make effective checks to ensure that the actions of leaders are having the impact they intend. Teachers are positive about the support that leaders provide with workload.

The school's work is deeply valued by families. One parent commented, 'Castlebar School has taught me not to underestimate my son.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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