Cuckmere House School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school.

Cuckmere House provides an exceptionally safe place for pupils to learn. Constructive relationships with adults help pupils to behave and achieve exceptionally well. Pupils make rapid progress in reading, writing and mathematics from low starting points.

As a result they are well prepared for the next stage of their education, training or employment. Pupils who have not coped well with school in the past do particularly well as soon as they have settled in. Teaching is outstanding because teachers know their pupils very well and ensure that activities inspire and motivate them.

Teachers are passionate about their work an...d all adults provide excellent role models for pupils. Pupils behave really well in lessons in view of their difficulties. After each lesson they assess their behaviour accurately with their teacher and they are very keen to improve.

They feel very safe in school. Leaders and governors are very ambitious to maintain the excellent standard of education provided. Since the previous inspection they have made sure that pupils continue to achieve exceptionally well and that teaching is of high quality.

Parents and carers highly value the support that is provided for them and their children, saying that their children are 'much happier and different people' after coming to this school.

Information about this school

This is special school for boys with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. All the pupils have a statement of special educational needs It is similar in size to other schools of this type.

The school is part of a federation with two other special schools providing education for pupils with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties and has a shared governing body and executive headteacher. A much higher than average proportion of pupils is known to be eligible for free school meals and is looked after by the local authority. Both of these groups are entitled to additional funding through the pupil premium, so the proportion in receipt of this funding is much higher than normal.

There is a much higher than average proportion of pupils who arrive and leave at times other than would normally be expected throughout the academic year. There are up to 16 part-time places for boys and girls in the 'Flexible Learning Provision' for pupils in Key Stages 1 and 2. A number of these pupils may have a statement of special educational needs for emotional, social and behavioural difficulties and may be at further risk of permanent exclusion from their mainstream primary school.

They remain registered at their mainstream schools. There are six places in the Special Activities Unit for pupils in Years 10 and 11 who require highly specialised support. The school has residential places for 12 pupils which are subject to a separate inspection.