Hinderton School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. From their very low starting points, pupils and children in the Early Years Foundation Stage make rapid gains in their literacy, numeracy, and communication skills, and in their personal and social development. Teachers have a deep understanding of the needs of pupils with autism and are highly skilled in helping pupils to overcome their anxieties and remain calm.

As a result, pupils can concentrate for longer periods of time, work in groups with others, and become increasingly independent in the classroom and around school. Meticulous attention to detail in teachers' planning and assessment ensures that each pupil's needs are taken into ...account in each lesson and that targets are challenging and realistic. Excellent team work in classrooms is also a key factor in the outstanding quality of teaching taking place each day.

The strong emphasis on developing each pupil's ability to communicate in a positive and purposeful way is exceptionally effective in enabling pupils to feel confident to try new activities and take a full part in school life. This also helps them feel safe and secure. Excellent work with other professionals ensures that a broad range of advice is used in drawing up individual plans to meet pupils' needs.

Some of these plans overlap and the school recognises the value in reviewing their purpose and format to avoid possible duplication and to keep the process workable. Arrangements for checking the school's performance, such as tracking pupils' progress, and observing the quality of teaching are robust. Senior leaders and governors maintain an accurate view of strengths and areas for further development.

Senior leaders have maintained the very high standards found at the last inspection and in their drive for continual improvement have made further changes, such as to the curriculum. Significant consistency has been achieved across the school in all aspects of teaching and management of behaviour. This has made a big difference and helped pupils make the excellent progress seen.

The school is recognised in the authority for its specialist expertise and the excellent outreach it provides to families and other schools. Parents hold the school in high regard.

Information about this school

Hinderton School is a primary special school located in the Cheshire West local authority area.

It provides education for pupils with autism. All have a statement of special educational needs. All pupils have speech, language and communication difficulties and the majority also have severe or moderate learning difficulties.

About a quarter of pupils are eligible for the pupil premium, which is additional government funding provided for pupils who are known to be entitled to free school meals or who are looked after by the local authority. This proportion is in line with the national average. The majority of pupils are of White British heritage and the proportion from minority ethnic groups is below average.

The proportion who speak English as an additional language is also below average. The school does not use other external education providers. The school works in partnership with other special and mainstream schools in the area and is recognised as the lead school for autism in the local authority.

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