Ivy House School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The inspirational leadership of the headteacher, together with her senior team, have led to sustained improvements in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment. Leaders and governors have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. Teaching is of high quality.

Adults regularly check how well pupils are doing during every part of the day, which enables them to build successfully on small steps in progress. Pupils' specific needs and difficulties are carefully addressed through personalised plans. As a result, their outcomes are outstanding.

The curriculum is exciting and skilfully designed to focus on... pupils' needs and stages of development. It is further enhanced through the excellent range of sensory activities and regular swimming in the school hydrotherapy pool. Pupils' personal development and welfare are outstanding and at the heart of the school's beliefs and values.

All staff ensure these are given high priority. Provision in the early years foundation stage is outstanding. Children are prepared very well for Year 1 because leadership and teaching are outstanding.

Behaviour is excellent, and when pupils present with challenging behaviour due to their learning needs, staff are highly skilled in their support so that no interruptions to lessons occur and no learning time is lost. Attitudes to learning are very positive. Adults have very high expectations for each pupil.

They work with passion and great attention to detail to enable pupils to develop their skills. Parents really value the strong daily communication that the school provides and the thorough transition arrangements which allow pupils to settle in quickly. Provision for learners in the sixth form is outstanding.

Individual programmes are matched to learners' needs and most go on to attend college when they leave Ivy House. Governors provide strong support. They bring a good mix of experience and expertise, have high expectations for the school and want the very best for each pupil.

Safeguarding arrangements are very thorough and effective. Pupils feel safe and secure and hence enjoy school.

Information about this school

Ivy House provides for pupils aged 2–19 years with severe, profound, multiple and complex learning difficulties.

At the time of the inspection, the youngest child was three years old. Many pupils have complex medical needs which include chronic and degenerative conditions, and approximately one quarter are unable to take food by mouth. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan.

A high proportion of pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds, including Asian and Eastern European backgrounds. A well-above-average number of pupils speak English as an additional language. Just over a quarter of pupils are eligible for the pupil premium, which is additional funding given to schools for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority.

The school works with a cluster of mainstream and special schools within Derby city to share skills and knowledge and to carry out moderation. There are strong links with neighbouring Derby Moor Community Sports College and opportunities are taken for pupils to work together within the two schools. The school does not make use of alternative provision for any of its pupils.

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