Lancasterian School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Lancasterian School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

What is it like to attend this school?

Lancasterian School provides a nurturing and stimulating environment, where pupils are happy. The school has high expectations of what pupils can achieve.

Pupils achieve well from their individual starting points.

Staff know pupils well and build positive, trusting relationships with them. Pupils feel valued and cared for.

They learn useful skills to manage their own feelings and emotions. They are kind and respectful towards each other and staff. They show a genuine interest in their learning.

Pupils have ...many opportunities to develop socially, emotionally and physically. They regularly take part in trips, including to adventure farms, zoos and museums. These help them to develop their mental health and cultural understanding.

Some pupils are members of the eco-council and rights respecting group. These opportunities enable them to voice their opinions and see these acted upon. Pupils also enjoy a variety of activities, such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme and sports.

Pupils are well prepared for their future lives. All pupils in key stage 4 undertake work experience placements, such as in local supermarkets, cycle workshops and care homes. Pupils in Year 11 enjoy taking on responsibilities, such as preparing and serving food to staff and pupils in the 'Café'.

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

The school is ambitious for its pupils, all of whom have complex special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school has made improvements to the quality of education for pupils, including for children in the early years. The school provides three flexible curriculum pathways for pupils to follow depending on their needs.

The school is quick to identify pupils' additional needs. Information in pupils' education, health and care (EHC) plans is used to ensure the curriculum meets pupils' needs. Staff provide lots of sensory stimulation.

This enables pupils to engage with the world around them and to develop their own identity. A team of health and therapy professionals, including music therapists, works effectively together to help pupils develop their physical skills and regulate their behaviour.

In most subjects, the school has identified the knowledge that pupils, including children in the Reception Year, need to learn.

Pupils have opportunities to build on their prior knowledge and make positive progress through a range of subjects. However, a few subjects which have been recently refined are still being embedded. This means that pupils' knowledge of some topics is not as secure.

In the main, staff deliver the curriculum well. Teachers explain new concepts clearly and adapt the delivery of the curriculum to meet pupils' needs. Teachers typically use assessment strategies to check pupils' understanding and address any misconceptions.

However, in a few subjects, the school is still developing its checks on what pupils know and remember. This affects how well they learn new content, as it is unclear whether pupils are building on what they already know.

Communication and language development are at the core of what the school does.

Staff skilfully use a variety of resources, including props, signs and technology. This supports pupils to express their feelings and wishes. Pupils enjoy singing songs and rhymes.

This enables them to enhance their communication skills. They receive effective support from trained staff to develop their pre-reading and phonics skills. This is helping pupils with their reading development.

Pupils have many opportunities to read as they move through the school.

Pupils follow clear and consistent routines. The school has a calm atmosphere during lessons and breaktimes.

Pupils socialise well in the dining hall and in their classrooms during lunchtimes. The school employs a variety of strategies to promote regular attendance. It works closely with families and provides effective support for pupils who face challenges in attending school regularly, including for those with medical needs.

Pupils' rates of attendance have improved over time.

The school's work to promote pupils' personal development is a key strength. A range of people visit the school to inspire and motivate pupils, for example in football and rugby.

Pupils learn about their rights and democracy. They find out about different religions and beliefs. This helps to foster respect for differences between people.

The school encourages pupils to make healthy lifestyle choices. Pupils benefit from high-quality careers education and guidance. This enables them to make informed choices about their futures.

The school has established close links with other educational settings to ensure that pupils have smooth transitions to the next stages of their education, employment or training.

Staff enjoy working at the school. They value opportunities to share good practice and to access training.

Most staff feel that the school considers their workload, for example, by providing time to develop the curriculum. Governors bring a broad range of experience to their roles, which enables them to provide strong support and challenge to the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, the new curriculum and strategies for checking pupils' learning are not fully embedded. In these subjects, pupils have some gaps in their prior learning and this affects how well they learn new content. The school should ensure that, in these subjects, the revised curriculums and assessment strategies are fully embedded so that pupils' knowledge is secure and they achieve well.

Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted's website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade.

This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school's work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in July 2019.