Shepherds Down Special School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Since the headteacher took up post in September 2016, the pace of improvement has increased. Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school and are driving necessary improvements with enthusiasm and rigour. The school is a safe place in which to learn.

Parents appreciate how attentive staff are to pupils' needs, which enables pupils to maximise their learning. Pupils' personal development and well-being are outstanding. Staff find innovative ways to meet pupils' physical and emotional needs.

Pupils grow in confidence and self-awareness as they progress through the school. Pupils make strong academic progress from their starting poin...ts as a result of teaching that is skilfully tailored to meet their needs. A range of carefully matched therapies contribute positively to pupils' emotional development, enabling them to grow in confidence and self-awareness.

Parents support the school's drive to ensure that pupils attend school as often as they can. Consequently, pupils' attendance is better than in similar schools nationally. Governors have supported the school effectively during a period of significant change.

They are ambitious to raise the quality of teaching and pupils' achievement. Pupils get off to a good start in Reception. Strong partnerships with parents support the development of pupils' communication and learning well.

Teachers' adept use of symbols, signing and picture exchange, for example, strongly supports pupils to learn and to work with increasing independence. Pupils enjoy school and behave well. They develop mutually trusting relationships with staff.

Governors recognise the need to know more about pupils' progress, in order to hold leaders more effectively to account for pupils' achievement. Teachers do not consistently select teaching strategies that reliably meet the needs of pupils. As a result, on occasions a few pupils lose concentration and their behaviour does not enable them to learn effectively.

A small minority of staff are not helpfully supportive of leaders' current improvement priorities.

Information about this school

Since it was last inspected, the school has a new headteacher who has been in post for seven months. The chair of the governing body is also new to the role.

The school caters for pupils with complex learning difficulties, pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties, and for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder. A small number of pupils have degenerative or life-limiting medical conditions, or are terminally ill. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.

Boys outnumber girls by 3:1. The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is in line with the national average. The large majority of pupils are of White British heritage.

The school works collaboratively with a range of partners including social care, occupational therapists, local authority services, multi-sensory team, physiotherapists, and speech and language therapists. Some of the school's staff are also commissioned by the local authority to provide an outreach service to local primary schools. The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.