Springfield House Community Special School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy learning at Springfield House. Staff make sure that new subject content is interesting, engaging and relevant.

At the same time, they are clear about what they want pupils to learn and remember. Staff have increasingly high expectations of what pupils should achieve. Pupils respond well and make good progress.

Staff provide excellent care for pupils. They understand pupils' needs and know how best to support them. Pupils know where to go for help when they need it, trusting staff to deal with problems when they arise.

The school deals appropriately with bullying and other inappropriate behaviours. Pupils are safe in school.

The school pl...aces a strong emphasis on helping pupils to talk about their feelings.

This helps pupils to better understand their emotions and manage their own behaviour. The school is usually a calm place where pupils can learn. Incidents of challenging behaviour do occur, but staff manage these well.

The staff form a dedicated and hard-working team. They appreciate the headteacher and senior leaders, and the many improvements they have brought about in recent times. Parents are increasingly positive in their views of the school, especially about the care and education it is now providing for their children.

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

The headteacher and senior leaders have transformed this school over the last two years. They have tackled weaknesses in measured way, making sure that changes are implemented carefully. As a result, the school has improved considerably in all respects.

The interim executive board (IEB) has played a full part in this transformation, supporting and challenging leaders well.

One of the first changes put in place was to address weaknesses in pupils' reading. This has proved highly successful.

Phonics is taught well throughout the school. Most pupils have become proficient readers. Those who find reading more difficult are supported well and are making good progress.

The mathematics curriculum is now also well planned and taught.

The school's personal, social and health education (PSHE) programme is highly effective. Pupils are introduced to the week's theme during an assembly.

Sam, a character played by a member of staff, role plays the topic to be looked at. Pupils are enthralled. Staff follow up the theme in PSHE lessons.

For example, pupils learn about how to maintain healthy relationships and how to keep themselves safe online.

Leaders and staff have worked hard this year to revise the curriculum in subjects beyond English, mathematics and PSHE. Curriculum content has been chosen carefully and planned well.

However, because it is relatively new, leaders have not yet had the chance to adapt some topics as they would like, to meet the needs of pupils. Although teachers skilfully deliver the curriculum, they are still finding out which elements of the revised curriculum are working well and which elements need adaptation. Leaders have clear plans in place to carry out this work over the coming months.

The school uses assessment well. Staff carry out baseline assessments of pupils' needs and abilities. These provide detailed information that leaders pass on to staff in the form of a learning support plan (LSP) and a behaviour support plan (BSP) for each pupil.

LSPs help staff to adapt learning. BSPs support staff in managing behaviour. They provide helpful strategies to avoid incidents and to deal with any that do occur.

The school is providing a growing enrichment programme for pupils. Gym club and chess club are popular. Some pupils learn a musical instrument.

Pupils in Year 6 recently attended a residential visit when they took part in team-building activities such as raft building. However, pupils told inspectors they would like more opportunities to develop their interests beyond the classroom.

The school is engaging well with families.

Staff help parents and carers to access extra help when they need it. They provide good support for parents and carers of pupils who struggle to attend regularly. The school recently held a Jubilee garden party.

Family members of almost all pupils attended.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The school has a strong culture of keeping pupils safe.

Pre-employment checks on staff are carried out thoroughly. All staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Because they have been trained well, they know the signs that pupils might need extra help.

Staff pass on concerns to leaders, who deal with these appropriately.

Leaders have developed good relationships with external agencies. They are tenacious in trying to get the right help for pupils and their families.

Leaders challenge agencies if they believe that pupils or families are not getting the help they need.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The curriculum in some subjects is not yet as well adapted to meet pupils' needs as it could be. Consequently, pupils could be learning more effectively in these subjects.

However, it is clear from leaders' actions that they are in the process of bringing this about. Leaders should complete the process of adapting the curriculum in all subjects within their identified timescale. For this reason, the transitional arrangements have been applied.

• The school's curriculum does not extend beyond the classroom as well as it could. Consequently, pupils have limited opportunities to develop their talents and interests. Leaders should provide a wider range of opportunities for pupils to pursue their talents and interests.