Springwell Alternative Academy Spalding

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Staff at Springwell Alternative Academy make a difference to pupils' lives. Pupils receive care, guidance and support in a warm and nurturing environment.

Pupils who attend this school often have difficult previous school experiences, or have significant challenges in their lives. Staff understand this and have created a positive, supportive environment where pupils do well. There are kind, professional relationships between staff and pupils.

Staff know pupils exceptionally well. They carefully guide pupils to understand their behaviours and give them the strategies to learn how to self-regulate well. Pupils feel safe and understood.

The school's 'golden thre...ads' shine through all they do, particularly unconditional positive regard for all. As a result, staff get the best from pupils and pupils want to do well.

Pupils get along well with each other, and they are respectful and tolerant of each other.

They receive strong pastoral support from staff.

Pupils enjoy attending this school. They value the opportunity to gain an education and benefit from the rich experiences offered to them, for example visiting authors, cooking meals to enjoy together and taking part in adventurous outdoor activities.

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

Many of the pupils on roll have been permanently excluded or have missed significant time in formal education. Dependent on need, pupils can attend the school for weeks, months or years. The curriculum is carefully considered so that all pupils can maximise their learning whether they are at the school for a short period of time or longer.

Staff assess pupils as soon as they join the school. Teachers then plan individually for each pupil. Pupils rapidly broaden their knowledge during their time here.

The vast majority of pupils successfully reintegrate into a mainstream school or move on to suitable specialist provision. Year 11 pupils follow a highly personalised curriculum, which is broad and ambitious.

Staff make precise checks on what pupils know and need to learn next.

Where needed, staff ensure that they teach pupils any knowledge needed to backfill gaps. This includes offering pre-teaching material and providing one-to-one support. This helps to prepare pupils to return back to their mainstream settings where appropriate.

All pupils in this school have identified special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Many pupils also have an education, health and care plan (EHC). Staff prioritise getting to know pupils' needs quickly and catering for them.

Pupils receive specialist targeted support for their social, emotional and mental health needs, for example play therapy. Pupils can also benefit from a personalised virtual reality sensory regulation space.

Reading is prioritised.

When pupils join the school, staff accurately assess pupils' reading knowledge. Pupils who are in the early stages of reading receive lessons in phonics. All pupils receive regular timetabled reading lessons where they explore a wide range of articles and texts.

Pupils learn to enjoy texts through the topic-based curriculum.

Strategies designed to help pupils improve and manage their behaviour are highly effective and behaviour improves significantly over time. Many pupils have struggled to attend school previously.

For the majority of pupils, attendance also improves. Pupils know they can achieve at this school and respond well to the high expectations set for all.

Staff are aware that they need to teach pupils about personal and social issues explicitly, as these are areas where many pupils experience difficulties.

The highly effective personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum ensures that pupils know how to keep safe online and in the wider community. Pupils learn to take care of their mental and physical health, including cooking nutritious meals. They enjoy eating these with staff.

Pupils actively support each other's well-being. At the end of each day, pupils celebrate their own and each other's achievements. There is an effective careers programme.

Pupils have ambitious plans for their futures.

Governors and trustees know the school exceptionally well. The professional development provided to staff is exceptional.

Leaders engage well with staff, parents and carers. Staff said that leaders are mindful of their workload and well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.