St Nicholas’ School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leadership and management are good.

Through robust monitoring, the headteacher and senior team have improved the quality of teaching and learning. Pupils make good progress over time, particularly in English and mathematics. They make significant gains in their personal and social development because of the excellent enrichment activities that are available.

Children make outstanding progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The sixth form is outstanding and provides excellent opportunities for students to put their work skills into practice in the local community. The school has developed an innovative range of strategies and methods... to meet the needs of the less able pupils very well.

Good teaching successfully ensures that the majority of pupils make good progress in literacy and numeracy. Pupils are kept safe and their behaviour is good as a result of effective management and the sensitive care and support provided by staff. Effective partnerships with other educational providers enhance the excellent range of lessons.

Staff share their expertise with other teachers through an extensive programme of outreach training and support, in partnership with the local authority. The governing body has made significant improvements to its organisation and work since the last inspection, and is now well placed to support and challenge the school to improve even further. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not enough teaching is outstanding because : the quality of marking and feedback to pupils about how to improve is not consistent across the school.

Pupils' progress in reading is slower than it should be, because the teaching of sounds that letters make (phonics) is not yet fully embedded across the school. Middle leaders do not routinely monitor the quality of teaching in their areas and, as a result, are not always able to offer focused support and coaching to teachers.

Information about this school

St Nicholas School is a special school for children and young people with severe and profound learning difficulties.

The majority of pupils have a diagnosis of autism and/or complex physical and sensory needs. Pupils are generally admitted from nurseries and maintained schools across Kent. All pupils have a statement of special educational needs.

A very large majority of the pupils are of White British heritage. A few pupils are from ethnic minority backgrounds. Almost all of the pupils speak English as their first language.

The majority of pupils are boys. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium (those eligible for free school meals, those in care and those with a parent or carer in the armed services) is above average. Sixteen pupils are in the care of the local authority.

Very few of the pupils in the school are from service families All Year 7 pupils are eligible for the Year 7 catch-up premium funding. Around one in ten pupils across the school are involved with the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) as a result of their behavioural needs. The school works in partnership with many different organisations, including the local authority, University of Kent, Canterbury Christchurch University, Oast House Trust, East Kent Health Authority and Abbey Court School.

In addition to the provision offered at St Nicholas School, a few pupils attend satellite classes in four local secondary schools. Students in the sixth form attend classes at Canterbury College on a full-time basis. Due to their complex medical needs, a very small minority of pupils on roll at the school receive home tutoring from the St Nicholas School outreach service.

The school offers a range of qualifications and awards. It does not enter pupils early for any examinations. The school was recently awarded the Investors in People accreditation for the third time.