Sutherland House School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Since the last inspection, leaders and governors have successfully increased their ambition for Sutherland House School.

They have created a good school where pupils make good progress. Input from the governing board and key partners has strengthened the school's leadership, quality of teaching and the progress pupils make. The curriculum is aptly designed around the needs of individual pupils.

Senior leaders are adept at ensuring that changes to the curriculum result in better outcomes for pupils. In some curriculum areas, there are underdeveloped systems for checking how well pupils are learning. Safeguarding is effective.

The ...designated safeguarding lead is tenacious in her work to ensure that pupils are protected from harm. Recently appointed middle leaders have made a positive start to their roles. They ensure that the curriculum is appropriate to meet the needs of pupils.

They do not yet routinely monitor the progress pupils make in order to bring about key improvements for all pupils. The skilled clinical team members provide a positive contribution to the education of pupils at the school. Their direct input with pupils and professional advice to their colleagues support pupils to make good progress.

Most parents are satisfied with the work of the school. However, school leaders do not ensure that all parents fully understand the considerable changes made across the school, and about the learning activities and progress their child is making. Teaching, learning and assessment are good across all key stages.

Teachers and teaching assistants know pupils very well and contribute positively to pupils' learning. Some activities provided to pupils are not always supporting their progress. Pupils generally make good progress from their different starting points, across a range of subjects, including in English and mathematics.

Pupils generally behave well. Pupils' behaviour improves the longer they attend the school. The quality of 16 to 19 study programmes offered to pupils is good.

Work experience opportunities afforded to some pupils support the good progress they make towards the next steps in their education, employment or training. The staff team members support the improved vision of the school. They are exceptionally positive about the improvements made across the school and help to fulfil the mission statement 'ensuring individual independent success for all students'.

Information about this school

Sutherland House is a non-maintained special school for pupils with autism and is managed by Autism East Midlands and a local governing board. Currently, the school does not have any pupils under the age of six. The majority of pupils are White British boys.

A significant number of the pupils present challenging behaviour and have additional disabilities or special educational needs. Some pupils have had long-term absence from education before coming to Sutherland House. The school benefits from a close working relationship with therapists employed by Autism East Midlands.

Since the last inspection, a new headteacher and new chair of the governing body have been appointed to lead the school. At the time of the last inspection, the school was located across five different sites in and around Nottingham. The school is now located on one site near the centre of Nottingham city.

The school does not use alternative providers to deliver education for the pupils. The school works closely with Transform Teaching School Alliance, Rosehill Special School and the Dearne Advanced Learning Centre. Since the previous inspection, the number of pupils on roll has dropped by a third.