The Dales School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher and deputy headteacher have created a culture of high expectations where learning is personalised, and there is an emphasis on working in partnership with parents and other agencies. The headteacher's evaluation of the school's effectiveness is detailed and accurate. This has helped leaders quickly identify the school's strengths and areas for development.

Pupils make strong progress because the curriculum in the lower school is well designed to meet the needs of pupils with a wide range of learning difficulties. There is an emphasis on understanding and overcoming the barriers to learning that each pupil experiences. The detailed ...sixth-form curriculum and careers education programme help students develop their independence skills so that they are well prepared for the next steps after school.

However, leaders understand that the sixth-form curriculum needs to further develop to meet the needs of all students. Safeguarding is effective. Staff and leaders respond promptly when concerns are raised.

Leaders work effectively with other agencies to ensure that vulnerable pupils are protected. Pupils say that they feel safe. Pupils make strong progress because staff know them well and ensure that teaching is well matched to each pupil's need.

Staff accurately record and monitor pupils' progress using the school's detailed assessment system. Leaders collect and check a range of information to ensure that pupils are making secure progress. However, leaders do not effectively analyse information about pupils' behaviour to ensure that they make changes to the curriculum or the support provided for pupils.

Governors are ambitious for the school. They value the headteacher's dedicated leadership and the quality of the information provided by leaders. Governors value the school's work with the department for education, and other special schools, to develop assessment systems for pupils with special educational needs.

Parents have confidence in the headteacher and strongly support the changes that she has made since joining the school. They say that their views are listened to, and that they are partners with staff in their child's education.

Information about this school

All pupils at The Dales School have an education, health and care plan.

Most pupils have severe or profound multiple learning difficulties. Many pupils have one or more additional needs such autism spectrum disorders, medical needs, sensory impairments and social, emotional and mental health needs. Some students with moderate learning difficulties join the school from other schools in order to take part in the sixth-form programmes of study.

Nearly half the pupils who attend the school are in the sixth form. There is one early years pupil; most of the other pupils are in key stages 1 and 2. There are few pupils in key stages 3 and 4.

Pupils who attend the school come from a large catchment area. The school has a lower-than-average proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for pupil premium funding is in line with the national average.