The Orchards

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Leaders and the local governing body have turned the school around. The Orchards now provides a good quality of education.

The school is successful at breaking down barriers to learning so that every pupil can achieve his or her best. The head of school has a clear vision for the school. She and her enthusiastic leadership team have brought about considerable improvements to the curriculum.

It is interesting and fun. The local governing body knows the school well. They have been decisive and make a valuable contribution to school improvement.

Pupils now benefit from a stable staff team. Good-quality specialist teaching throughout... the school has resulted in most pupils making good progress. Pupils enjoy coming to school.

This is evident from their improved attendance compared to attendance at their previous schools. Leaders are diligent in carrying out their responsibilities for safeguarding. Pupils feel safe in school and parents and carers agree.

Personal development and welfare are good. The strong relationships that staff cultivate with pupils means that they know them extremely well. The care and support provided by staff ensure that The Orchards is a safe and nurturing place in which pupils can grow.

Good teaching in the early years creates a stimulating learning environment and ensures that children have a strong start to school life and make good progress from their starting points. Staff manage pupils' behaviour well. Pupils conduct themselves appropriately in class and around school.

The school's behaviour policy does not mirror the school's good practice and procedures. Leaders and teachers use assessment information well. Occasionally, the learning targets set for pupils are not precise enough to ensure that pupils learn as well as they could.

Parents feel that communication could be better, particularly about the changes in staffing and the school building. The present school building requires further improvement to maximise learning opportunities for pupils and further enhance their welfare.

Information about this school

This small special school opened as a free school in September 2016.

The school provides education for pupils with a significant degree of complex learning difficulty, many of whom have autism spectrum disorder. Some pupils have severe learning difficulties and a few have profound and multiple learning difficulties. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.

Pupils come from a range of ethnic backgrounds. Just under half of pupils speak English as an additional language. Boys outnumber girls.

Nearly a half of all the pupils on roll are identified as disadvantaged. The school works with Trafford local authority, which is the main referral route for placing pupils at the school. Salford, Manchester and Stockport also place pupils in the school.

The school is temporarily accommodated in the vacated wing of Acre Hall Primary School. It is on the same site as the primary school and shares some playground space and the dining hall. There have been delays in finalising a permanent site for The Orchards.

However, this has now been secured and work will start at the end of this month, with the intention that the new school will be ready to occupy in September 2020. In the meantime, leaders have made several improvements to the present school building. Early years provision is located in a separate building but at the same school.

This building is shared with The Dunham Trust executive team. The Orchards is one of five primary schools that make up The Dunham Trust. There is an executive principal who supports school improvement across the trust.

The trust has an acting chief executive officer and board of trustees. The school also has a local governing body. A head of school oversees the school's day-to-day operation.

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