Woodlands School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Students achieve well.

Nearly all make progress from what are always very low starting points. No group of students underachieves. Teaching is usually good and some is outstanding.

The best teaching is lively, enthuses the students and challenges them to do their best. Behaviour is excellent and students are kept safe. There is a lovely atmosphere around the school and students are happy.

Their parents have every confidence in the school to keep their children safe and well cared for. The sixth form is good. Students are well taught and given a lot of support to prepare them well for leaving school and becoming more independent....

The school is very well led by the acting headteacher. She is extremely well supported by her acting deputy. Both are highly respected by staff, parents and students.

There is a very keen understanding by leaders and managers about the importance of improving teaching. This has helped to further improve teaching and learning since the last inspection. This is definitely an improving school.

There is outstanding provision for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are exceptionally well taught in a highly stimulating environment. It is here where children take the earliest steps in learning how to communicate and how to get along well with each other.

Governance is strong. Governors are deeply committed to the school and have a lot of helpful skills to support leaders and managers. It is not yet an outstanding school because : There is still some teaching that requires improvement.

Relatively weaker teaching is characterised by lapses in the pace of lessons, lack of challenge for some students and a focus on reinforcement rather than new learning. Teaching could be improved by more imaginative use and management of support staff.

Information about this school

All students have a statement of special educational needs reflecting the severity and complexity of their needs and disabilities.

The main groups are students with severe or profound learning difficulties and those with a high degree of autism. Many more than average students are known to be eligible for the pupil premium. The pupil premium is additional funding for those children who are known to be eligible for free school meals, children who are looked after and children from service families.

In this school this applies to the first two groups. Most students are White British. Boys outnumber girls by about two-to-one.

Since the last inspection the headteacher has left and has been replaced by an acting headteacher who was previously her deputy. This arrangement has been in place for three weeks. Negotiations are under way with another special school in Blackpool to consider the possibilities of federation; with a single governing body and an executive headteacher assuming responsibility for the leadership, management and governance of both schools.

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