Woodlands School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. Pupils' achievement is outstanding.

Their progress is supported by well-designed personal learning plans and rigorous target-setting. They make excellent progress in developing their communication and learning skills. Teaching is outstanding because expectations of pupils are consistently high and assessment of progress is very thorough.

Staff use assessment information very effectively to plan the next steps in learning. Staff form highly effective teams and sustain a clear focus on reading, writing, communication and mathematics. Adults generate high levels of engagement from pupils, using well-judged strategies that address in...dividual needs.

Pupils enjoy being in school. They feel safe, and their parents and carers agree that their children are very well looked after. Pupils form strong relationships with the adults that teach and support them.

Highly effective behaviour management enables pupils to learn to manage their own behaviour, supported by very clear structures and routines. The school's leaders and the governing body have a very clear vision for the school that is shared by all the staff. They have a deep and accurate understanding of the school's performance.

The school's leadership inspires and enables the staff to develop their own practice and to be consistently ambitious for the pupils.

Information about this school

This is a primary special school for children aged 3–11 with severe and complex learning difficulties; 77% have severe learning difficulties and 23% have profound and multiple learning difficulties. All pupils have statements of special educational needs.

The majority of pupils have significant secondary special educational needs, including over 45% who are on the autistic spectrum. Provision for the Early Years Foundation Stage is based in two mixed Nursery/Reception classes and one mixed Reception/Year 1 class. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for support through additional pupil premium funding is above the national average.

This is additional government funding provided for pupils eligible for free school meals, those looked after by the local authority and those with a parent in the armed services. Most pupils are from minority ethnic groups and over half of the school population are of Asian or Asian British heritage; over 65% of pupils speak English as an additional language. The school has achieved the Investors In People Silver Award, the Healthy Schools Award, National Autistic Society accreditation and the Inclusion Quality Mark.