Wren Spinney Community School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Wren Spinney Community School is an exceptionally welcoming place for pupils and students to learn.

Staff quickly form warm and caring relationships with pupils, and strong relationships with their families. Adults know the pupils extremely well. They work as a team to decide how best to support pupils so that they make the best progress possible.

The school's vision to build communication and enable independence is at the heart of every aspect of school life.

Pupils are listened to and respected by staff. This helps them to feel happy and safe.

The school has created an environment where every pupil is nurtured, valued and supported to be as indepen...dent as possible.

Expectations are high, no matter what pathway pupils are following. This ensures that every pupil achieves their goals.

Pupils enjoy a wide range of curriculum activities that promote their personal development. For example, pupils enjoy equine therapy and swimming to support their physical and mental health.

Parents and carers told inspectors how their children had achieved far more than they could ever have hoped for.

Parents commonly spoke of being part of the 'Wren Family' and the difference this school makes for their child.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school identifies pupils' needs very well. Adults carefully consider the information in pupils' education, health and care (EHC) plans to make certain that the correct provision is in place to meet pupils' communication, learning, and social and emotional needs.

Pupils study one of three pathways. These are the 'sensory', 'structured' and 'collaborative' pathways. Great thought has been applied to detail the relevant and meaningful knowledge and skills that the school wants pupils to learn and when in each pathway.

This ambitious curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils and students develop their independence and are prepared extremely well for their transition to meaningful education or supported residential or day-care provision.

There is highly effective collaboration between teaching staff and the school's therapists, such as the speech and language and occupational therapists. This expert multi-disciplinary team contributes much to the care and also to the quality of education pupils receive.

There is a clear approach to teaching communication, which all staff understand and use. Staff recap on language and involve pupils as thoroughly as they can in learning using a wide range of communication devices. Staff are respectful and very kind towards pupils, talking to them as they narrate what is happening now and next.

This builds trust between staff and pupils.Staff manage pupil behaviour exceptionally well. Adults take time to discuss lesson transitions and to encourage pupils to take part in activities.

They are highly successful in helping pupils to regulate their emotions. The school's total communication approach is integral to this, as staff see behaviour as a form of communication.

Pupils enjoy stories and songs at Wren Spinney.

For example, pupils in the sensory provision greet each other daily with song to practise their communication skills. Pupils enjoy sensory stories together. Pupils who can access phonics are taught by expert practitioners.

They become confident, fluent readers.

Students in the sixth form study academic courses and learn how to look after themselves so that they can be as independent as possible. They form firm friendships and support each other well in lessons, for example when completing a piece of creative artwork in a group.

Their educational journey culminates with the pursuit of an accredited qualification in personal progress.

Pupils receive impartial careers guidance. Transitions events with parents and providers ensure that students are very well supported in making informed decisions about their next steps.

Pupils' personal development is exceptional and preparation for adulthood threads through school life. Pupils have regular opportunities to go out into the local area. They visit shops to hone their skills in communicating with people outside of the school.

Pupils enjoy trips to Woburn Safari Park and delight in fly fishing. Sixth-form students run the school's tuck shop as active citizens in their community. Pupils develop a sense of democracy through voting for the active school council.

They celebrate Eid with smells and tastes, and celebrate Black History Month through experiencing African drumming workshops. These experiences help pupils to gain an understanding of the world around them.

Staff are proud to work at this school.

They are very positive about the support they receive from leaders for their workload and well-being. Staff receive highly appropriate professional development and develop specialist expertise. As a result, they are skilled in making the most effective changes to lesson activities.

These always align to pupils' EHC plans. Consequently, pupils achieve exceptionally well.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.