Yeoman Park Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Yeoman Park provides an outstanding quality of education and care for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Every pupil benefits from a highly personalised package of support. This bespoke provision enables pupils to achieve as highly as possible, in both their academic and personal development.

Pupils respond impressively to the school's high expectations for them to succeed. They thrive and are happy due to the school's exceptional provision. Pupils and parents and carers strongly endorse the school.

This is fully justified, as seen through the calm, safe and purposeful atmosphere around all areas of the school, and in pupils' highly posi...tive attitudes to their learning.

Positive relationships are at the heart of the school. Pupils behave respectfully towards each other and adults.

Staff are extremely adept in supporting pupils to manage their emotions. As a result, lessons remain calm and any potential disruption is quickly resolved.

The school's unique 'personal development package' is a strength of its provision.

Pupils of all ages benefit from a vast array of opportunities to enhance their personal skills, and their understanding of the wider world. For example, the popular 'Friday theme days' and regular community activities broaden pupils' horizons beyond the school.

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

Since the last inspection, the school has reviewed and strengthened the curriculum in all areas, from the early years to the sixth form.

This has ensured that all pupils, regardless of the complexity of their needs, access an ambitious curriculum that is carefully designed to enable them to achieve as highly as possible. At each stage, the curriculum is carefully sequenced so that pupils gain increasingly secure knowledge and skills across a broad range of areas. All pupils are supported by means of an individual learning plan that consists of both personal targets and those from their education, health and care (EHC) plan.

Pupils who have the most complex sensory, physical or medical needs receive skilled support from trained healthcare and therapy staff. This enables those pupils to thrive as valued members of the school community.

Pupils' learning groups are organised by means of the 'discovery', 'exploration' or 'consolidation' pathways.

In each class, staff provide expert teaching and support. They adapt their teaching skilfully to each pupil's needs, so that all pupils can access the curriculum. Staff constantly check pupils' understanding, providing both challenge and support as required.

They ensure that the tasks set enable pupils to strengthen their knowledge and skills over time.

There is a strong focus on preparing pupils for adulthood and their next steps beyond the school. The careers programme begins in the early years and builds year-on-year.

The youngest children begin to form an awareness of jobs in society. This develops towards an understanding of real-life issues such as housing, finance and life skills. Students in the post-16 provision follow the excellent 'pathfinders' programme.

This incorporates a systematic approach through a series of visits to providers and settings, to match each student to their right destination.

The school has transformed its approach to early reading and communication since the last inspection. The well-thought-out reading pathway identifies the right route for each pupil.

This may begin with the school's unique 'sensory sounds' programme, building towards a systematic approach to phonics. Pupils receive consistently strong teaching and read from texts that match the sounds they know. They develop well as fluent, confident readers, signers and communicators.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary in lessons and as they transfer from activity to activity around the school. The school has established a safe and respectful culture. This enables pupils with challenging behaviours to understand and overcome the high levels of anxiety they sometimes experience.

Pupils' consistently high rates of attendance and the absence of any suspensions or exclusions are testament to the school's provision. The school works effectively with families and external services to support a wide range of needs and challenges. When pupils occasionally require a part-time timetable, the school ensures that pupils' best interests are paramount.

The school promotes pupils' broader personal development exceptionally well. It is rightly described as the 'bedrock' of the school. The curriculum has been carefully designed to cover themes such as life skills, online safety and healthy relationships.

Pupils consistently demonstrate qualities of resilience and respect, in line with the school's values.

Leadership at all levels is extremely strong. This includes the challenge and support provided by governors and the multi-academy trust.

Staff benefit from regular training opportunities. They praise the care shown for their workload and well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.