Baskerville School

Overview

Baskerville School continues to be a good school, where staff promote positive relationships and pupils feel safe and confident. Leaders have designed learning pathways that help all pupils develop independence and progress to positive destinations, supported by an ambitious careers programme. However, inconsistencies in communication strategies and early reading instruction limit some pupils’ development.

Strengths

• Staff know pupils well, fostering confidence and allowing pupils to "challenge themselves in their learning."
• Behaviour is described as "purposeful and calm," with pupils often able to manage their own behaviour.
• The curriculum is effectively planned to prepare pupils for adulthood, including safety from exploitation.
• An extensive range of enrichment activities helps pupils develop talents and interests.
• All students leaving school last year went on to their "first-choice destination."

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the planning and sequencing of the curriculum is fully developed across all pathways, particularly in the ‘Discovery’ base.
• A consistent communication strategy should be identified, introduced, and embedded to help pupils develop interaction skills.
• Staff delivering phonics require appropriate training to improve the teaching of early reading for pupils at the early stages.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with well-qualified leaders ensuring staff receive regular training and that concerns are acted on quickly through daily communication with the residential provision.