Brooklands School

Overview

Brooklands School continues to be a good school, providing a calm and supportive environment where pupils are "happy and content." Leaders maintain high expectations, ensuring a "broad and ambitious curriculum" that is personalised to meet individual needs, resulting in pupils who feel safe, valued, and well-prepared for future independence.

Strengths

• Pupils benefit from "four curriculum pathways" that are "personalised to meet the specific needs of the pupils" and linked to their education, health and care plans.
• Teachers plan activities that "capture pupils’ interests," leading to "exceptional" behaviours for learning and high levels of enjoyment in lessons.
• The sixth form offers impressive opportunities for developing "entrepreneurial skills," including fundraising, running social events, and preparing for independent living.
• Leaders prioritise communication and reading, ensuring staff have the expertise to teach pupils to communicate effectively using words, symbols, and aids.
• Staff are respected and valued, with leaders considering workload thoroughly when planning new initiatives.

Areas to improve

• The early years curriculum is "still evolving" and lacks clarity on what children should learn and when.
• The purpose of some indoor and outdoor activities is "not explicit enough," leading to "missed opportunities to develop pupils’ learning further."
• Staff do not currently have the necessary information to prepare effective learning or check that children’s knowledge is secure in the early years setting.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.