Calthorpe Academy

Overview

Calthorpe Academy continues to be a good school, providing a supportive environment for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The report highlights a community driven to ensure pupils’ complex needs do not limit their achievements, with strong partnerships with health and social care services.

Strengths

• Staff and pupils share relationships defined by "calmness and care," resulting in behaviour that is "settled and purposeful."
• The school prioritises communication skills, using methods like picture exchange and signing to help pupils find their "voice."
• There is a strong commitment to reading, ensuring pupils develop a "love of books" and become fluent readers.
• Pupils have frequent opportunities to learn independence skills through community visits and work-related learning.
• Staff appreciate the supportive culture, noting that leaders ensure workload is manageable and mutual respect is maintained.

Areas to improve

• When pupils move between curriculum pathways, they are not always well prepared for the new curriculum’s challenges, which slows their learning. The school should ensure the current pathway prioritises critical content needed for the new pathway.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.