Chaffinch Brook School

Overview

Chaffinch Brook School is a special academy where pupils with autism thrive in a supportive and engaging environment. The report highlights an "ambitious curriculum" and "exceptional" behaviour, noting that staff possess "immense expertise" in understanding individual pupil needs. While the overall effectiveness is rated as Good, specific aspects of personal development and behaviour are judged as Outstanding.

Strengths

• Pupils "behave exceptionally well" and feel safe, with staff offering "professional and kind" support to manage social situations and emotions.
• The curriculum is delivered in a "sequential way," with teachers using "imaginative and fun teaching" to help pupils remember what they have been taught.
• Reading is prioritised with "high-quality books" and a "well-organised approach to teaching phonics," allowing pupils to read widely and with enthusiasm.
• Staff nurture pupils’ talents, helping them grow in "self-confidence and respect for themselves and other people."
• Leaders provide strong support for staff well-being, and the school maintains a "strong culture of being positive" about autism.

Areas to improve

• In some parts of the school, the implementation of the curriculum is "not fully secure," which limits pupils’ deeper knowledge and skills over time.
• The school must ensure all teachers can deliver the ambitious curriculum precisely to address these inconsistencies.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."