Cherry Trees School

Overview

Cherry Trees School has undergone "massive improvements" since its previous inspection, fostering a culture defined by "care, kindness and a determination that all pupils will get the most from their time at school." Pupils are described as "happier, more confident, and are making greater progress than ever before," supported by strong relationships and an ambitious curriculum. The school is judged as "Good" across all inspection categories, marking a significant turnaround from its prior rating.

Strengths

• Staff demonstrate "tenacious" support for pupils with special educational needs, ensuring they receive timely help to overcome learning barriers.
• There is an "ambitious expectation for what pupils will learn in every single lesson," with effective opportunities to revisit and recall past learning.
• The school collaborates closely with parents and specialists, such as speech and language therapists, to implement swift intervention plans.
• A "caring and supportive ethos" promotes positive behaviour, with pupils feeling "welcome and valued, regardless of their needs or starting points."
• Reading is given a "very high profile," with pupils taking pride in roles such as "reading champions" and engaging with school initiatives.

Areas to improve

• The curriculum for pupils not yet ready for phonics is in the "early stages of development," limiting opportunities to develop pre-reading skills like identifying sounds.
• Implementation of individualised plans for some pupils is inconsistent, meaning staff do not always adapt the curriculum effectively to how specific pupils learn best.
• Pupils’ voices are not "routinely captured and acted upon" when designing provision, which can limit opportunities for them to develop personal interests.

Safeguarding

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