Fountaindale School

Overview

Fountaindale School provides a “kind and caring environment” where pupils with severe learning difficulties are treated with “dignity and respect.” The inspection found that staff show “care and compassion,” resulting in pupils who are “happy to come to school” and achieve well within the context of their special educational needs. The school fosters positive relationships and ensures pupils feel “safe and appreciated.”

Strengths

• The school has developed an “ambitious curriculum” with three tailored ‘pathways’ that provide a “clear framework” for meeting individual development needs.
• Communication is a significant strength, with staff using tailored systems to give pupils a “voice,” thereby increasing their “resilience, confidence and independence.”
• Staff work closely with health professionals, such as therapists, to support pupils’ complex health requirements, ensuring they “experience success.”
• Personal development is well promoted, evidenced by the school achieving the UNICEF “Rights Respecting School Award” and operating a valued “pupil parliament.”
• Early years provision prepares children well for future learning through opportunities to “explore the world around them.”

Areas to improve

• The school must ensure all staff make the best use of learning time to keep pupils “fully engaged,” as some currently disengage from activities.
• Leaders should ensure all staff possess the necessary skills and understanding to meet the needs of all pupils, addressing inconsistencies in provision and staff confidence.
• The school needs to develop a better understanding of trends in pupil outcomes to “evaluate fully the impact of its work.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”