Greenwood House Assessment Centre

Overview

Greenwood House Assessment Centre provides education for children with complex difficulties, including autism, in Belfast. The inspection found the school to be highly effective, with "outstanding" quality of provision and leadership, and a "high level of capacity for sustained improvement."

Strengths

• The curriculum is described as "comprehensive, broad and very well-balanced," with a particular strength in the "recently established outdoor provision."
• A "multi-disciplinary approach" involving allied health professionals, such as occupational and speech therapy, is highlighted as a "particular key strength."
• Children make "very good progress" in social and life skills, developing strategies to "recognise and manage their own behaviour."
• Leadership is praised for its "highly effective collegiate and collaborative" approach, with governors providing "constructive support and appropriate challenge."
• Lessons observed were "highly effective," with two-fifths rated as "outstanding," characterised by "high quality staff interactions."

Areas to improve

• Health and safety issues require attention, specifically reviewing access to steps outside the nursery and securing a gate leading to the car park.
• One mobile classroom has "extensive and recurring problems with dampness," necessitating the relocation of children for repairs.
• Transport arrangements for one bus need review due to delays affecting nursery children’s morning arrivals.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding arrangements "reflect the guidance issued by the Department of Education" and that children are aware of what to do if they have safety concerns.