Kisharon School

Overview

Pupils enjoy attending this happy and inclusive special school, where staff foster talents and focus on helping learners lead “happy, healthy and independent lives.” Leaders have implemented an “innovative and ambitious curriculum” that effectively prepares pupils for future education or employment, supported by strong teamwork and high expectations.

Strengths

• Staff and pupils share “positive and purposeful relationships,” with incidents dealt with “skilfully and sensitively.”
• The curriculum is personalised, weaving the ‘Kodesh’ curriculum with other subjects to help pupils connect learning meaningfully.
• Staff work “impressively as a team,” with therapists modelling strategies to meet pupils’ sensory, speech, and physical needs.
• Pupils gain confidence through community visits, such as using public transport, and sixth-form students act as “excellent role models.”
• Leaders provide well-thought-out professional development and consider staff workload carefully, ensuring staff feel “very well supported.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure the curriculum is “implemented consistently well” by ensuring staff adapt teaching to cater for pupils’ specific needs and starting points.
• Leaders should improve communication with parents to enable all families to feel involved in school life and their child’s learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders undertaking their roles diligently and ensuring staff are well trained to identify risks.