Leycroft Academy

Overview

Leycroft Academy is a special school where new leadership is working to raise expectations and create a curriculum that enables pupils to "understand the wider world around them and discover the talents within". While relationships are positive and safeguarding is effective, the report states that the quality of education, behaviour, and leadership all require improvement due to inconsistencies in implementation and curriculum development.

Strengths

• Relationships between pupils and staff are described as "positive", with staff being "caring and supportive".
• Safeguarding arrangements are "effective", and staff know how to "quickly raise any concerns".
• A new systematic phonics scheme is having a "positive impact", with all pupils taught to read daily.
• The school has introduced a "shine" approach to behaviour and a "life-skills room" to support personal development.
• Leaders have a "sharp focus on improving attendance" and are supporting families to secure regular attendance.

Areas to improve

• Staff do not always consistently implement agreed communication and behaviour strategies, leading to pupils becoming unsettled.
• The curriculum is not sufficiently developed in all areas, meaning pupils are not yet building knowledge and skills over time in a clear sequence.
• Leaders lack a clear view of how well new initiatives are being implemented across the school and need to improve their evaluation processes.

Safeguarding

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