Longstone Special School

Overview

Longstone School continues to demonstrate "capacity for sustained improvement" following a previous evaluation of good effectiveness. The inspection confirmed that leadership and staff are effectively implementing development plans, with particular progress in refining assessment systems and supporting pupil progress.

Strengths

• Co-ordinators have received training and are providing progress updates to governors, with evidence of "effective implementation of the plans across the school."
• Individual Education Plans (IEPs) have been revised to include pupil strengths and focused targets, supported by "weekly pupil review meetings" to evaluate progress.
• Teachers work "collaboratively and effectively" to plan seamless transitions from the nursery into year one.
• A consistent format for behaviour plans and pupil profiles is used to guide planning and teaching across the school.
• Baseline assessments and additional entry-level qualifications are in place to meet the needs of all pupils.

Areas to improve

• The leadership has identified the need to "refine the number of strategic actions" within their development plans.
• Further integration of "thinking skills and personal capabilities, and differentiation" into planning is required.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that arrangements for safeguarding "continue to reflect the guidance issued by the relevant Departments."