NeneGate

Overview

NeneGate is a special school providing specialist provision for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and autistic pupils. The inspection found that leaders have driven "rapid and sustained improvement," particularly in attendance and behaviour, creating a "calm, orderly and purposeful environment." Pupils achieve well from their starting points and are well prepared for their next steps in life.

Strengths

• Inclusion is rated at a "Strong standard," with leaders ensuring individual needs are identified with precision and support is "applied consistently well."
• Personal development and wellbeing are rated at a "Strong standard," featuring an "ambitious and effective" programme that builds pupils' confidence, resilience, and cultural capital.
• Leadership and governance are rated at a "Strong standard," with governors offering "effective support and challenge" and staff feeling "valued, heard and supported."
• Behaviour is described as "excellent," with significant reductions in bullying and suspension rates, underpinned by positive staff-pupil relationships.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should "further strengthen the teaching of pupils' foundational writing knowledge" to ensure gaps in early literacy are closed.
• Leaders should "continue to refine their work to reduce persistent absence further" so that all pupils have consistently high attendance.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are actively identified and managed.