Oak Wood Primary School

Overview

Oak Wood Primary School is a special academy that “continues to be a good school.” It is described as a “caring, kind and friendly school” where pupils’ needs are central to provision. Leaders have developed an “ambitious curriculum” tailored to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensuring they settle quickly and make progress.

Strengths

• Staff treat pupils with “dignity and respect,” fostering “highly positive” relationships where pupils communicate they are happy.
• A “total-communication approach” allows pupils to share feelings and make choices using systems suited to their individual needs.
• Reading is a high priority, with staff teaching pre-reading skills and phonics, helping pupils read with “increased fluency and confidence.”
• Leaders plan thoroughly for new arrivals, including staff training, ensuring children are safe and start making progress immediately.
• The school supports pupils’ independence and personal development, including innovative work on safety and accessing external medical services.

Areas to improve

• Staff subject knowledge varies, meaning pupils are sometimes given activities that are “not the most effective in supporting their learning.”
• In some subjects, the “precise knowledge that pupils need to learn has not been refined,” preventing pupils from always building on prior knowledge effectively.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”