Phoenix Arch School

Overview

Phoenix Arch School is described as a “calm and nurturing place” where pupils with autism are “happy and safe.” The report highlights that staff know pupils “extremely well,” fostering “warm working relationships” and strong progress in social skills. Since the previous inspection, leadership has strengthened, and the curriculum has been transformed to better meet pupils’ additional needs.

Strengths

• Pupils benefit from a “lovely environment” and develop important character traits such as “teamwork and confidence.”
• “Highly effective systems” support reading and communication, with staff being “experts at teaching pupils to read.”
• Leaders have developed “highly effective systems to improve attendance and punctuality,” having a “positive impact.”
• Pupils access a “wealth of wider experiences,” including visits to museums and learning to use public transport, which builds independence.
• The governing body “fulfil[s] their statutory duties effectively,” offering appropriate support and challenge.

Areas to improve

• The curriculum does not always ensure content “build[s] appropriately on what they have learned before,” particularly for pupils with complex needs.
• Learning expectations are not always “explicitly defined or adapted,” which limits deeper knowledge and skills development.

Safeguarding

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