Richard Alibon Primary School with ARP for Cognitive and Learning Difficulties : SEN Base

Overview

This is a school where pupils work incredibly hard to meet high expectations for behaviour and learning, treating each other with respect and kindness. Leaders provide many opportunities for pupils to take on responsibility, such as acting as members of the ‘safety squad’, fostering a sense of happiness and safety. The curriculum is ambitious, with reading at its heart, and staff are trained to support pupils with special educational needs effectively.

Strengths

• Pupils conduct themselves very well, and staff have high expectations, ensuring learning is not interrupted by inappropriate behaviour.
• Leaders promote personal development extremely well, teaching pupils about healthy relationships, consent, and risk identification in age-appropriate ways.
• Reading is prioritised from Reception, with staff trained in phonics and books closely matched to pupils’ known sounds to build accuracy.
• Enrichment activities, such as learning Mandarin and visiting China, are deliberately designed to broaden pupils’ horizons.
• Staff work effectively with external professionals to support pupils with SEND, using targeted strategies to help them access the curriculum.

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects, the curriculum is not sequenced effectively, and there are no robust processes to check what pupils have remembered over time, leading to gaps in learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders treating it as a top priority, ensuring staff receive regular training, and taking swift action to keep pupils and families safe.