Ridgeway School

Overview

Ridgeway School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes a “calm and good-humoured learning environment” where pupils are “heard, valued and safe.” Leaders have successfully navigated recent turbulence to ensure an ambitious, bespoke curriculum remains in place for pupils with complex needs.

Strengths

• Pupils receive “excellent levels of personalised care and attention” and are “celebrated” for their unique qualities.
• The school “expertly interwoven” communication and language development across all curriculum areas, helping pupils become “adept users of their communication tools.”
• Pupils are “prepared well for adulthood” through a carefully designed curriculum including life skills, work experience, and the use of an onsite ‘bungalow’.
• Staff and pupils show “high levels of mutual respect,” creating a harmonious community where unkind behaviour is addressed swiftly.
• Governors and leaders have prioritised staff well-being during a period of significant change and leadership restructuring.

Areas to improve

• Early pre-reading activities are not yet consistently aligned with pupils’ abilities, hindering some from accessing formal phonics sooner; staff must ensure activities allow for more timely progression.
• There are inconsistencies in how well pupils recall knowledge during independent learning; activities need better design to help pupils consolidate and demonstrate their learning.
• Governors have been overly focused on operational matters due to recent changes, limiting their strategic oversight of the quality of education; they need a clearer strategic approach going forward.

Safeguarding

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