Riverside Special School

Overview

This sustaining improvement inspection was conducted during industrial action, meaning teachers did not cooperate with inspectors. Consequently, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) states it is “unable to assure parents/carers... of the quality of education provided for the pupils.” The report notes that evaluations are based solely on evidence available at the time, as the ETI was “unable to evaluate fully” the quality of learning and teaching within classrooms.

Strengths

• The school development plan and action plans are in place, with “clear roles and responsibilities” established for coordinators to monitor teaching and pupil work.
• Senior leadership has undertaken “learning walks” and the school participates in an online pilot assessment programme to “track more robustly pupil progression.”
• Generous community support has funded new outdoor learning resources, including swings, trampolines, and bicycles, to develop play and sensory needs.
• Outdoor learning is planned for younger pupils, and all pupils are timetabled for afternoon outdoor experiences with completed risk assessments.

Areas to improve

• Disseminate outdoor learning planning to Key Stage 2 teachers to “ensure progression in learning” and track pupil development more robustly.
• Develop staff further to ensure “high quality outdoor learning experiences” and a consistent approach to effective planning.
• Continue reviewing pastoral policies to include positive behaviour management and anti-bullying measures.
• Develop educational visits risk assessments to ensure specific risk management strategies are in place.

Safeguarding

The school provided evidence that safeguarding arrangements “reflect broadly the guidance from the Department of Education,” though the ETI was unable to fully evaluate their outworking due to the industrial action.