Riverside Special School

Overview

Riverside Special School has improved significantly since its previous inspection, with leaders taking effective steps to address prior safeguarding weaknesses. The report describes a school where pupils enjoy "exciting lessons" and feel safe within an "inclusive" environment that supports their complex needs. Leaders have successfully fostered a culture where staff are proud and pupils demonstrate increasing confidence and independence.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit "Outstanding" behaviour and attitudes, treating each other with respect and supporting one another in lessons.
• The curriculum is carefully tailored to individual needs, with a "strong focus on reading" and phonics training for all adults.
• Personal development is "exemplary," with pupils engaged in charity work, enterprise projects, and activities that build resilience and life skills.
• Staff relationships are "relaxed, warm and happy," creating a positive atmosphere where pupils are "incredibly positive" about their daily routines.
• Governors now provide greater oversight of safeguarding matters, holding leaders to account more effectively than in the past.

Areas to improve

• The school’s record-keeping system requires refinement to ensure staff can "precisely record the nature of safeguarding concerns" and allow leaders to analyse data more effectively.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective," noting that leaders have addressed previous weaknesses by improving training, reporting systems, and staff checks.