Rowanfield Special School

Overview

The inspection team found that staff employ a nurturing approach, responding sensitively to children’s emotions to help them engage successfully in learning. The school provides a predictable, stable environment that supports attendance and inclusion, while effective use of outdoor learning areas helps develop “courageous, curious, creative and compassionate children.”

Strengths

• Staff have a “nurturing approach” and “respond sensitively to children's emotions,” helping children engage in learning.
• Teachers provide a “predictable, stable environment” which helps children attend school successfully and feel included.
• Staff make “effective use of outdoor learning areas,” including local woodlands, for healthy activities like nature walks.

Areas to improve

• Senior leaders and staff should develop “more personalised and consistent ways to assess and record children’s progress in learning” to clarify attainment levels.
• Staff should continue to raise children’s attainment in reading, writing, and numeracy.

Safeguarding

The report does not contain specific narrative comments regarding safeguarding arrangements, though it notes that the school’s work was evaluated using quality indicators from *How good is our school?*.