Samuel Cody School

Overview

Samuel Cody School provides a high-quality education for pupils with special educational needs, with safeguarding standards met and personal development rated at a strong standard. While most aspects of the school operate at the expected standard, the early years provision requires attention due to inconsistencies in assessment and teaching clarity.

Strengths

• Pupils are described as "happy and safe," benefiting from a "broad and well planned" personal development programme that builds confidence and independence.
• Staff provide "effective support" that helps pupils make appropriate progress in reading, writing, and mathematics despite "very low starting points."
• The school fosters a positive culture where bullying is dealt with swiftly, and staff apply behaviour policies consistently, leading to a "significant decrease in the use of restrictive physical intervention."
• Leaders have successfully adapted to rapid growth and widening pupil needs, ensuring "personalised and targeted support" for all students.

Areas to improve

• Assessment in the early years must better account for children's specific starting points to match learning activities more precisely to individual needs.
• The school should continue to strengthen pupils' communication and language development to ensure more rapid progress from their starting points.

Safeguarding

The report states that "safeguarding standards are met," noting that leaders have established an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed, ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.