Sunningdale School

Overview

Sunningdale School continues to be an outstanding school, providing the highest levels of care, support, and learning for pupils with severe learning difficulties and autism. Leaders have developed an inspirational curriculum tailored to individual needs, enabling pupils to make rapid progress and become increasingly independent. The school’s purpose-built facilities and dedicated staff create an environment where pupils are highly engaged and respectful.

Strengths

• The curriculum is carefully sequenced into four pathways, ensuring learning is tailored to help pupils become as independent as possible.
• Staff possess expert knowledge of pupils, using observations to create "exciting and purposeful learning activities" that hook pupils into learning.
• There is a highly consistent approach to developing communication skills, with every activity having "communicative support built in."
• Pupils make strong progress in early reading and mathematics, with learning grounded in real-life contexts such as the school shop.
• Behaviour is described as "exemplary," supported by creative staff strategies and effective use of indoor and outdoor play areas for movement breaks.

Areas to improve

• The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders maintaining a strong culture where staff receive regular training and can spot small changes that might indicate harm.