The Dame Ellen Pinsent School

Overview

The report confirms the school remains ‘outstanding’, though inspectors note the grade ‘might not be as high if a graded (section 5) inspection were carried out now’. It describes a ‘warm and welcoming school’ where ‘strong relationships lie at the heart’ of provision, ensuring pupils are ‘happy and safe’.

Strengths

• Staff know pupils ‘exceptionally well’, providing ‘great care, support and understanding’ for complex needs.
• Behaviour is positive, with ‘unkind behaviour’ being rare and pupils displaying values like ‘kindness’ and ‘respect’.
• The curriculum fosters ‘independence and confidence’, offering ‘a breadth of wider experiences’ such as outdoor ventures.
• Reading instruction is strong, with staff teaching phonics ‘with accuracy’ and pupils being ‘enthused by books’.
• Parents are ‘overwhelmingly positive’ about the support their children receive.

Areas to improve

• Ensure agreed communication strategies are ‘implemented consistently throughout school’ so pupils can communicate their needs at all times.
• Clearly identify ‘specific knowledge, skills and vocabulary’ in all curriculum areas to ensure pupils build understanding in a ‘clear sequential way’.
• Ensure learning activities ‘precisely identify the important knowledge and skills’ to prevent slowing pupils’ learning and limiting their ‘academic potential’.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.