The Shrubberies School

Overview

The Shrubberies School continues to be a good school, providing a calm environment where pupils’ social, emotional and mental health development is a priority. Respectful relationships help pupils feel safe and happy, fostering confidence and independence through established routines and a curriculum focused on life skills.

Strengths

• Pupils develop skills to "recognise and manage their emotions" and make positive choices, learning that "difference is okay".
• The new curriculum includes "carefully planned enrichment activities" such as bike riding, cooking, and growing plants, which support independence.
• Teachers in subjects like physical education use assessment information accurately to identify next steps and write appropriate targets for education, health and care plans.
• Staff support pupils to communicate successfully using signs, symbols or words, with some reading with "increasing independence".
• Preparation for adulthood is effective, with pupils gaining nationally recognised qualifications and enjoying real-life experiences like work experience.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, curriculum pathways are incomplete, meaning teachers’ checks of pupils’ knowledge are "not sufficiently accurate".
• The school needs to support staff to develop their knowledge of the revised curriculum so they can assess pupils’ next steps accurately.
• Links with further education providers need strengthening to ensure pupils know their options when leaving school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.