The Valley School

Overview

Pupils at The Valley School are described as "happy and positive," benefiting from "strong routines" that make life predictable. The school provides a "broad and ambitious curriculum" and has been "well led" through significant changes, including moving to a new building and an increase in pupil numbers.

Strengths

• Behaviour is "exemplary," with pupils understanding expectations and behaving "independently and responsibly."
• Personal development is "excellent," featuring an "exceptional" careers programme and preparation for adulthood.
• Teachers present knowledge "clearly and effectively," using specialist advice to tailor support for pupils’ needs.
• Staff well-being and professional development are prioritised, ensuring "consistent and well-trained staff."
• Early reading has improved through an "approved phonics scheme," enhancing pupils’ "reading fluency and accuracy."

Areas to improve

• In a "small number of subjects," the curriculum is "not as precisely sequenced as it needs to be," leading to gaps in knowledge.
• Teachers do not always check pupils’ prior learning with "enough precision," occasionally moving on before pupils have securely embedded what was taught.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."