The Woodlands School

Overview

The Walnuts School continues to be a good school, described as a nurturing environment that puts pupils’ care at the forefront. Leaders have strengthened considerably since the previous inspection, raising expectations successfully for the curriculum and ensuring pupils are well prepared for their next steps.

Strengths

• Adults know how to support pupils’ special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with pupils saying they feel safe and trust staff.
• Pupils’ learning of mathematics is highly effective, with teaching ensuring new learning builds precisely on previous knowledge.
• Leaders have developed an effective phonics programme, helping pupils learn to read well from Reception or key stage 1.
• Staff promote positive working relationships, resolving disagreements quickly and using them as learning opportunities.
• Sixth-form students are prepared well for their next steps, with effective focus on independent living skills and workplace experience.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure staff are clear about the small, precise steps needed to ensure pupils’ learning builds on existing learning in all subjects.
• Teachers’ implementation of the curriculum across all subjects and ages is not as consistent as it could be, requiring subject-specific knowledge training.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong culture where staff know pupils well, are suitably trained, and follow thorough recruitment procedures.