Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy

Overview

Pupils experience a good education at this special academy, where the curriculum is well planned to meet their complex physical, medical, and sensory needs. The report highlights that pupils enjoy attending school, benefit from positive relationships with staff, and are prepared well for their next stages as young adults.

Strengths

• The curriculum supports all aspects of learning, with a strong focus on developing communication, literacy, and reading skills using appropriate methods and resources.
• Personal development is outstanding, with a high-quality programme of trips, visits, and extra-curricular activities that build community participation and physical skills.
• Staff are highly ambitious for every pupil, fostering a ‘can do’ approach and ensuring pupils are confident in expressing their views and ideas.
• Early years provision is good, with staff having a strong understanding of children’s individual needs and creating a secure foundation for moving into Year 1.
• Leaders provide robust support for transition to adulthood, including careers education, work experience, and close collaboration with external agencies.

Areas to improve

• Some staff lack training in adapting the curriculum for specific sensory needs or using resources effectively, leading to pupil disengagement.
• Whole-school improvement planning is not detailed enough, leaving staff unclear about their specific responsibilities and timelines for further development.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with well-trained staff using comprehensive recording systems to track pupil development and engage timely with external agencies to keep pupils safe.