Turney Primary and Secondary Special School

Overview

Pupils enjoy attending this special school, entering with a "relaxed and cheerful" demeanour and showing "positive engagement with learning." The inspection awarded 'Good' across all key judgement areas, noting that staff work collaboratively to ensure pupils feel safe and are prepared for independent adult life.

Strengths

• The school provides an "ambitious curriculum" tailored to pupils’ complex needs, with a "sharp focus on getting pupils ready for life as independent and confident adults."
• Mathematics is taught in a "systematic way," while early readers receive regular support to build essential "phonics knowledge."
• Pastoral support is a strength; staff are "alert to any unkind behaviour," which is dealt with quickly, and emotional needs are met in a "calm and sensitive way."
• Sixth-form students are well prepared for adulthood through learning about "the world of work" and essential life skills such as "travelling on public transport, shopping and cooking."
• Staff feel "well supported" and find their work "very rewarding," contributing to a calm and orderly school environment.

Areas to improve

• In some curriculum aspects, the school is "not clear enough about what it wants pupils to learn," meaning teachers lack sufficient guidance on the most important knowledge.
• The school needs to "refine its curriculum to make more explicit what pupils should learn" and ensure staff are supported to implement this effectively.

Safeguarding

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