Valence School

Overview

Valence School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes a calm and happy environment where pupils with complex needs embody values of independence and resilience. Leaders and staff work collaboratively to ensure high aspirations are fully realised for every pupil.

Strengths

• Pupils behave exceptionally well and build deep, trusting relationships with staff, contributing to a strong community where they feel happy and safe.
• The curriculum is very ambitious and precisely matched to pupils’ specific needs, with content sequenced logically from early years to sixth form.
• Teachers use a deeply personalised approach and precise checks to identify and address gaps in knowledge, helping pupils achieve very well.
• Staff are experts in their subjects and adapt learning activities to ensure all pupils gain deep knowledge, supported by skilled residential and therapy teams.
• Pupils have a clear voice in the school, participating in recruitment and identifying improvements, while demonstrating maturity in considering differing views.

Areas to improve

• The school does not provide impartial careers advice for older pupils, meaning a small number do not receive specialist guidance for their next steps.
• The curriculum for careers advice and guidance needs to contain all relevant information to help pupils make informed choices regarding education or employment.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.