Wigston Birkett House Community Special School

Overview

Pupils enjoy attending this welcoming special school where staff are described as ‘very caring and supportive’. Leaders maintain high expectations, aiming for ‘no glass ceiling’ for any pupil, and ensure all students are prepared for their next steps. The inspection found that relationships between staff and pupils are ‘very positive’, with staff skilled at meeting complex needs and minimising distress.

Strengths

• Staff establish ‘caring relationships’ and adapt the learning environment to suit individual sensory needs, particularly within the sensory-based blue curriculum pathway.
• A systematic phonics programme supports early reading, enabling pupils to apply their knowledge effectively when reading unfamiliar words.
• Older students benefit from high-quality careers education and work experience opportunities that help prepare them for adult life.
• The early years provision ensures children get off to a ‘strong start’, with communication designed to ‘underpin everything’.
• Governors and leaders maintain close contact with families, and parents appreciate the consistent updates regarding their children’s learning and welfare.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the mathematics curriculum is ‘coherently sequenced’ so pupils are not introduced to new concepts before they are ready.
• Leaders need to provide a ‘comprehensive overview’ of individual education plan (IEP) targets to ensure they are precise and allow pupils to make maximum progress.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a knowledgeable team that closely monitors behavioural changes and acts on concerns in a timely manner.