ADO River Valley School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 19 September 2023

The first thing that pupils see when they come to school each day are 'Tick' and 'Tock', the school goats. The goats, alongside a wide range of animals, including rabbits, horses, chickens and degus, are all part of daily life at the school. Pupils work with the animals as part of the school's approach to therapeutic care and delivery of the curriculum. For example, pupils gain qualifications in land-based studies and animal care. Pupils often come to this school after a long time of being out of education. One pupil summed up one of the successes of the school when they said, 'It has opened me up to learning again.' Pupils enjoy their time at school and know that adults are there for them. Pupils' attendance significantly improves. Pupils respond to the school's high expectations. They go on to achieve well, including in literacy and numeracy. All the gains that pupils make mean they are confident that they can be successful. The school helps to break down pupils' barriers to learning. Pupils learn how to manage their emotions and to adapt their behaviour. They become more resilient learners, developing much more positive attitudes to learning.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects or topics, leaders have not precisely identified the most important component knowledge that they want pupils to know and remember. As a result, sometimes key knowledge is not being embedded in pupils' long-term memory. Leaders should make sure that the key knowledge that pupils should know and remember is identified and assessed as they move through the curriculum.
• A few of the school's strategies for supporting weaker readers and writers are not as effective as they could be, for example in fully developing pupils' reading fluency. Leaders should review their strategies. They should ensure that all staff have the expertise to provide well-planned activities that help pupils maximise their potential in reading and writing across the curriculum.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)