Alternative Centre of Education

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 September 2024

The school strives to improve the life chances of pupils. Pupils arrive having had negative prior experiences of school. They also typically struggle with their behaviour. Staff take time to understand pupils' complex social, emotional and mental health needs. They use this knowledge effectively to build strong working and trusting relationships with pupils. As a result, pupils settle well. They feel safe and begin to value the opportunities that they have to gain new knowledge. The school uses a range of strategies to help pupils develop constructive social skills. It does plentiful work to support pupils' character development. This is aimed at enabling them to function positively in society. This also leads to a calm and purposeful environment in the school, making it a conducive place for study. There are times when pupils get dysregulated and need help to manage their emotions and behaviour. When this happens, staff intervene with dignity and skill. They show both effective behaviour management skills and respect for each pupil. Consequently, pupils regain their emotional equilibrium. They return quickly to work in the classroom. The school's work is underpinned by high expectations. It ensures that pupils leave this school well prepared for the future. They either return to mainstream schools or go on to post-16 provisions.

What the school should improve

• A few pupils who join this school with very low reading and writing skills are not routinely supported well enough to catch up as quickly as they can. This means they continue to struggle to access the curriculum fully. They are also unable to produce written work of a high quality. The school should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to help those pupils gain the foundational reading and writing fluency that they need to study successfully.

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