Bestwood Village School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 8 July 2025

Bestwood Village School has established a caring and nurturing learning environment. In the past, many pupils have faced failed school placements or had lengthy periods of time when they did not attend school. Now, they are happy to come to school, and their attendance has improved. Staff make sure that pupils know what is happening at each point in the school day. Pupils follow daily routines. They have fun as they learn. Outdoor sessions are a favourite part of the school week. For example, pupils enjoy making shelters in the school garden. They smile and laugh as a member of staff pours water over their shelters to check they are waterproof. Staff take time to get to know pupils well. They recognise the signs that indicate pupils need help to stay calm. Staff step in promptly to offer support and keep pupils safe. Over time, pupils' behaviour has improved. They learn to consider the feelings of others and begin to look out for each other. The school is ambitious that pupils will do well. Preparing pupils for the next steps in their education and later life is at the heart of the school's work. Increasingly, pupils experience success and grow in confidence.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes, staff do not respond quickly enough using effective strategies to ensure that pupils engage fully in their learning. On these occasions, pupils do not learn as well as they could. The school should ensure that staff have a wide range of techniques at their fingertips to support pupils in actively participating in lessons.
• Occasionally, staff do not address incidents where pupils' behaviour does not meet the school's high expectations. As a result, pupils do not learn that some of their actions are inappropriate. The school should ensure that staff know which behaviours should not be overlooked and how to respond when they occur.

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