Claystone School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 February 2026

Pupils join the school having had time out of education or having previously developed a negative view of school. Joining Claystone School helps them to rediscover a love of learning. On arrival, pupils settle quickly and reignite their learning journey. They benefit from warm, welcoming smiles from staff at the start of each day. Staff get to know pupils quickly, for example their likes, dislikes, interests and ways of communicating. As a result, pupils learn in an environment that is highly conducive to meeting their needs. Pupils behave well in class and around the school. This is because staff skilfully support pupils' emotions, feelings and behaviour. When pupils show signs of unhappiness or dysregulation, staff provide calm reassurance and effective help. Staff also help pupils prepare for new experiences or the unexpected. For example, careful preparation enabled pupils to receive the recent flu immunisation in school. Similarly, fire drill evacuations are calm and extremely well managed. The school and classrooms are purposeful and safe places to be. Pupils attend school regularly. For many, this was not the case in their previous settings. Leaders know pupils and their families extremely well. If a pupil begins to miss too much school, leaders step in and provide effective support. This helps attendance to improve. While bullying is very rare, staff remain vigilant and watch for any pupils who may be sad or upset. They intervene quickly if needed. Leaders prioritise pupils' wider development. This provision helps pupils to grow in confidence. Learning to manage their feelings, take responsibility for their actions and equipment, and understand differences between themselves and others helps pupils to see the world beyond their own experiences.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure that they continue the work that has started to fully embed the recently refined curriculum across the whole school. • Leaders should continue to provide professional learning for staff, especially those new to the school and their role, to ensure that they deliver the curriculum to the high standard leaders expect.

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