Educare Small School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 June 2024

This small supportive school prides itself on the individualised learning and care that it offers. Pupils are helped to become confident and respectful through the school's nurturing environment. They are happy here. Leaders maintain high expectations and ambitions for pupils' academic achievement. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders' goals for pupils' learning are, in most curriculum areas, fully realised. In these areas, pupils are skilfully supported to learn the full school curriculum and achieve well overall. The school has adopted a range of suitable behavioural techniques and principles to support positive behaviour. Staff model and promote these principles and give pupils lots of encouragement and guidance. Pupils are also given time for reflection and to refocus when they need it. As a result, pupils are helped to consider the impact of their own behaviour on their own emotions and on others. In most cases, this results in generally positive behaviour. Pupils are encouraged to make positive contributions to the school and the wider community. They take on responsibilities and think about ways to keep the school safe for all. Visits to the local community garden help pupils to become aware of the benefits of volunteering and also boost their social skills. Pupils enjoy school life and they are kept safe.

What the school should improve

• In some instances, the school's expectations for behaviour are not implemented consistently well. This means that, at times, there are interruptions to pupils' learning. The school should strengthen professional development for staff so that they can consistently teach and implement the school behaviour systems to ensure that all learning time is made the most of.
• A few aspects of the curriculum, including PSHE, are not as effective as others in expanding pupils' knowledge. For instance, pupils' awareness of fundamental British values and how these relate to the society that they are living in is not as well developed as the school intends. The school should review how these aspects of the curriculum are planned and delivered to enable pupils to develop suitably deep and detailed knowledge.

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