Exeter House Special School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 June 2023

Every pupil is seen as individual and unique in this school. Staff understand the specific and complex needs that each pupil has. Through patience, care and understanding, staff help each pupil to make sense of the world around them. Pupils learn to communicate, have a sense of self and an awareness of others. As pupils move through the school, they learn essential skills for independence and adult life. Pupils arrive at school full of joy and anticipation for the day ahead. Adults greet them enthusiastically. The day follows well-established routines which helps pupils know what to expect. As a result, they are secure and happy. They settle into school life and behave well. There is a strong focus on helping pupils to communicate. This is so that they can build relationships with staff and make friends. Pupils have very strong bonds with trusted adults in the school. This helps pupils to feel safe. Staff are determined that pupils will achieve academically to the best of their potential. Teachers constantly look for better ways to help each pupil learn to read, write and understand mathematics. Leaders make sure that staff have the expertise to do so.

What the school should improve

• Work to sharpen the link between assessment information and teaching is very new. Therefore, its impact has yet to be seen, particularly in raising pupils' academic outcomes. Leaders need to ensure that the approach used leads to teaching that matches pupils' academic potential precisely so that all achieve as well as they might.

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