Fountaindale School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 May 2025

Fountaindale provides a kind and caring environment. Pupils are treated with dignity and respect. They are supported by a highly skilled staff team that shows them care and compassion. The school has high aspirations for pupils and works closely with parents and carers, and a range of health professionals, to ensure that pupils receive a high-quality education. As a result, pupils achieve well, within the context of their special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They are happy to come to school and enter the building with smiles. Pupils know that staff are there to help if they are worried or upset. The support from staff makes them feel safe and appreciated. Pupils enjoy communicating with those around them through a variety of systems. They build positive relationships with their friends and, where possible, share their learning. Pupils are proud of their achievements. They enjoy the praise they receive from staff and their classmates. Pupils enjoy opportunities to explore the world around them. Teachers bring the outside world into the classroom. They use visual aids, props and sensory activities to create new environments for pupils to explore. Pupils enjoy the walks in the woodland that is part of the school grounds. They are particularly keen to find out about the wildlife that shares this space.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes, the school does not ensure that all staff make the best use of learning time so that pupils remain fully engaged. This means that some pupils do not achieve as well as they could. The school should ensure that all staff have knowledge and expertise needed to enhance and develop pupils' learning so that no time is lost.
• On occasion, the school does not ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills necessary to support the needs of some pupils. This results in some inconsistencies in the quality of the provision received by some pupils and impacts on the well-being of some staff. The school should ensure that all staff have the skills and understanding to meet the needs of all pupils.
• Sometimes, the school does not develop enough understanding of trends and patterns linked to pupils' outcomes. This means that, at times, it is not able to evaluate fully the impact of its work to improve pupils' achievements. The school should ensure that it evaluates its work effectively, so that it knows what is working well and what needs to be improved, for the benefit of all pupils.

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