Heathfield Special School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 October 2022

Pupils love coming to Heathfield Special School. Their enjoyment in their learning is clear to see. The school values are an intrinsic part of everything they do. Pupils strive to achieve goals which will earn them 'values wristbands'. These are colourful, tangible rewards which pupils understand and which help them learn to be responsible, respectful members of their school community. Leaders work with determination to ensure pupils achieve their potential. Pupils' personal targets, derived from their education, health and care plans, are carefully woven throughout the well-crafted school curriculum. Consequently, pupils thrive. They develop their confidence and resilience and are well prepared for secondary school. Pupils try their best and behave very well. Staff have high expectations of pupils' behaviour. They use consistent routines and thoughtful approaches that help pupils to manage their own behaviour effectively. As a result, there is a calm atmosphere around the school. Staff know and understand the pupils in their class exceptionally well; they care deeply about pupils' well-being. Consequently, pupils feel safe. They know that staff will always listen to them. As one parent commented, 'It takes a special person to hear what a child cannot say, and we are lucky to have a school full of special people at Heathfield.'

What the school should improve

• While leaders have ensured that planning for progression is strong in the majority of subjects, and for pupils following all three pathways, this is not consistently strong in all subjects. Consequently, in some subjects, pupils do not receive appropriate learning activities which would allow them to reach their full potential. This is particularly the case for pupils in the earliest stages of development. Leaders should ensure that planning for pupils' progression is consistently strong in all subjects.

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