Inaura School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 February 2024

Pupils feel well supported by staff. Many pupils have had a disrupted experience of education prior to joining the school. Staff are patient and kind. They take time to get to know pupils. They help pupils develop their confidence. If pupils become anxious, staff help them to develop strategies to cope. Staff are vigilant and supportive. They work with pupils one to one. They use their training to create a calm, gentle environment. Staff identify quickly when pupils need a change of activity. As a result, pupils feel safe and cared for. Pupils try new challenges. For example, the bean bag challenge and one-touch football support pupils in socialising and competing with their peers. Older pupils play triple chess. Pupils are proud of their tournament achievements as a school football team. Pupils learn to cook or create projects in the design and technology studio. These experiences build pupils' self-esteem. Staff are ambitious for pupils to take pride in their achievements. They celebrate and reward pupils when they work well. Pupils value and appreciate this. All pupils work towards and complete a range of qualifications including functional skills, GCSE and ASDAN awards.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, staff are over-dependent on teaching the content of an exam specification. They have not carefully considered what pupils need to know and when in order to learn new knowledge and skills. This hinders pupils' learning. The school and proprietor should ensure that the curriculum is carefully mapped out so pupils secure and build on their prior learning.
• The school's approach to writing is not as well developed as other parts of the curriculum. This means pupils do not progress in their writing skills in the same way they develop reading and oracy. The school should make sure pupils have greater exposure to planning, drafting and developing their writing.

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