Ingfield Manor School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 November 2023

The school's ethos is one of dignity, friendship, and mutual respect. Staff care deeply for pupils and understand their needs very well. Pupils feel comfortable and secure as a result. They welcome visitors with warm smiles and cheerful greetings. One of the school's key aims is to equip pupils with skills and strategies that will enable them to live as independent a life as possible in the future. The school does this very well. High expectations and a 'can-do' approach lie at the heart of the school's success. Pupils grow in confidence and ambition. They told inspectors how much they enjoy school and spoke of their relish in trying new activities, such as basketball. The older pupils speak enthusiastically about the qualification courses they are studying, the progress they are making, and their aspirations for the future. One said: 'Without the help I have had here, I wouldn't be the person I am today.' Pupils enjoy being with their friends and behave well most of the time. Well-established routines are helping to ensure that pupils who have recently joined Woodview, the school's provision for pupils with communication needs and moderate learning difficulties, are beginning to settle into school life.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum in Woodview, the school's recently established provision for pupils with speech, communication and language needs and moderate learning difficulties, is less well developed than that in the rest of the school. Variations in the quality of education mean that a small number of pupils in this provision can become unsettled and misbehave during lessons. They do not always learn as well as they could when this is the case. Leaders know this and have suitable plans in place to ensure that the quality of education is equally effective across the school. They should implement these plans to ensure that all pupils learn and behave equally well.

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