Oakleigh School & Acorn Assessment Centre

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 December 2024

Oakleigh School is a very special place. The school's vision is to provide an exceptional, nurturing environment for all pupils. It does this extremely well. Parents and carers cannot speak highly enough of the school. Pupils flourish here. The high ambitions staff have for pupils mean no barrier is too high to climb. For example, if a communication aid does not work for a pupil, staff will try another. If a pupil cannot regulate their behaviour, staff will provide sessions such as sensory stimuli and music to help them be ready for learning. The warm, close relationships between staff and pupils mean that staff readily read moods, wants and needs. This high-quality support enables pupils to learn and behave exceedingly well. Each morning, a skilled, patient staff team warmly welcomes pupils. When they arrive, pupils quickly settle into consistent, safe routines. Pupils know that what lies ahead is a carefully designed day that takes into account their unique character, as well as their communication and learning needs. Pupils love their time at Oakleigh School and want to be there. The school offers substantial support to parents, including workshops, counselling groups and one-to-one sessions. These help parents feel supported and involved in their child's education and well-being.

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