Soundwell Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 June 2023

There are lots of smiles at this school. Staff smile because they love spending time with the pupils. Pupils smile because they can be themselves. They know that staff like them, respect them and want the best for them. Strong, trusting relationships between staff and pupils are the reason that this school is such a happy place to be. All pupils have particular social, emotional or communication needs. Staff make sure that pupils feel secure. Pupils learn to trust adults, behave appropriately and get along with each other. Staff skilfully teach pupils how to understand and manage their own feelings. They also teach them how to recognise and respect the feelings of others. As a result, pupils learn how to cope in social situations with other children and with adults. It does not stop there. Staff are determined that every pupil will achieve academically as much as they can. Staff provide pupils with the knowledge and the personal and social skills they need to prepare them for adulthood. Pupils overcome their anxieties and catch up on essential basic learning, such as how to read. As they get older, pupils work towards gaining nationally recognised qualifications. This opens up their future career options.

What the school should improve

• As the age range of pupils extends, maintaining the consistency of provision and extending it across the breadth of the school's work will be a challenge. Leaders need to ensure that the processes that have been successful so far maintain and enhance the quality of provision consistently across all aspects of provision for all pupils.

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