Unique Children's School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 5 March 2024

This school provides comprehensive care and support to its pupils, ensuring that those who have not previously been able to attend school do so regularly. Pupils appreciate the warm, nurturing environment that leaders and staff have created. Staff and pupils value and live the aims of the school. Pupils like how their voice and views are placed at the centre of their education. The school supports pupils well to build their self-confidence, resilience and respect for themselves and others. The curriculum is individually designed for each pupil. Expectations for pupils' learning are regularly reviewed and refined to ensure that everyone is learning successfully. Leaders and staff focus on making sure that learning is appropriately ambitious for each pupil. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported in their learning. Pupils' positive behaviour supports learning. They work well in their lessons. The school environment is calm and focused, and this too promotes learning. Pupils enjoy school and they are kept safe. Enrichment and personal development are placed at the heart of the curriculum. Leaders want to prepare pupils for the wider world. Pupils appreciate the opportunities that they have to complete work experience, learn social skills and to take part in various educational visits. Staff work in tandem with pupils to prepare them for the next stages of their education.

What the school should improve

• In some instances, and in some subjects, teaching expertise is not strong enough to deliver the school's curriculum expectations fully. This means that pupils' understanding is not deepening as securely as it might. The school should strengthen professional development for staff so that they consistently have the breadth and depth of subject knowledge needed to deliver the curriculum consistently well across all subjects.
• At times, the school does not consider fully whether all staff have a reasonable workload. The proprietor and governing body should take suitable steps to understand the day-to-day realities of staff workload, and ensure that expectations of staff are realistic and manageable.

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