Pupils and staff go to top of the class

PUPILS and staff at a Hampshire special school are celebrating a glowing Ofsted report.

Just about every aspect of Cedar School in Nursling was judged good or very good by inspectors - among the highest praise Ofsted can give.

Inspectors, who visited at the start of October, loved the quality of teaching and the efforts made to reach some especialy disabled youngsters - including one pupil who used a switch to answer questions.

Head teacher Brian Hart, who inspectors described as showing "strong leadership", is glowing with pride.

He said: "I am particularly delighted that the inspectors recognised the whole team approach to teaching and learning as a great strength of the school.

"All members of the school, including teachers, parents, governors, classroom support staff, home school co-ordinator, medical staff, caretaking and cleaning staff, office staff, kitchen staff and supervisory assistants play a vital role in achieving the school's high standards.

"This report reflects the hard work, commitment and shared common purpose of all the staff and governors working in partnership with the parents and the local community."

Chairman of governors Stephen Thomas said: "The governors of the Cedar School are thrilled that the Ofsted report acknowledges the outstanding work which is done in the school.

"The high quality relationships that our staff have with the pupils has a profound effect on the teaching and learning of these students and allows them to become individual, functioning people who can leave school and make a very positive contribution to society.

"I am delighted the inspectors noted that pupils are enthusiastic and keen to come to school, that they expressed themselves well and listened well to others and that their confidence and good manners were exceptional achievements."

STRENGTHS

The quality of teaching and learning is good and teachers are supported very well by highly skilled and effective learning support assistants.

The governing body works very effectively with the head teacher in promoting the development of the school.

The school provides extensive opportunities for high quality activities outside the classroom.

The staff team and governors take the utmost care of all their pupils who consequently are able to spend their time learning and playing in safe and secure environments.

Pupils' attitudes to school and their personal development and relationships are very good.

WEAKNESSES

A small group of parents remain unclear about the school's policy and practice regarding homework.

The school has assembled a mass of data relating to pupils' progress but the evaluation of this data is in the process of being developed further at present.

STANDARDS

Pupils achieve very well in relation to communication skills. Standards in other aspects of English are good. Eighty-four per cent of pupils reached their individual targets. Good standards are achieved in mathematics, where 86 per cent of pupils achieved their individual targets. In personal, social and health education (PSHE) good standards are achieved in lessons. In general, around the school, standards in this subject are very good. Ninety-two per cent of pupils reached their individual targets in this subject.

The changing nature of the intake of the school means that fewer pupils are taking courses leading to external accreditation, such as GCSE courses.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

The quality of teaching and learning has continued to improve since the last inspection.

Excellent teaching was seen in French. English teaching is good and the skills of communication, reading and writing are well taught across the curriculum, with the teaching of communication skills being a great strength of the school.

Mathematics and the skills of numeracy teaching is good. Science teaching is very good. PSHE is taught across the curriculum and is embedded in every aspect of school life.

Where it is taught as a discrete subject, teaching is good. Individual special educational needs are well catered for and additional needs are planned for well.

All pupils are making good progress. The lessons seen during the inspection confirmed that pupils' learning is good.

Staff have a good understanding of the needs of pupils and they use a range of strategies to ensure that pupils' learning is good.