THE headteacher of a school which cares for pupils with special educational needs has celebrated a glowing Ofsted report.
Lexden Springs in Stanway was rated good by the education watchdog following an inspection into the school’s social care provision across three days in May.
Inspectors Jamie Cousins and Trish Palmer rated the overall experiences and progress of pupils and how well they are helped and protected as good in their report.
They also ranked the effectiveness of school leaders and managers as good, highlighting the progress children have made as “remarkable”.
The Winstree Road school’s headteacher Simon Wall was labelled “inspirational and ambitious” by the impressed inspectors.
Mr Wall told the Gazette: “We are delighted with the rating, and we recognise that this comes as a result of the hard work and dedication from all our staff in their commitment to helping our pupils reach their fullest potential.”
At the time of the inspection, there were 254 pupils on roll, all under “effective” safeguarding procedures.
The report reads: “The progress that children have made is remarkable. It has meant the opportunities and independence this has given them will have a positive impact on them into their adult lives.
“Staff have worked exceptionally well with children and parents to support children’s progress and independence.
“Staff become emotional when talking about the outcomes that children have made because they care and want the best for children.”
The school has a residential provision comprising of six purpose-built houses situated in its grounds and can accommodate up to 30 children, which opened in October 2020.
The report added: “The residential accommodation has a warm, nurturing feel. There is a wide variety of age-appropriate games and toys for children to play with during their stays.
“The staff go above and beyond expectations to support the children and their families.”
School leaders were told, however, health and safety and recruitment records should be suitably managed and available for scrutiny respectively.
Actions from reviews of incidents should also be recorded to demonstrate they have been completed, the inspectors added.
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