AN ‘inadequate’ Colchester special school is continuing to improve following a monitoring visit by watchdogs.

Lexden Springs School, in Winstree Road, takes pupils with special educational needs, severe learning difficulties and autism.

A monitoring inspection was conducted by Ofsted.

The five-person inspection team raised concerns about “essential medical advice” not being available to staff which “puts pupils at risk”, as well as the school not acting swiftly to “address a decline in the quality of education”.

It was rated good in the behaviour and attitudes categories, but inadequate in the leadership and management category, and requires improvement in the quality of education, early years provision, and sixth form provision.

The school’s residential provision is rated completely separately and was upgraded to ‘good’ following a report in July.

However, Lexden Springs School, although still ‘inadequate’, is making positive progress according to Ofsted.

It said: “The school has in place an improvement plan that is fit for purpose.

A large outdoor play area at the Lexden Springs siteA large outdoor play area at the Lexden Springs site (Image: N/A) “It focuses appropriately on addressing the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection.

“Actions are timely and the school is on course to meet the previous inspection recommendations.”

Significant changes are underway to improve the curriculum. From September, classes are grouped according to pupils’ needs and key stage rather than age.

The new executive headteacher joined the school in March, and is a specialist in running schools for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.

Training run by the local authority has helped staff regain confidence with the use of the electronic system for recording safeguarding concerns.

A spokesman for Lexden Springs Special School said: “The interim executive board are pleased that significant progress has so far been made in improving standards at the school, as set out in the Ofsted monitoring visit report.

“We recognise there is still a lot of work which needs to be done. We are disappointed that safeguarding remains 'ineffective'.

"However, further progress has been made since the inspection in this area, in particular through the employment of a school nurse.

“We would like to thank our staff for their continued hard work, as well as our parents, carers and pupils for their support.”