Longspee Academy

Inspection of an outstanding school: Longspee School Learoyd Road, Canford Heath, Poole, Dorset BH17 8PJ

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Outcome

Longspee School continues to be an outstanding school.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The principal and the leadership team have worked hard to make the school a safe and happy place. The calm environment enables pupils to achieve well. The school is very nurturing. Pupils enjoy coming to school. They socialise and learn well together. Pupils enjoy each other’s company. They learn about ‘zones of regulation’. Pupils use this work to support their emotions inside and outside of school. They learn how to make positive choices about their behaviour and actions. Pupils behave very well. They told inspectors that if bullying happens, teachers sort it out quickly.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy their lessons. Staff expectations are high. Staff ensure pupils develop a love of reading. Reading lessons are daily. This helps pupils build on their phonics skills. They read a range of books and enjoy listening to stories. Pupils who are behind in their reading access additional support. Pupils have a weekly vocabulary lesson. This helps develop pupils’ language.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Each day begins with breakfast club. Pupils enjoy the start of the day, meeting with friends and adults. This time helps them get ready for learning. Leaders take this opportunity to highlight pupils’ achievement.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The curriculum is very well designed. This makes it easy for teachers to know what to teach and when. Pupils learn a wide range of subjects, always building on what they know already. Leaders have ensured that targets in pupils’ education, health and care plans are being met. Lessons follow a well-established structure. This helps pupils not become anxious when starting a new lesson.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

In reading lessons, pupils complete short tasks. Precisely planned activities help pupils improve and enjoy their reading. Teachers ensure pupils secure their phonics knowledge. This is having a positive impact on pupils’ ability to read. 5–6 February 2020

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The teaching of mathematics ensures that pupils’ fundamental knowledge and skills are secure before progressing. Pupils spend lots of time practicing their basic skills. They are able to then use their knowledge and skills to solve mathematical problems.

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Personal, social, health and economic education lessons help pupils learn about how to get on with other people. They learn how to be a good citizen in a democratic, multi- cultural society. Pupils are well-supported by staff to reflect on what they have learned.

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Parents and carers are very positive about the school. One parent stated, ‘I am so happy with this school. My child is extremely happy. It is amazing what a difference the right setting, trained teachers and staff can have.’

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The multi-academy trust supports leaders very well. Members of the advisory committee and the director of specialist education visit the school often. They help middle and senior leaders check that pupils are reaching their full potential.

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Behaviour is well managed. Teachers encourage pupils to talk about their emotions and feelings. Teachers have detailed individual plans that provide essential information to support pupils. When pupils are not able to manage their behaviour, effective systems are in place. Leaders ensure that pupils who find school difficult get extra support. The school works with a number of therapists and a range of external agencies. These provide effective additional help when required.

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Teachers are very positive. Morale is high among staff. Staff feel very well supported by the leadership team. They value the opportunities they get for professional development. Regular training ensures that all staff have strong subject knowledge. Leaders often encourage staff to visit other schools. This is to develop staff’s expertise further.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Stringent procedures for the safe recruitment of staff are in place. Leaders take great care to ensure that staff know how to keep pupils safe. All staff complete the required training. Any concerns about a pupil’s safety or well-being are carefully recorded and prompt action is taken.

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Safeguarding

Pupils report that they feel safe. The curriculum helps pupils stay safe online. School staff and parents work well together to keep pupils safe. Leaders work closely with other agencies to provide further support if needed.

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Background

When we have judged a special school to be outstanding we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains outstanding. This is called a section 8 inspection of a good school or non-exempt outstanding school. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find some evidence that the school could now be better than good or that standards may be 5–6 February 2020

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declining, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will convert the section 8 inspection to a section 5 inspection immediately.

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This is the first section 8 inspection since we judged Longspee School to be outstanding on 10–11 March 2016.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use Ofsted Parent View information when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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How can I feed back my views?

If you are the school and you are not happy with the inspection or the report, you can complain to Ofsted .

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 5–6 February 2020

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School details

Local authority Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

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School details

Inspection number 10122389 Type of school Special

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School details

School category Academy special converter

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School details

Appropriate authority The advisory committee

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School details

Chair of advisory committee David Alderson

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School details

Date of previous inspection 10–11 March 2016

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Information about this school

 Longspee Academy is a special day school providing education for pupils with emotional, social and mental health difficulties, and autism spectrum disorders. All pupils are supported by an education, health and care plan.  The school is part of the Ambitions Academy Trust.  Longspee Academy provides an outreach service offering behaviour support to mainstream schools.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspectors met with the principal, vice-principal, inclusion leader, curriculum leaders, teachers, pupils, the chair of the advisory committee, the chief executive of the trust, director of specialist education and two trustees.  We completed deep dives in reading, mathematics and personal, social, health and economic education. This involved meetings with curriculum leaders, lesson visits, looking at pupils’ work and talking to teachers and pupils.  We scrutinised a number of documents, including school policies, self-evaluation and improvement plans and minutes of meetings. 5–6 February 2020

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 To inspect safeguarding, child protection records, staff recruitment files and behaviour records were examined.  We considered seven responses to Ofsted parent view and six free-text responses. We spoke to six parents or carers when they brought their child to school.  We observed behaviour in lessons, at breaktime, in breakfast club and during lunch.

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Inspection team

Andy Lole, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Andy Brown Ofsted Inspector 5–6 February 2020

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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