Wildwood Nature School

School progress monitoring inspection report

p.1

Wildwood Nature School St Mary Brookfield Hall, York Rise, London NW5 1SB

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(h), 3 to 3(d) and 3(g)  At the school’s last progress monitoring inspection in April 2025, these independent school standards (the standards) remained not met because work to improve the curriculum was in its early stages. The school had put in place suitable actions to improve the quality of curricular thinking and planning. It introduced a new online system to record and assess what pupils know and can do. However, though the curriculum design was better and leaders had taken actions such as these to improve teaching, there had not yet been enough time to demonstrate positive impact.  The school’s second post-inspection action plan included some suitable actions and clear, measurable success criteria. However, some parts of the plan were not detailed enough and the timescales for improvement were unrealistic.  This inspection found significant improvements to the school’s quality of education are

p.1

Main inspection findings

having an ongoing positive impact on pupils’ learning. The ‘team teaching’ programme is helping staff to plan and teach in a more focused way, using the school’s suitable curriculum plans in all subjects. The assessment system is embedded and working effectively. Staff now use information about what pupils know and can do more systematically to inform their teaching. Regular helpful training, visits to other schools and external support from an experienced consultant are all ensuring that the quality of education is now enabling pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to make progress across the curriculum.  The standards checked in this part are now met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(b)  The previous inspection identified improvements to leadership and management and increased oversight by the proprietor body. However, at that time, the improvements

p.1

Main inspection findings

were new and did not demonstrate sufficient impact.  This inspection found leaders, with investment, oversight and support from the proprietor body, to have taken decisive, consistent and effective actions to continuously improve the quality of education. Leaders’ credible and effective work demonstrates that the school is now consistently meeting the standards and is likely to continue to do so.  The standard checked in this part is now met.

p.1

Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

p.3

Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively; and  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are– – 2(2)(h) that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress.

p.3

Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school– – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught – 3(b) fosters in pupils self-motivation, the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons – 3(g) demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can

p.3

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

p.3

School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

p.4

School details

Email address info@wildwoodnatureschool.org.uk

p.4

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 9 to 11 July 2024

p.4

Information about this school

 The school operates from one premises at St Mary Brookfield Hall, York Rise, London NW5 1SB. Pupils regularly learn outdoors in local public spaces.  The school currently has pupils in Reception Year, and from Years 1 to 4.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  The school’s most recent inspection was a progress monitoring inspection in April 2025. Before this, the school’s previous inspection was its first standard inspection in July 2024.

p.4

Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  This was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection since its first standard inspection in July 2024 and first progress monitoring inspection in April 2025.  Since the previous inspection, leaders were asked to submit a second action plan. This was judged by Ofsted to be not acceptable in August 2025 and was subsequently rejected by the Department for Education.  This inspection was conducted without notice.  The focus of the inspection was to check whether the school complies with particular requirements within parts 1 and 8 of the standards.  The inspector met with the headteacher, a trustee, a teacher and the leader with

p.5

Information about this inspection

responsibility for safeguarding. The inspector visited lessons, spoke with pupils, reviewed pupils’ work, toured the premises and reviewed documents, including curriculum plans.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements. The relevant requirements in parts 3 and 6 of the standards continue to be met.

p.5

Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspection team

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

p.6

Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

p.6

Inspection team

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.

p.6

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection team

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6