Special education school in East Bristol now outstanding, says Ofsted

A special education school in Bristol has been given an ‘Outstanding’ rating in each key judgement by Ofsted as the school experience was described as “heartening” by inspectors. Briarwood School, which operates across three sites in Fishponds and Barton Hill, supports 165 pupils aged between three and 19 years old.

Briarwood School provides education for pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties, complex needs, autism and sensory impairment, and all pupils have an education, health and care plan. Briarwood School was previously rated as ‘Outstanding’ between July 2008 and March 2011 and has been rated as ‘Good’ since.

During the inspection on October 8 and October 9, inspectors found that the school is where pupils “feel safe, secure and understood” and the school “calm and orderly”. Pupils thrive at the school, which is organised into infants, juniors, secondary, sixth form and a specialist centre for challenging behaviour, known as the Nexus.

The report said: “A skilled, patient staff team warmly welcomes pupils each morning. Pupils know that what lies ahead is a carefully planned day that takes their unique character as well as their communication and learning needs into account. As a result, pupils love their time at Briarwood and want to be there, they know that the school helps them to learn the things they need so that they can be as ready as they can for their next steps.

“The curriculum is crystal clear. Ambitious, yet realistic, goals are set out in tiny, detailed steps. Consequently, learning activities help to get the absolute best from everyone. Pupils respond by trying hard in lessons and staff celebrate achievements, however small, with joy.

“Briarwood achieves the vision it has set out. Pupils enjoy what they do, engage with their learning, and learn to the best of their ability.”

Ofsted said that the pupils who attend the East Bristol school face complex challenges, but “what they experience at the school is heartening”. Staff do everything they can to understand the starting points of pupils, and their communication and learning needs, which leads to bespoke and individualised learning pathways based on a well-constructed curriculum.

Briarwood is determined to achieve the “absolute best it can for all pupils” as “no stone is left unturned” when seeking to understand pupils’ challenges and barriers, The staff at the school ensure that pupils have the support they need to develop essential skills including reading, writing and mathematics, and close partnership working means that pupils achieve relevant qualifications.

Pupils in key stage one have stories brought to life through sensory experiences such as dance, music, light, sounds and sensations. In key stage two, pupils continue to love books and reading.

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The report said: “The school carefully considers how to support pupils’ personal development. Pupils across Briarwood experience a wide range of activities. To enrich their learning, staff enable pupils to access visits to local sites and clubs, such as sing-and-sign choir, builds on pupils’ interests and provide relevant opportunities to develop confidence and character.

“In the sixth form, the personal and social curriculum helps pupils to develop independent skills. Pupils are supported to be prepared for the world of work as much as is possible and relevant and the school advocates for each pupil, working with determination to support career choices and secure workplace experiences.

“A strength of Briarwood is how effectively everyone works together to share and consider information. Systems to check how well pupils learn the curriculum are particularly effective.

“Pastoral and academic teams collaborate closely to build a complete and detailed understanding of every pupil. The school works positively with parents and carers to ensure that families have any extra help they need from a wide range of agencies. This approach leads to successful adaptations to learning and improvements to attendance, consequently, pupils at Briarwood achieve well.

“Briarwood leads the way in the local area, providing highly bespoke provision for pupils, including for pupils with the most challenging of behaviours. Pupils at the Nexus Centre are supported very effectively to learn, step by step, how to manage their anxieties, how to communicate and join in with their peers.”

Staff report high satisfaction with support they receive to do their jobs well. Ofsted noted that there is “no complacency” to ensure that pupils achieve the best possible outcomes.

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