A Cumbria residential school where children make ‘exceptional and phenomenal progress’ is celebrating being rated as double “good’ by inspectors.
Wings School Cumbria was already rated ‘good with outstanding features’ for its education provision and its care has now also been judged as ‘good’ during Ofsted’s latest inspection of its residential provision.
Children told inspectors they were “happy, trusted the adults caring for them and enjoyed a wide range of enjoyable activities which were exciting and educational including canoeing, climbing, cross-country running, swimming and mountain biking.”
Parents and external professionals also praised the school, which inspectors said had a ‘family atmosphere’. It is a place where, they said, children ‘feel safe, valued and respected’. Additionally, a child’s social worker said: ‘They have made phenomenal progress. She has progressed massively.”
The inspectors’ report said: “Staff work closely with children and families to promote family time and re-establish relationships that may be fractured. This is a real strength of the service.” Meanwhile, one family member told inspectors that their child’s progress has been ‘exceptional’ and added: “Nowhere else could meet her needs. I can’t thank the staff enough.”
Children’s education was also well supported at Wings Cumbria, where inspectors found all young people children in full-time education where they were thriving on the structure and routine.
The inspectors also noted that Wings Cumbria has employed a young person, now an adult and care leaver, who was previously supported at the school and who now works as a support worker. Their report said: “The children look up to him and see him as a role model. One child said, ‘It gives us hope that we can do well in life too.’”
In its last inspection which examined the school’s education provision, inspectors found Wings Cumbria “outstanding” for the behaviour, attitudes and personal development of the young people it supports.
The school is part of Kedleston Group and is a specialist school which offers both day and residential places for children and young people with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties.
The school’s Principal Donagh McKillop said: “We are delighted that the monumental progress young people make at Wings School Cumbria has been recognised in this way by Ofsted. Our aim always is to ensure children have the support they need to thrive and live happy and full lives; this report reflects that is absolutely happening for the children at Wings.”
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