…which judged Leaways School to be operating at a strong standard in four key areas: Attendance and Behaviour, Inclusion, Leadership and Governance, and Personal Development and Wellbeing.
At Leaways School, we support young people with social, emotional and mental health needs, and the inspection recognised our commitment to placing each pupil's individual needs at the heart of everything we do.
Inspectors praised the school for providing a calm, structured and inclusive environment where pupils benefit from personalised learning programmes, small class sizes and a broad range of enrichment opportunities. These include sports, cultural visits and vocational training, helping pupils to develop both academically and personally.
One area highlighted by Ofsted was our approach to attendance. Inspectors described it as "highly proactive and inclusive", recognising the close partnerships we build with families and external professionals to understand and address barriers to school attendance. As a result, many pupils who previously struggled to engage with education are now attending school far more regularly.
The report also highlighted the strong relationships between staff and pupils, noting how these help young people feel safe, understood and ready to learn. Behaviour across the school was praised, with inspectors finding that clear expectations, restorative approaches and tailored support have contributed to consistent improvements.
A particular strength identified during the inspection was the extensive therapeutic support available to pupils. This includes counselling, speech and language therapy, mentoring, sensory activities, and art and music therapy. Ofsted found that this personalised support helps young people manage complex emotional needs, build resilience, develop confidence and feel a stronger sense of belonging.
Many pupils arrive at Leaways having experienced significant challenges in their education. The report recognised that pupils achieve well, often from very low starting points, and highlighted the positive impact of tailored teaching, targeted reading support and therapeutic interventions in helping them make meaningful progress.
Inspectors also heard directly from pupils, who spoke positively about their experiences at Leaways and described the school as an understanding and supportive environment where staff know them well and help them develop the confidence, resilience and skills needed for the future.
Sam Lo-Pon, Headteacher at Leaways School, said:
"We are delighted that Ofsted has recognised the immense hard work, dedication and care shown by our staff every day. Achieving a strong standard in four inspection areas reflects our whole-school commitment to ensuring every young person feels safe, valued and able to succeed.
"Many of our pupils join us having experienced significant challenges in their education and personal lives. We are particularly pleased that inspectors recognised the progress our pupils make, the improvements in attendance and the impact of our therapeutic and pastoral support.
"Our aim is always to help young people build confidence, resilience and optimism for the future. This report celebrates the achievements of our pupils and recognises the positive, inclusive environment that enables them to thrive. We are incredibly proud of what they achieve every day."
This latest inspection outcome reflects the dedication of our staff, the determination of our pupils and the support of our families. We remain committed to providing an inclusive environment where every young person feels a sense of belonging, achieves their potential and is prepared for a positive future.
