Alderwood Academy, Ipswich

What it's like to be a pupil at Alderwood Academy

Pupils arrive here with a range of experiences. Many have missed significant periods of education. Some have experienced disrupted placement or developed anxiety about school. Pupils are welcomed warmly and quickly settle here. They begin to feel safe, understood and valued. Pupils benefit from adults who know them extremely well and respond to them with calm consistency, patience and care. As a result, pupils settle quickly and begin to trust school again. Pupils know that there are trusted staff who will help them. At times, pupils find it more challenging to manage their emotions. When this happens, staff expertly support them. This means that pupils miss very little learning time. Pupils learn in an environment where kindness and respect are expected. Bullying is rare. When concerns of bullying arise, staff act swiftly to address any concerns. Pupils are clear that others are kind to them at school. Pupils behave well. They move around the school calmly. They respond positively to routines. Pupils increasingly show how well they can self-regulate when they are feeling upset. They learn how to recognise their feelings and make positive choices. Pupils also learn how to build and maintain positive relationships with others. Classrooms are calm and purposeful places where learning is rarely interrupted. Pupils enjoy learning. They benefit from a curriculum that prepares them well for their next stage of school life. In lessons, their wide ranging needs are well known and understood by staff. The learning they receive is consistently well adapted to meet their needs. As a result, pupils typically achieve well across the curriculum. Pupils improve their attendance and readiness to learn. This is because their barriers to learning are spotted and removed quickly by the school. Pupils leave the school better prepared for what comes next. They have improved self belief and confidence and a more positive view of their futures.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders should ensure that the curriculum for pupils on each pathway is consistently well matched to their needs so that they develop secure knowledge and are well prepared for their next stage.

Alderwood Academy excels at helping vulnerable pupils who have missed significant education or experienced school anxiety to quickly settle and thrive. Staff know each pupil extremely well and respond with calm, consistent care using therapeutic approaches, which means pupils miss very little learning time and develop strong self-belief. The school expertly removes barriers to learning and ensures pupils leave better prepared for their next stage with improved confidence and positive attitudes to their futures.

Safeguarding standards are met. Leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.

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