Edan Court School, Huddersfield

What it's like to be a pupil at Edan Court School

Pupils enjoy attending Edan Court School. Staff create a calm, welcoming and supportive environment. This helps pupils to quickly feel safe and secure in their new school. For many, this comes after a period of time out of education or other disruption prior to joining the school. Leaders rightly prioritise ensuring that pupils quickly settle and begin to make friends with their peers. This helps pupils to attend more frequently than they did in their previous setting. Leaders provide pupils with a range of experiences that broaden their understanding of the world, such as visits to places of worship. Pupils also engage with learning and wider opportunities in the local community. These help to develop pupils' independence as well as their ability to explain and manage their own needs. Pupils generally behave well. Mostly, they are interested in their learning and focus in lessons. Staff recognise when pupils may be struggling. When needed, staff provide additional support and help pupils to refocus. At social times, pupils enjoy playing and exploring the outdoor gym equipment. They build strong relationships with their trusted adults who help them to strengthen their friendships with peers. Incidents of bullying are rare and pupils have confidence in staff to resolve these. The school's curriculum is well-designed to meet the needs of pupils. Its distinct pathways mean that pupils are able to access learning that is at the correct level to build on their current stage of understanding. Staff know pupils well. They provide effective support for pupils, including through the school's therapeutic offer. This enhances how well pupils access the school's curriculum. Generally, pupils achieve well and are ready for their next stage of education.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders should ensure that staff consistently use lesson time and activities to maximise pupils' learning of the intended knowledge and skills set out in the curriculum.
• Leaders should ensure that the curriculum and the assessment model in the primary ‘nurture' pathway are more closely aligned and ensure that pupils' learning in provision builds precisely towards their individual targets across all areas of learning.
• Leaders should refine their approach to using available data, such as that relating to incidents of poor behaviour, to evaluate the impact of the school's work and to inform further actions to strengthen provision.

Edan Court School creates a warm, supportive environment where pupils quickly settle and feel safe, often improving their attendance significantly compared to previous settings. The school teaches practical, life-changing skills alongside academic learning, preparing pupils for independence and real-world situations. Staff are highly trained and committed to helping every child succeed, with strong professional development programmes ensuring pupils receive quality support tailored to their individual needs.

Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture established where all legal requirements are fulfilled and pupils are kept safer and feel safe.

Theatre visits (ancient Egypt learning), visiting zoo with animals including snakes and tortoises, places of worship visits, religious festival learning (Diwali, Eid, Easter), riding therapy, occupational therapy, outdoor gym equipment

Bus Stops