Groveside School, Reading

What it's like to be a pupil at Groveside School

Pupils at Groveside School enjoy learning and benefit from a calm, nurturing environment in which they feel safe and valued. They describe the school as a second chance for them. Staff listen to pupils' views and genuinely care for them. Warm, trusting relationships with adults help pupils to settle quickly. Pupils take an active part in the life of the school and benefit from a range of activities beyond the academic curriculum. At playtimes and lunchtimes, they enjoy both physical activities, such as football, and social opportunities, such as board games. These activities and opportunities help pupils build confidence, teamwork and social skills. Many pupils arrive at the school having experienced significant disruption to their education, including long periods of low attendance. Staff use their well-informed knowledge of pupils' interests and motivations to engage them successfully in learning. Disadvantaged pupils, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and pupils known to social care receive the targeted support they need. This support helps pupils to re-engage positively with education and prepare for their next steps. Staff quickly identify barriers to learning and wellbeing, using pupils' starting points to plan a curriculum that meets their individual needs. Adaptations, particularly those that help pupils to manage their emotions, are effective. As a result, most pupils are attentive in lessons, generally remain on task and make steady progress through the curriculum. Pupils learn the importance of self-respect and mutual respect, which contributes positively to pupils developing positive character traits. Pupils generally behave well and meet leaders' expectations of them. Staff take time to understand the reasons behind less positive behaviour and respond with empathy and support. Pupils attend more regularly than they did at previous schools. Leaders ensure that pupils' concerns, including about bullying, are dealt with promptly. Through the curriculum and wider opportunities, pupils learn how to contribute positively to their school, preparing them well for life in modern Britain.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders should ensure that teachers check pupils' understanding with consistency and rigour, so that they can adapt their teaching to meet pupils' needs and improve pupils' basic literacy and numeracy skills.
• Leaders should continue to support pupils who have made initial improvements to their behaviour so that these changes can be sustained over time.

Groveside School excels at welcoming pupils who have experienced disrupted education and helping them re-engage with learning in a supportive environment. Staff build trusting relationships with pupils and use well-informed knowledge of their interests to motivate them. The school provides targeted support for disadvantaged pupils, those with special educational needs and disabled pupils, helping them prepare confidently for their next steps.

Safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, resulting in pupils feeling safe.

Clubs, enrichment activities, community experiences, residential visits (skiing trip to Italy), football, board games

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