Heathermount School, Ascot

What is it like to attend this school?

High aspirations and ambition permeate every aspect of this school. Pupils achieve well academically. They benefit equally from the school's commitment to their personal development. They thrive and grow to become young people who contribute to society. There is a careful balance achieved between providing the right support whilst also giving pupils the skills they need to be able to successfully break the 'Heathermount bubble'.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They are incredibly well supported to recognise and manage their emotions and show empathy to others. Pupils have an understanding about their autism and their own individuality. The school shares its therapeutic 'READY' framework with families. This helps parents and carers replicate the language and approach outside school.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school offers high quality education to pupils with autistic spectrum conditions. All pupils on roll have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and an education, health and care (EHC) plan. They are supported exceptionally well with their learning across the curriculum pathways. In every subject, across each pathway, there is absolute clarity about what pupils learn. This is skilfully flexed to meet pupils' needs but with no sense of compromise. Every decision is made with pupils' best interests at heart.

Pupils become fluent readers. Their reading journey begins with highly effective phonics teaching. Pupils learn letter sounds and are skilled at blending them to read words. Across the school, pupils read with confidence. They use their understanding of characters and their actions to read with emotion and expression. Younger pupils accurately read their phonics matched books. Older pupils show in-depth understanding of more complex texts. For example, when studying Shakespeare, they engage in mature discussion about Lady Macbeth's character and the themes of masculinity and morality. Pupils read in their leisure time. They enjoy choosing books to be included in the school's library.

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