North Hill House, Frome

What it's like to be a pupil at North Hill House

North Hill House places pupils' needs at the heart of its work. Leaders are ambitious for all pupils, whatever their starting points. All pupils have an education, health and care plan (EHC plan). Many have had previous negative experiences of education. The school's culture, marked by trusting relationships, empathy and high goals, helps pupils reconnect with learning. Pupils arrive each day, greeted by staff who know them well. Staff prioritise pupils' welfare and emotional needs. This helps pupils to feel secure and build trust. Pupils demonstrate the school's ‘OTTERS' values of ownership, thoughtfulness, teamwork, excellence, resilience and safety. They show these values clearly in the way they behave. In the classroom, pupils engage positively with learning, and most enjoy school. At breaktimes, younger pupils develop their social skills or play ‘tag' with staff. Older pupils chat with friends or play pool with their peers. Across the school, a calmness pervades. Bullying is rare. If it does happen, pupils trust staff to respond quickly. This helps pupils feel happy and safe. The school sets high expectations for all pupils. Staff use each pupil's EHC plan effectively to guide teaching. Pupils who require extra support receive a personalised programme. This helps them overcome the many obstacles that previously hindered their learning. Typically, pupils achieve well from their starting points. Pupils benefit from a broad and engaging curriculum. It is enriched by opportunities such as visits to the local gym, horse riding and swimming. Community visits help pupils to be well prepared for life in modern Britain. Themed events such as those to celebrate pupils' artwork help pupils to experience success and serve to reinforce the school curriculum. Residential experiences help pupils develop confidence and resilience. They gain the essential skills they need for adulthood. Most parents and carers value the positive impact the school has on their children's happiness and achievements.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders should ensure that teachers use checks on learning consistently well to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge and inform future teaching.
• Leaders should ensure that the approach to teaching handwriting is implemented consistently so that pupils can record and communicate their learning more effectively.

North Hill House excels at creating a calm, caring environment where pupils with complex needs feel secure and valued. The school combines high academic expectations with excellent pastoral support, using personalised curricula and therapeutic interventions to help pupils who have had negative education experiences. Staff form strong relationships with pupils and parents consistently report the school has a transformative impact on their children's happiness and achievements.

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.

cooking clubs, LEGO clubs, music clubs, gym sessions, snooker, reading with therapy dog Murphy, local competitions and events, art displays in local gallery, farm work, animal care, journalism work experience, horse riding, swimming, community visits, residential experiences

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