Step by Step School Limited, Sharpthorne
Step by Step School Limited is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Sharpthorne. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2025.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2025)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Step by Step School Limited in detail
Step by Step School Limited in its own words
In its own words: "Our aim is for all pupils to be provided with an education that is not in conflict with, or inconsistent with, any of the five British Values as set out below. Our curriculum ensures effective preparation of pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in British society."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Step by Step School Limited are Philpots Manor School (2.1 miles, Good); Ashdown Garden School (3.6 miles); Burstow Park School (5.7 miles, Requires improvement); and Aurora Redehall School (6 miles, Good, selective).
Philpots Manor SchoolAshdown Garden SchoolBurstow Park SchoolAurora Redehall School
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Step by Step School Limited has an education, health and care plan (36 of 36 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Kingscote (Bluebell Railway), about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often other crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in East Sussex (65).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Safeguarding: effective
Independent school standards
Met all the independent school standards.
- Part 1: quality of educationMet
- Part 2: pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural developmentMet
- Part 3: welfare, health and safetyMet
- Part 4: suitability of staff and proprietorsMet
- Part 5: premises and accommodationMet
- Part 6: information for parentsMet
- Part 7: handling of complaintsMet
- Part 8: leadership and managementMet
Source: Ofsted, non-association independent schools inspections and outcomes (Open Government Licence)
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's September 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Step by Step provides an outstanding education where every pupil receives individualised support tailored to their specific needs. The school combines excellent teaching with on-site specialist therapy teams, helping pupils not just meet but often exceed their targets. Staff create a warm, secure environment where pupils thrive academically and personally, developing real-life skills they can use every day.
Key Strengths
- Highly personalised, bespoke curriculum closely matched to each pupil's needs and EHC targets
- Expert staff delivery using evidence-based strategies, including applied behaviour analysis, with strong support from onsite therapy teams
- Exceptional focus on reading and mathematics with real-life applications, such as shopping trips to embed practical skills
- Calm, purposeful atmosphere with effective behaviour management and high pupil attendance
- High-quality personal development programme teaching life skills, self-care, healthy living, and online safety
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders and staff creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Circus skills, role play, football, outdoor learning, gardening, school council
Step by Step School is an independent special school for pupils with autism spectrum disorder aged 4-19, all of whom have Education, Health and Care plans. The school received an Outstanding rating across all areas of inspection.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Step by Step School Limited
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
90%
Near capacity
36 pupils
40 places
4 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Sharpthorne
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Sharpthorne
Across East Sussex council
Places available
5,496
Applications
4,990
Got 1st preference
86.3%
Got preferred school
95.9%
All secondary applications across East Sussex council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
36
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Step by Step School Limited is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
36
Total Pupils
30
Boys
6
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Step by Step School Limited
Questions parents ask about Step by Step School Limited
What is Step by Step School Limited's Ofsted rating?
Step by Step School Limited was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2025.
Does Step by Step School Limited meet the independent school standards?
At its most recent standard inspection, in September 2025, Step by Step School Limited met all the independent school standards.
How many pupils go to Step by Step School Limited?
Step by Step School Limited has around 36 pupils on roll.
Does Step by Step School Limited have specialist SEN provision?
Step by Step School Limited is not approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014.
How do I apply to Step by Step School Limited?
Step by Step School Limited is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Step by Step School Limited?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in East Sussex is 8 (the median across 221 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Step by Step School Limited?
Step by Step School Limited is at Neylands Farm, Grinstead Lane, Sharpthorne, East Sussex, RH19 4HP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)