Strawberry Lane, Bowburn

What it's like to be a pupil at Strawberry Lane

Pupils are proud to be part of this school. They recognise the high-quality support and care they receive from staff who know them well. Before joining Strawberry Lane, many pupils have previously faced challenges attending school or have had disrupted learning journeys. Leaders prioritise pupils feeling safe and welcomed. Carefully planned transitions to school support pupils to re-engage with learning effectively. As a result of leaders' work, pupils make a positive start to life at Strawberry Lane. They feel accepted, understood and enjoy coming to school. Curriculum pathways are well matched to pupils' starting points. Staff understand pupils' needs. Typically, pupils are well supported and make suitable progress through the curriculum. Pupils learn in calm classrooms. Leaders and staff are highly skilled in supporting pupils at times when they need further support with their behaviour. Bullying is rare. Pupils are confident that staff would support them if they reported it. Pupils feel safe. Pupils know that staff listen to them and will help them. This helps them focus on their learning more effectively. For many pupils, their engagement with education before this school has been minimal. Leaders' highly effective work around attendance means pupils now attend school regularly and engage well. Pupils' improved attendance allows them to make the most of the school's curriculum and the wider opportunities. Pupils enjoy the weekly enrichment offer. It helps them explore their interests and talents. Pupils enjoy baking in the school's dedicated kitchen classroom and developing skills in hair and beauty. Pupils make use of the local community visiting the library, using local shops and the park. They contribute positively to the area. For example, they organised a litter pick in the local park to improve it for the local community.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders should ensure that staff make highly effective and consistent choices linked to task design within lessons, to further enable pupils to develop secure and detailed knowledge.
• Leaders should continue their focus on professional learning for staff, so it precisely matches to the school's curriculum-based improvement priorities.

Strawberry Lane excels at helping pupils who have struggled with education elsewhere. The school creates a caring, calm environment where pupils feel understood and valued, leading to improved attendance and engagement. Staff are skilled at removing barriers to learning and supporting pupils' social, emotional and academic development alongside practical life skills.

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

Breakfast club support, site roles, kitchen work with catering staff, visits to places of worship, meetings with faith leaders, work experience, careers advice from independent advisor, food preparation and budgeting activities

Bus Stops