The Bayleaf Hub, Derby

What it's like to be a pupil at The Bayleaf Hub

Pupils are happy at this school. Relationships between staff and pupils are really positive. They enjoy coming to school and attend regularly. If pupils struggle about coming to school, the school actively seeks to understand their needs. It works hard to support pupils so that they learn and make progress. Pupils behave well. They develop a real sense of belonging. The school helps pupils to learn how to make the right choices. Staff teach pupils how to recognise their own emotions. Pupils then learn what to do when they experience different emotions. Events such as horse riding help pupils to grow their self-confidence. They also develop their understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Pupils build friendships and learn to interact with one another. Typically, teachers make learning interesting for the pupils. As a result, they enjoy learning about new things. The school makes sure that staff know any challenges to learning pupils may face. In most cases, the school adapts the learning so that it suits each pupil's individual needs. However, this can be inconsistent. In some instances, the planned learning does not match what pupils can and cannot do. This means that not all pupils make as much progress as they could. This includes learning to read systematically. The school goes to great lengths to ensure that pupils feel safe. Typically, pupils' previous experiences of attending school have not been positive. Pupils learn that being in school is a positive and good place for them to be. Staff truly care about the pupils in this school. At the heart of the school's ambition is for pupils to be ready for their next stage in life. Visits to local shops and cafes help to provide pupils with real life skills. They learn the essentials of independent living as preparation for the future.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders should ensure that development and training supports staff to have the expertise they need to teach pupils how to read effectively.
• Leaders must make sure that the curriculum is taught well throughout the school and adaptations that have been recommended for pupils are implemented consistently well.
• Leaders should ensure that all pupils are taught the foundational knowledge they need in reading, writing and mathematics in a timely way, so that it supports their future learning and they achieve well.
• The school should further build its plans for the personal development of pupils, so that it is more extensive and continues to be carefully tailored to the school's context.
• Leaders should act quickly to address the areas for school development and ensure that the independent school standards are met, particularly ensuring work to embed high-quality teaching and learning across the school is enacted.

The Bayleaf Hub has made significant progress under new leadership, with improved teaching quality and better assessment of what each pupil can do. Teachers now plan personalised learning that helps pupils build knowledge and skills step-by-step, and all staff prioritise pupils' safety and wellbeing. The school works closely with care providers and social services to ensure each child's individual needs are met.

Safeguarding is effective - the school has robust policies, detailed record-keeping, completed necessary recruitment checks, and works closely with care services to maintain suitable and regularly updated risk assessments for all pupils.

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