Thornhill Park School, Sunderland

What it's like to be a pupil at Thornhill Park School

Pupils enjoy coming to school. Some pupils have had negative experiences of school previously. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Pupils are well supported by staff at Thornhill Park who care and understand their needs. This helps pupils feel safe. They build trust with key adults who work with them across the day. Staff quickly identify ways in which to engage pupils with school life and learning. Pupils make a bright start to each day. Clear routines and expectations are in place. This provides pupils with familiarity and stability. Positive relationships between staff and pupils are ever present. Staff know and understand what makes pupils tick. In turn, pupils are well supported to understand and regulate their behaviour. This helps them to engage positively with their learning. Pupils talk enthusiastically about what they enjoy in school. This includes that staff help them and the visits and opportunities in the community that they have. Some pupils share how this school is making a difference to them. They are proud to be part of the school. For pupils who are pre-verbal, this is shown in their interactions and communication with their key staff. Pupils are well supported in their preparation for adulthood. Pupils learn how to make healthy meals from scratch, budget and pay for important items as well as make the most of facilities in the local area and wider region. The proprietor has not ensured the independent school standards are consistently met over time. Recently, there have been a number of changes at leadership level. These changes have enabled leaders to focus with some precision to improve the curriculum pupils receive. This work is in the early stages of development and some inconsistencies in teaching remain. This limits the progress and achievement some pupils make.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders should continue to develop the curriculum so it is typically well matched to learners starting points and that tasks are well matched to learning intentions.
• Leaders should ensure that staff use assessment effectively to shape learning and make adaptations to the curriculum in a timely way.
• Leaders should ensure attendance registers are consistently maintained in line with statutory guidance.
• Leaders should ensure that planned monitoring enables effective oversight of the changes made to improve impact of the curriculum on pupils learning.
• Leaders should continue to develop approaches to supporting staff with their workload.
• The proprietor should continue to ensure that their work and oversight ensures that leaders are held to account effectively and independent school standards are met consistently

Thornhill Park excels at understanding each child as an individual and creating meaningful learning experiences tailored to their interests, whether that's meeting bus drivers, doing work experience with local charities, or visiting local amenities. Staff are genuinely caring and supportive, helping pupils who may have had negative school experiences feel safe and build trust. The school prepares older pupils exceptionally well for independence and work through practical, purposeful activities with real employers.

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe.

Work experience with local charities and employers, off-site visits, employer encounters with florists and architects, community experiences, independent living skills activities

Bus Stops