AN ANDOVER school for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) has retained its 'good' rating following a recent Ofsted inspection.

Smannell Field School, in Smannell Road, is part of the Hampshire Education Inclusion Service and is for students who have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools or who are at risk of permanent exclusion. It caters to students aged 11 to 16.

The school was previously downgraded from 'outstanding' to 'good' in 2015. However, the recent inspection held on April 23 found that it has demonstrably maintained a strong standard of education.

The report highlighted numerous positive aspects of the school, including the 'calm and purposeful' atmosphere, where students feel safe and supported.

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Staff were praised for their understanding of individual needs and their ability to create effective lesson plans that build upon existing knowledge.

The Ofsted report said: "The school has very high expectations for how pupils will conduct themselves both in lessons and around the school. Pupils know exactly what these expectations are and meet them consistently well."

The school's dedication to high attendance rates was also commended, with the report saying 'they work closely with families to address attendance concerns, resulting in a significant improvement'.

Student behaviour was noted to be excellent, with a strong focus on mutual respect and minimal disruption in lessons.

The report said that Smannell Field School prioritises personal development. Students participate in safeguarding lessons and meaningful discussions on local and world issues, honing their communication skills.

"The school is highly ambitious for what pupils will achieve. The range of qualifications that pupils gain reflects this," it said.

The Ofsted report also suggested areas for improvement.

The current work experience programme doesn't yet offer opportunities to develop employability skills, according to the inspector.

The inspector said: "Currently, pupils do not yet develop employability skills as well as they could. The school should now consider how it can create meaningful work experience opportunities, so that pupils are able to build these vital skills over time and be as ready as possible for life beyond school."

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The school acknowledges this and plans to implement changes. While there's a strong emphasis on reading across the curriculum, inspectors encouraged fostering a genuine love for reading beyond the functional level.

The report also suggested refining the sequencing of some curriculum areas to ensure clear and ambitious learning expectations.

Headteacher Amanda Edney said: "Smannell Field School has an amazing team of hardworking and dedicated staff that make sure children and young people thrive. Additionally, the children and young people, along with their supportive families, are focussed and aspirational; this combination ensures the best outcomes for all."