A SCHOOL is celebrating after receiving a clean sweep of ‘outstanding’ ratings in all categories in a recent Ofsted inspection.

The Loddon School, in Wildmoor Lane, Hook, a residential special school also registered as a children’s home, provides education and care for up to 30 young people aged eight to 19 who have autistic spectrum disorder, severe learning disabilities and similar complex restrictive behaviours.

After an unannounced Ofsted inspection under the social care framework, which took place on December 12 and 13, the school was rated ‘outstanding’ in all areas.

The report read: “Children, most of whom have struggled in other residential special schools, make exceptional progress. They engage with their learning, find new ways to communicate other than through challenging behaviour and grow in confidence and self-esteem.”

Inspectors noted that staff see ‘children’s abilities and not their disability’, and that they have great ambition that children can develop to their maximum potential in every area of their lives.

The report added: “Children enjoy positive and fun relationships with staff who demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of their individual needs. It is obvious that staff enjoy being with the children and this is their vocation as well as their job.”

The Loddon School takes on a different approach to teaching; the school has no classrooms and prefers teaching in a home environment while the school also tailors its curriculum to each individual.

Ofsted described the leadership as exceptional adding: “The teachers have their ‘finger on the pulse’, identifying weaknesses and taking action when necessary.”

Principal of the school, Dr Gill Barrett said: “We are all delighted by the report, it states exactly what we are all about, we aim and deliver outstanding education and care for exceptional young people who it is our privilege to work with; they challenge and inspire us each day.

“We still have so much more we wish to do and achieve here at the school, and we will.”

Dr Barrett put the success of the inspection down to the “high calibre staff team, who are well qualified, experienced and have been comprehensively trained.”

Dr Barrett added: “We are delighted with the good news.”