A SCHOOL for children with severe, moderate and complex needs has been praised by Ofsted after a short inspection.

The government watchdog came to the school in July 2018.

Harlow Fields School and College is an all age special school for pupils with severe, moderate and complex needs.

The report states:

“Since your appointment as substantive headteacher in May 2015, you have established a strong ethos of improvement in the school. You have successfully developed additional provisions across the school to integrate pupils with more complex special needs and accommodate an increased number of pupils. The college part of the school, 16 to 19 provision, has also expanded and more students come from other special schools to join Harlow Fields to benefit from your safe and nurturing provision.

Parents are generally very happy with the school and made comments to Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View, which reflect this. For example, one parent spoke for many by saying: ‘Harlow Fields has helped my child grow and develop in ways I never thought possible.’

You have begun to increase and develop middle leaders and now distribute leadership responsibilities more widely. This has helped staff feel valued and have a greater ownership and understanding of the school’s work. Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the school and report a sense of pride and belonging. Staff and parents feel that the school is well led and managed.

“Your evaluation of the school’s overall effectiveness is accurate. You and the governors have planned appropriate priorities for school improvement. You are working with staff to take steps to improve facilities and practice in the school further.

“You have addressed the areas for improvement noted in the previous inspection effectively. For example, all pupils, including the few with moderate learning difficulties, have their thinking and learning extended by challenging teaching.