Elmsett SEND school Acorn Cottage The Lodge climbs from requires improvement to good rating in latest Ofsted report

A school for girls with special educational needs and disabilities, described as safe and nurturing by inspectors, has been rated good after making improvements.

Ofsted said Acorn Cottage The Lodge, in Elmsett, near Ipswich, which was previously judged as requires improvement, teaches pupils to be good citizens as it attempts to reconnect them with education.

After an inspection in September, a report highlighted that adults know how to get through to students and help them manage their behaviour, which it said helps them develop aspirations for the future.

However, it also said that, while the school has made improvements in the curriculum since the last review, more needs to be done to embed the teaching of English and maths across all subjects.

The independent school, with annual fees for day pupils of £70,980 and run by Stowmarket-based Care Focus group, can admit up to eight pupils and had two on its roll at the time of the inspection.

Inspector Clare Fletcher said: "Since the previous standard inspection, the body has established an effective management structure and secure systems to ensure that the independent school standards are met consistently.

"This ensures that pupils receive a good standard of provision at the school.

"Pupils learn about healthy relationships through a well-structured programme of personal, social, health and economic education. Through vigilance and meticulous record-keeping, staff build a comprehensive picture of the individual pupil.

"Teachers also adapt their teaching so that they precisely support pupils’ physical and mental wellbeing as well as their academic success."

Every criteria checked by the watchdog, which are quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership of management, received a good rating.

The inspector also noted that safeguarding of students was effective, with school leaders being meticulous in their recording of safe-guarding concerns.

There are effective systems in place to run checks of staff and visitors, and leaders keep themselves and staff updated through training.

Ms Fletcher added that students achieve a wide range of accredited awards, which motivates to them and demonstrates success in learning.

School leaders also ensure independent school standards are consistently met.

Ms Fletcher said: "Leaders’ curriculum is designed to help pupils develop knowledge and skills effectively in a range of subjects during the relatively short time that they attend the school.

"However, teachers have only recently begun to implement links that enable pupils to consolidate and apply their understanding of number and English skills in other subjects.

"In addition, the vocabulary that leaders want pupils to know, and use, is not yet precisely planned in a few subjects.

"Pupils join the school having had poor life experiences. They are given frequent opportunities to discuss their thoughts, feelings and previous experiences. This enables adults to plan work that helps pupils to learn about the world beyond what they already know."