Brackenfield Special School

Brackenfield Special School is a community special school for pupils aged 3 to 16, and all pupils have an education, health and care plan. Inspectors found that pupils flourish in a calm, caring and highly personalised environment, with exemplary behaviour and strong relationships underpinning high-quality education. The school was judged outstanding in quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision, following a previous inspection graded good. The curriculum is meticulously planned across five pathways and meets pupils' complex needs exceptionally well. Staff have an in-depth understanding of pupils' starting points and use a wide range of communication approaches skilfully. Reading is a high priority, personal development is exceptional, and careers and independent living work prepare pupils well for adulthood. Governance is highly effective, staff are proud to work at the school, attendance is good and safeguarding arrangements are effective. The report identifies no significant weaknesses or areas for improvement.

Strengths

• Highly personalised curriculum pathways that meet pupils' complex needs exceptionally well
• Detailed understanding of each pupil's communication, sensory, emotional and health needs
• Calm, caring and respectful relationships that help pupils feel safe and flourish
• Exemplary pupil behaviour supported by skilled staff and consistent routines
• Strong communication approaches that help pupils express emotions, needs and knowledge
• High priority on reading, including early phonics and fluent reading development
• Exceptional personal development programme covering safety, health, relationships and life skills
• Strong careers advice and independent living and employability preparation for adulthood
• Effective governance and leadership that supports staff workload and well-being
• Good attendance and effective safeguarding arrangements

In 2024–25 pupils at Brackenfield Special School attended 92.8% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 19.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Brackenfield Special School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Brackenfield Special School had 6.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Brackenfield Special School had 283 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Brackenfield Special School received £30,916 and spent £31,388 for each of its 283 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,008,000 (£3,561 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Nottingham · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

What is Brackenfield Special School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Brackenfield Special School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was Brackenfield Special School last inspected by Ofsted?

Brackenfield Special School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does Brackenfield Special School have?

Brackenfield Special School has 283 pupils on roll.

What age range does Brackenfield Special School cover?

Brackenfield Special School for pupils aged 3 to 19.

What are Brackenfield Special School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Brackenfield Special School?

Brackenfield Special School is at Bracken Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham, Derbyshire, NG10 4DA.