Riverside Community Special School

Riverside Community Special School is performing well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating with notable strengths in behaviour, attitudes, and personal development, which have been rated as 'Outstanding.' The school has high standards of inclusivity, fostering a respectful and kind atmosphere for pupils, who actively engage in various leadership roles and contribute positively to the school community. The curriculum, especially in Early Years, is well-structured and ambitious, preparing children effectively for their educational journey. However, leaders are still refining the curriculum in some foundation subjects and are working on fully embedding phonics as the primary reading instruction method.

Strengths

• Exceptional behaviour and attitudes of pupils.
• Outstanding personal development initiatives.
• Effective leadership and management.
• Inclusive environment that fosters respect and kindness.
• Well-planned early years provision effectively prepares children for Year 1.
• Strong relationships between pupils and staff.

Areas for Improvement

• Incomplete embedding of phonics as the primary reading instruction method.
• Need for clearer sequence and expectations in some non-core subjects.

In 2024–25 pupils at Riverside Community Special School attended 90.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 27.3% 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, 0.7% of pupils at Riverside Community 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 Riverside Community Special School had 7.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 18.0% 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 Riverside Community Special School had 157 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; hearing impairment; vision impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 Riverside Community Special School received £26,050 and spent £25,635 for each of its 157 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £350,000 (£2,232 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 Waterlooville · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

What is Riverside Community Special School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Riverside Community Special School is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Riverside Community Special School last inspected by Ofsted?

Riverside Community Special School was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Riverside Community Special School have?

Riverside Community Special School has 157 pupils on roll.

What age range does Riverside Community Special School cover?

Riverside Community Special School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

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

Where is Riverside Community Special School?

Riverside Community Special School is at Scratchface Lane, Purbrook, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 5QD.