Langside School

Langside School delivers a good quality of education, supported by outstanding behavior and attitudes among pupils. The school's strong focus on high-quality care and support ensures that pupils, who have profound and multiple learning disabilities, are confident and develop their independence effectively. Parents express high confidence in the staff's ability to care for their children, indicating a strong community bond. However, although leaders have made significant improvements since the last inspection, there are noted inconsistencies in teaching practices that need addressing, particularly in ensuring all pupils progress effectively through their targets.

Strengths

• Pupils receive high-quality care and support.
• Staff are well trained to meet individual needs.
• Outstanding behavior and attitudes from pupils.
• Effective communication strategies support pupil independence.
• Strong emphasis on physical development and well-being activities.
• Curriculum designed to meet individual needs and broad experiences.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistencies in monitoring teaching practices.
• Assistant headteachers have heavy teaching loads which limit effectiveness.
• Insufficient detail in information provided to governors for effective challenge.

In 2024–25 pupils at Langside School attended 77.9% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 55.6% 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 Langside 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 Langside School had 32 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 98.6%).

It says it provides for: profound and multiple learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory 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 non-maintained special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Poole · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole local authority: places and applications

What is Langside School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Langside School is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Langside School last inspected by Ofsted?

Langside School was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Langside School have?

Langside School has 32 pupils on roll.

What age range does Langside School cover?

Langside School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

Where is Langside School?

Langside School is at Langside Avenue, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BN.