Springside

Springside is a specialist school for pupils with high levels of special educational needs and/or disabilities, including profound and multiple, severe and moderate learning difficulties. Almost all pupils have an education, health and care plan, and some have previously been excluded or spent long periods out of school. This full inspection found an inclusive, calm and aspirational school where pupils are valued, kept safe and helped to make individually significant progress from their starting points. Safeguarding arrangements meet requirements. All inspected areas were judged to be working at a strong standard. Leaders and staff know pupils extremely well and adapt teaching, communication, behaviour support and personal development to complex needs. Early years provision, inclusion, curriculum planning and governance are particular strengths, and pupils benefit from close work with families and other professionals. Attendance is carefully monitored and supported, and pupils' wider experiences and preparation for the next stage of education are strong. No specific weaknesses or underperformance were identified. The main next step is for leaders to continue improving so that the school's already strong practice can become exceptional and sustain a transformational impact for all pupils.

Strengths

• Pupils make individually significant progress in knowledge, skills and communication from their starting points.
• Pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education.
• Leaders set clear attendance and behaviour expectations and respond patiently to individual family circumstances.
• Attendance work is closely monitored and targeted support improves attendance for specific pupils.
• Staff provide expert support for pupils with highly complex behaviour, reducing behavioural difficulties over time.
• The curriculum is carefully sequenced and adapted to individual pupils' needs and education, health and care plan targets.
• Teaching focuses effectively on communication, phonics, reading, writing and mathematics where appropriate.
• Early years provision is very well planned, with strong teamwork and close liaison with parents and carers.
• Inclusion is a major strength: pupils feel they belong, including those with complex needs or prior exclusions.
• Leaders use additional funding and alternative provision thoughtfully to overcome barriers.
• Leadership and governance are effective, with clear self-review, accurate priorities and strong staff wellbeing.
• The personal development programme builds pupils' resilience, understanding of British values and personal safety.
• Pupils enjoy tailored wider-world experiences such as theatre, farm, park, library and soft play visits.
• An open safeguarding culture ensures pupils are kept safe and feel safe.
• Parents, carers and wider professionals are valued and involved in supporting pupils' learning and wellbeing.

In 2024–25 pupils at Springside attended 86.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 50.7% 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, 2.7% of pupils at Springside were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). One pupil was 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 Springside had 8.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.4% 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 Springside had 152 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; profound and multiple learning difficulty; 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 Springside received £26,142 and spent £24,918 for each of its 152 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,084,000 (£7,135 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 Manchester · Rochdale local authority: places and applications

What is Springside's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Springside is Strong standard, from an inspection in July 2026.

When was Springside last inspected by Ofsted?

Springside was last inspected in July 2026.

How many pupils does Springside have?

Springside has 152 pupils on roll.

What age range does Springside cover?

Springside for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Springside's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Springside?

Springside is at Albert Royds Street, Rochdale, Manchester, OL16 2SU.