Acorns Primary School

Acorns Primary School is a community special school for pupils aged 2 to 11, all of whom have an education, health and care plan. Inspectors found it performing exceptionally well across all key judgements, with a tailored and ambitious curriculum, excellent behaviour, and personal development at the heart of school life. Pupils are described as happy, confident and well supported in a caring, sensory-friendly community, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. The report highlights strong expertise in supporting pupils with complex needs, including personalised communication systems and individual support. Reading and phonics are carefully planned, with frequent checks and tailored interventions, and early years provision gives children a clear, logical start. Leaders support staff well, governors understand their responsibilities, and the school works successfully with families and agencies on attendance. This was a graded inspection under section 5; the previous inspection grade was Good, and under current arrangements the school did not receive an overall effectiveness grade. No significant weaknesses were identified in the report.

Strengths

• Tailored, ambitious curriculum that meets individual pupils’ needs
• Strong phonics and reading support with frequent checks and personalised interventions
• Expert support for pupils with complex needs, including personalised communication systems
• Excellent pupil behaviour and a calm, sensory-friendly environment
• Personal development at the heart of school life, with rich enrichment and trips
• Pupils are helped to build confidence, independence and life skills
• Effective support for attendance through work with families and agencies
• Leaders support staff well and consider workload and wellbeing
• Governors provide strong support and accountability
• Effective safeguarding arrangements
• Strong early years provision with clear sequencing from the start

In 2024–25 pupils at Acorns Primary School attended 87.6% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 41.0% 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 Acorns Primary 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 Acorns Primary School had 8.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.5% 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 Acorns Primary School had 93 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; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; 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 Acorns Primary School received £30,272 and spent £31,508 for each of its 93 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £175,000 (£1,877 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).

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• Secondary Schools

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What is Acorns Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Acorns Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in February 2025.

When was Acorns Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Acorns Primary School was last inspected in February 2025.

How many pupils does Acorns Primary School have?

Acorns Primary School has 93 pupils on roll.

What age range does Acorns Primary School cover?

Acorns Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Acorns Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Acorns Primary School?

Acorns Primary School is at Moor Park, Blackpool Road, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 6AU.