Snowflake School

Snowflake School is an independent special school for pupils with autism, all of whom have education, health and care plans, operating across two sites with 42 pupils on roll. Inspectors found it performing strongly overall, with safeguarding standards met and all independent school standards met. Achievement, attendance and behaviour, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing are all strong. Pupils make very positive progress from their individual starting points, especially in communication, self-regulation, independence and readiness to learn, and older pupils are well prepared for adulthood. Notable strengths include highly personalised support, effective multidisciplinary working between education, therapy and pastoral teams, strong family partnerships, and a nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and understood. Leaders and trustees provide effective support and challenge, staff feel valued, and provision such as the Snowflake Café and community visits builds confidence, communication and employability skills. The main area for development is curriculum and teaching, which is judged at the expected standard rather than strong. Learning intentions are not always precise enough to ensure activities provide the right level of challenge, leading to some inconsistency in implementation. Leaders have accurately identified this and should continue strengthening alignment between learning intentions, classroom activities and intended curriculum outcomes, including how progress is evidenced across the wider curriculum.

Strengths

• Pupils make very positive progress from their individual starting points.
• Communication is a particular strength, with pupils progressing to AAC, communication technology and emerging spoken language.
• Reading and mathematics show clear progress through structured teaching, repetition and targeted support.
• Personalised attendance support addresses complex needs and secures significant improvements.
• Behaviour support is caring, consistent and effective, helping pupils regulate and engage.
• Inclusion is a defining feature, with precise adaptations and coordinated specialist support.
• Education, therapy and pastoral teams work seamlessly together.
• Leadership and governance provide highly effective support and challenge.
• Staff feel valued and supported through high-quality training, supervision and multidisciplinary working.
• Personal development and wellbeing are central, with strong preparation for adulthood.
• The Snowflake Café and community visits develop communication, teamwork, budgeting and employability skills.
• Partnerships with families are highly effective and described as life changing.
• Safeguarding standards are met and pupils feel safe.

Areas for Improvement

• Learning intentions are not always precise enough to ensure activities provide the right level of challenge.
• There is some inconsistency in curriculum implementation across subjects.
• Progress evidence across the wider curriculum is still being strengthened.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

• Chelsea Community Hospital School
• Kensington Aldridge Academy

What is Snowflake School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Snowflake School is Expected standard, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Snowflake School last inspected by Ofsted?

Snowflake School was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Snowflake School have?

Snowflake School has 43 pupils on roll.

What age range does Snowflake School cover?

Snowflake School for pupils aged 5 to 16.

Where is Snowflake School?

Snowflake School is at 10-14 CRown Street, Acton, London, W3 8SB.