Teaseldown School

Teaseldown School is an independent special school for pupils with EHC plans, most of whom have autism, ADHD and/or specific learning difficulties. At its standard inspection in June 2026, the school was judged to be meeting the expected standard across all evaluated areas, with safeguarding standards met. Pupils arrive having previously experienced disruption to their education, and leaders are effective at identifying and reducing barriers to attendance, helping most pupils to re-engage and attend more regularly over time. Pupils behave well, bullying is rare, and they make steady progress through a curriculum that is appropriately designed and linked to the qualifications they are expected to achieve.

Strengths

• Pupils are supported effectively to close gaps in early reading, writing and mathematics
• Leaders identify barriers to attendance quickly and put in place appropriate support
• Most pupils improve their attendance over time
• Pupils behave well, work hard and develop positive relationships with staff and peers
• Leaders have strengthened opportunities for pupils to work collaboratively across the three sites
• The curriculum is appropriately designed and aligned to the qualifications pupils are expected to achieve
• Staff use pupils' interests to make learning engaging, for example linking forces in science to cycling
• Focused reading sessions help pupils become more fluent readers
• Leaders provide ongoing support to develop staff subject knowledge and expertise
• Leaders identify the needs of pupils with SEND accurately through an effective induction process
• Leaders engage very well with other professionals, specialist advice and alternative provision providers
• Parents and carers of pupils with SEND are very positive about the support their children receive
• The PSHE curriculum is well designed and helps pupils develop an impressive understanding of important content such as consent and healthy relationships
• Pupils develop confidence and resilience through effective pastoral support and student ambassador roles
• The careers programme is carefully thought through with bespoke advice aligned to pupils' interests and ambitions
• Pupils are well prepared for their next stages and typically move on to them successfully

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils make slower progress when staff do not use checks on learning well enough to close gaps or deepen understanding
• There are occasions where staff do not revisit content well enough or move pupils on to new learning soon enough
• Some information leaders provide about pupils' needs lacks precision and is held in multiple places, leading to inconsistent support
• The proprietor's systems for overseeing and evaluating some aspects of the school are less precise and efficient than they could be
• Leaders should ensure staff use assessment well to adapt teaching to pupils' prior knowledge more precisely
• Leaders should ensure systems for sharing information with staff on pupils' specific and changing needs are more effective
• Leaders should ensure they support staff to develop subject knowledge and expertise so pupils benefit from consistent high-quality teaching

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Teaseldown School were on SEN support (nationally 18.4%) and 100.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 7.9%).

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 independent school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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What is Teaseldown School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Teaseldown School last inspected by Ofsted?

Teaseldown School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Teaseldown School have?

Teaseldown School has 24 pupils on roll.

What age range does Teaseldown School cover?

Teaseldown School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

What are Teaseldown School's GCSE results?

In 2024 its average Attainment 8 score was 10.0, and 0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Teaseldown School?

Teaseldown School is at Sugar Loaves, 175 Swan Street, Sible Hedingham, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3PX.