Stanton Vale School

Stanton Vale is a happy, welcoming and inclusive special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties, autism and other complex needs. This graded inspection found strong provision across the school: pupils benefit from kind, highly skilled staff, a personalised curriculum organised through pathways and avenues, and close work with therapists and external agencies. Communication is a golden thread, behaviour is typically well managed, and classrooms are calm and positive. Personal development is a standout feature, with an exceptional independent living curriculum, rich enrichment and strong preparation for life beyond school; sixth-form students move on to meaningful destinations. Safeguarding is effective, and trust and governance support are effective. The main area for improvement is that teachers and in-class support staff do not consistently select and deliver tasks that challenge and extend pupils’ knowledge and skills, which can lead some pupils to disengage from learning. Otherwise, the school has high expectations, staff know pupils’ SEND well, and pupils make good gains. Early years provision prepares children well for their next steps, and leadership has strengthened the curriculum since the previous inspection. The school remains part of Esteem Multi-Academy Trust and was previously judged good.

Strengths

• Happy, welcoming and inclusive school culture
• Kind, compassionate and highly skilled staff
• High expectations for all pupils
• Personalised curriculum matched to pupils’ broad developmental needs
• Flexible teaching adapted to pupils’ specific SEND
• Strong partnership working with therapists and external agencies
• Communication is a golden thread across the school
• Calm classrooms with well-established routines
• Exceptional personal development and independent living curriculum
• Wide range of enriching experiences and community participation
• Sixth-form students progress to meaningful destinations
• Effective trust and governance support for staff
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective
• Early years provision prepares children well for future learning

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers and in-class support staff do not consistently select and deliver tasks that challenge and extend pupils’ knowledge and skills
• Some pupils can disengage from learning when tasks are not sufficiently challenging

In 2024–25 pupils at Stanton Vale School attended 86.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 37.2% 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, 0.8% of pupils at Stanton Vale School 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 Stanton Vale School had 9.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.9% 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 Stanton Vale School had 131 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty.

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 2024–25 Stanton Vale School received £35,481 and spent £31,918 for each of its 118 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £416,000 (£3,527 per pupil).

Across all 9 schools of Esteem Multi-Academy Trust, income was £26,475 and spending £26,077 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Nottingham · Derbyshire local authority: places and applications

Stanton Vale School is part of Esteem Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Bennerley Fields School Ilkeston
• St Clare's School Derby
• Holbrook School for Autism Belper
• Elmsleigh Infant & Nursery School Swadlincote
• Bracken Hill School Nottingham
• The Fountains High School Burton-On-Trent
• The Fountains Primary School Burton-On-Trent
• Peak School High Peak

What is Stanton Vale School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Stanton Vale School is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Stanton Vale School last inspected by Ofsted?

Stanton Vale School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Stanton Vale School have?

Stanton Vale School has 131 pupils on roll.

What age range does Stanton Vale School cover?

Stanton Vale School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

What are Stanton Vale School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Stanton Vale School?

Stanton Vale School is at Thoresby Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG10 3NP.