Aurora Vincent House School

Aurora Vincent House School is a small independent special school that opened in August 2025 and has just had its first standard inspection. All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities, including autism and associated social, emotional and mental health needs, and many arrive having faced significant barriers to education. Inspectors found the school is performing at the expected standard across achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development. Safeguarding standards are met, and all independent school standards are met. The school's main strengths are its warm relationships, strong inclusion and swift identification of pupils' needs. Pupils feel safe, behave well, and are making progress through a curriculum that prepares them for their next steps. Attendance is improving, and leaders, governors and staff are well supported and highly focused on continuous improvement. Parents are very positive about the difference the school makes. Leaders know what still needs work. In a small number of subjects, the curriculum does not yet set out precisely enough what knowledge and skills pupils should learn and when, and expectations in those subjects could be higher. Attendance data also needs to be used more consistently to understand and tackle the barriers facing pupils with very low attendance. Overall, this is a school with firm foundations and a clear sense of direction.

Strengths

• Leaders have built firm foundations since opening, with a clear vision, values and positive ethos.
• Staff know pupils well and identify their needs swiftly, providing effective support including therapies.
• Pupils make progress through a generally well-planned curriculum, with gaps addressed quickly.
• Pupils feel safe, trust staff and behave well in lessons and at social times.
• Attendance is improving because staff monitor it closely and work with families and other professionals.
• Pupils with a wide range of needs are fully included and benefit from practical support in lessons.
• Governance is highly effective, knowledgeable and ensures the school meets its legal duties.
• Staff are well supported, feel valued and receive training to meet pupils' needs.
• Parents are very positive about the school and the difference it makes to their children.
• Personal development includes life skills, careers work, enrichment activities and opportunities to celebrate diversity.
• Bullying and discrimination are very rare and dealt with quickly and effectively.
• Pupils are well prepared for the next stage in their education, training or employment.

Areas for Improvement

• In a small number of subjects, the curriculum does not set out precisely enough the knowledge and skills pupils need to learn and when.
• Expectations for what pupils can achieve in a few subjects could be higher.
• Leaders need to use attendance data consistently well to fully understand and tackle the issues that stop pupils attending well.
• Some pupils with very low attendance face significant challenges, and more work is needed to identify and tackle barriers swiftly.

In 2025–26, 0.0% of pupils at Aurora Vincent House 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 Aurora Vincent House School's Ofsted rating?

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

When was Aurora Vincent House School last inspected by Ofsted?

Aurora Vincent House School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Aurora Vincent House School have?

Aurora Vincent House School has 42 pupils on roll.

What age range does Aurora Vincent House School cover?

Aurora Vincent House School for pupils aged 5 to 19.

Where is Aurora Vincent House School?

Aurora Vincent House School is at Vincent House, 31 North Parade, Horsham, RH12 2DA.