Fernways School in Windlesham is a bespoke-designed school which provides specialist support for children who are autistic. Inspectors who visited the school graded it as “Good” in all areas and described it as a “safe and happy place” for pupils. Parents, inspectors said, have described how coming to Fernways has been “life-changing” for their children.

The report noted: “Pupils trust adults to look after them and help them learn. They treat each other and their teachers with kindness and courtesy. They are proud of each other’s achievements.

“Leaders have quickly established a warm and purposeful atmosphere in the school. Pupils who have been absent from education for a sustained period now come to school regularly. This helps to raise their self-esteem, as well as increase their knowledge.”

The report also noted that the school understands pupils’ individual needs “very well” and added: “They want them to be confident and successful learners, equipped to face the world. Everything they do is focused on this goal. Caring persistence helps pupils to engage with learning and become more resilient. As a result, pupils gain useful knowledge about the world around them and the subjects that they study.”

The “wealth” of trips, visitors and extra-curricular activities offered by the school and enjoyed by pupils helps to “broaden pupils’ life experiences and deepen their knowledge of different cultures and faiths,” the report added.

The school opened in 2021 and provides a specialist environment for children with autism and associated needs.

Fernways provides places for up to 50 pupils across Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, including those for whom mainstream schools have not been able to meet their educational needs. The school’s interior and external facilities have been specifically designed to create the best possible learning environment for young people with autism.

Headteacher Hannah Stroud is a highly experienced educator who has a wealth of experience as a leader in a diverse range of SEN settings.

She said: “We are naturally thrilled with the highly positive comments in this our first Ofsted report. We’re delighted with the progress our children are making at Fernways and they, and our staff team, should be rightly proud that their hard work and achievements have been recognised by Ofsted in this way.”