UPLANDS School has been praised as a ‘warm and smiley’ place in the latest edition of The Good Schools Guide.

Listed for the first time, it is among 80 special schools selected on merit to appear in the comprehensive guide, which reviews more than 1,300 independent and state schools.

The guide’s editors highlight the extra touches at the school in Tadpole Lane, which caters for pupils aged between 11 and 25 who have disabilities and learning difficulties, these include measures such as helping the children who suffer with anxiety with a school dog and an army of teddies waiting in the dining room.

“Its success lies in nurturing each student as an individual within a family group and meeting their needs with a team of highly trained teachers and therapists," the guide reads.

“We saw a class of three complex needs children working on switch-control, with an interactive screen and hamburger-style buttons, which rewarded their efforts with a burst of heavy metal music.

“Parents praised the staff: ‘Simple things we take for granted, they have the time and the patience to do it’.”

Uplands, which employs around 170 members of staff and has 84 students, was also rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted at their last inspection.

Executive headteacher Jackie Smith, who has worked at the school for seven years, said: “It is great to be recognised.

“Uplands is an exceptional school with exceptional students and exceptional staff. Our vision statement is that we are a vibrant and caring community and we do it so well.

“Everyone who comes to the school and walks through the door feels the warmth from the staff and students. We are a great happy place where young people can reach their potential.”

The younger children achieve GCSE and ASDAN qualifications, while the older students can follow courses in vehicle maintenance, retail, catering, animal care, and even horticulture at the school’s own farm.

Jackie added: “Our young people go on to be in work and what we teach them is all about being innovative and thinking outside the box.

“The team is highly trained in all aspects and the young people have severe difficulties but they overcome them with a dedicated and caring team.”