An 'outstanding' special school has been warned standards may have slipped during a recent ungraded Ofsted inspection.

Breakspeare School in Abbots Langley, which has had the highest possible rating since 2007, was told "evidence gathered suggests that the inspection grade might not be as high if a graded inspection were carried out".

Inspectors have therefore recommended the next inspection be graded, which would usually happen within one to two years of the latest inspection.

In the report published on June 29, the school was told it needs to improve in areas including leaders' communication with parents and staff about curriculum expectations.

Another area the school could improve is providing suitable reading material for children learning phonics.

However, the school was also told that its arrangements for safeguarding are effective and that "leaders are ambitious for what they want pupils to achieve". 

Inspectors found that students' engagement with school activities was something Breakspeare prioritised, including pupils being part of the school council. 

Breakspeare caters for 97 pupils aged two to 19 with special educational needs, with all students having severe or profound learning difficulties.

It is located in Abbots Langley but caters to a broad catchment area of central North Watford and surrounding areas.

Breakspeare School declined to comment when approached by the Watford Observer.