Dibden Park School given ‘good’ grade in first Ofsted inspection since opening

A WATERSIDE independent specialist school has been praised for its “welcoming and inclusive” environment in its first Ofsted report since opening.

Dibden Park School caters for 24 pupils aged between eight and 16 who have a range of complex needs, including social, emotional and mental health, and associated challenging behaviour.

The annual cost for day pupils is £63,000 a year.

Inspectors found that everyone at Dibden Park “is valued for who they are and for their unique qualities”.

They add that “many pupils have missed parts of their education and not been in a classroom environment for a significant period of time”.

Despite this, the school’s “carefully planned transition programme” helps them settle in well.

Inspectors found that pupils’ behaviour was “generally calm throughout the school” and that they “talk about the new found confidence they have” since joining.

They described the school’s curriculum as “ambitious”, and said it is as “broad as possible”.

Teachers “know their subjects well”, but inspectors noted that sometimes they are “not clear enough about how to help pupils take the small steps needed to achieve their targets”.

The report praises the careers programme, and says staff effectively help pupils “understand boundaries and why these are important”, giving them good support.

But inspectors said some staff, pupils, parents and carers did not “fully understand” the school’s “approach to managing behaviour”, which “impacts on how consistently expectations are applied and followed”.