Dorchester Learning Centre, Dorchester

What it's like to be a pupil at Dorchester Learning Centre

Pupils receive a bespoke programme that is fitting to their starting points, experiences and admission arrangements. Staff greet pupils with enthusiasm and warmth at the start of the day. Staff actively listen to and support pupils expertly. Pupils learn the routines quickly, for example handing in mobile phones and participating in tutor time. Pupils receive highly effective pastoral support and any therapies they need. Leaders and staff are persistent in modelling positive relationships. This distinctive feature sits at the heart of the school's work. Pupils typically understand clear boundaries because adults constantly reinforce them. This helps pupils feel safe. Parents and carers recognise the support and kindness that staff show. Everyone is treated as an individual. Staff celebrate every small step of progress to re-engage pupils in school life. Pupils are proud to receive a 'star message', for example. Over time, pupils learn to attend better. Pupils typically achieve well from their varied starting points. Many pupils on short-term placements are supported to return to mainstream school successfully. In addition to academic subjects such as English, mathematics and science, many pupils experience vocational subjects such as catering or hair and beauty. Work experience is a strength. This helps pupils on longer-term placements to prepare for post-16 education. The school is astute at identifying barriers to learning. However, occasionally pupils do not get enough practice in a few aspects of academic learning. Leaders know that these academic barriers exist and staff are beginning to address them. Pupils broaden their horizons through rich and varied activities, such as outdoor learning. Social times are used effectively to enrich pupils' experiences. Playing football with staff at social times is a favourite. Other pupils enjoy playing boules in the hall or playing chess. This supports pupils to build relationships with their peers and take turns.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• Leaders need to ensure that they have stringent oversight of all aspects of the school's work so that they achieve consistently strong standards across all aspects of the school's work.
• Leaders should continue their work to enhance the implementation and impact of the curriculum and teaching by ensuring that staff use their assessments of what pupils know by designing teaching sequences that address pupils' barriers to learning consistently well.

Dorchester Learning Centre excels at rebuilding pupils' confidence and self-belief through caring staff who actively listen and celebrate every small step of progress. The school's relational approach combined with targeted pastoral support and therapies helps pupils develop greater respect for adults and peers whilst successfully preparing many for return to mainstream education. The diverse curriculum, including vocational subjects and meaningful work experience, equips pupils with practical skills for their future.

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has established an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are fulfilled and pupils feel safe.

sailing, swimming, sports, outdoor learning, football, boules, chess, vocational subjects (catering, hair and beauty), work experience

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