Haven Nook, Canterbury

What it's like to be a pupil at Haven Nook

Pupils enjoy their time at this nurturing and distinctive school because staff create an environment, where pupils rebuild trust and regain a sense of belonging. Many pupils have spent long periods out of education, yet they settle quickly here as staff understand their communication and emotional needs. Pupils study an engaging, relevant curriculum that prepares them for ambitious next steps. Staff organise learning carefully so pupils work towards suitable qualifications. The curriculum is highly personalised to reflect each pupil's starting point. Staff are typically expert at adapting teaching approaches to help pupils learn well. Positive relationships sit at the heart of the school's success. Pupils can generally regulate their emotions and communicate effectively, as staff use sensitive and skilful therapeutic approaches. Pupils understand the consequences of their actions and strive to meet high expectations. Bullying occurs rarely. If it does, staff address it swiftly, ensuring a disruption-free environment. Some pupils do not attend well enough. Recent staffing changes mean a few pupils do not receive the help they need to attend regularly. Pupils behave very well in school. They speak kindly to staff and each other. They enjoy shared interests, such as playing chess or walking the school dogs. The broad, well-organised curriculum is supplemented with outdoor learning and extensive enrichment. Pupils work towards their personal goals, such as visiting new places. Enterprise opportunities, including running craft fairs and organising charity events, build pupils' confidence and develop their financial literacy in preparation for adulthood. A sense of community is evident throughout the school. Pupils form firm friendships, support one another and celebrate achievements. Regular opportunities for pupils to ‘check in' with trusted adults help pupils to feel safe, valued and ready to learn.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

• The proprietor should increase the rigour of their systems for oversight and quality assurance and ensure that these are implemented effectively so that all the independent school standards are securely met over time.
• Leaders should ensure they raise pupils' attendance more rapidly, particularly for those who are severely absent, by ensuring that their support effectively removes barriers to positive attendance to school.
• Leaders should ensure that staff consistently provide pupils with opportunities to practise speaking, reading and writing across the curriculum, so that pupils strengthen these aspects of their foundational knowledge.
• Leaders should continue to foster positive partnerships and effective communication with parents, carers and external professionals to ensure pupils receive coordinated support that helps them to succeed.

Haven Nook excels at creating a nurturing environment where pupils who have experienced disrupted education settle quickly and rebuild trust. The school provides highly personalised learning with expert staff who adapt teaching to individual needs, combined with regular therapeutic support that helps pupils develop confidence and self-belief. The curriculum is ambitious and relevant, preparing pupils well for their next stages with weekly off-site enrichment activities that develop social skills and nurture individual interests.

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have created an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Weekly off-site enrichment activities, outdoor learning, chess, school dogs, craft fairs, cooking activities, visits to local courts, visits from police and fire brigade, work-experience opportunities, independent travel practice

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