Life Skills Manor for Autism at Baypoint Club is celebrating an all-round outstanding grading from Ofsted.
Inspectors who visited the school in March say: “This is a school where exceptionality is everyday practice.
“Staff are dedicated experts, though modest in the way they present their successes to visitors. They work hard because they enjoy being here.
“Despite their understated approach, staff are unapologetically ambitious for all pupils, no matter what their backgrounds or barriers to learning.
“Because of this, pupils flourish and are well prepared for their next steps on leaving the school.”
Inspectors noted the ‘nurturing haven it provides’ and that ‘pupils achieve extremely well in all aspects of their education. Importantly, they also develop and consolidate the key life skills they will need.’
Head teacher Paul Barrett said: “We opened our doors just three and a half years ago with a vision to be exceptional in everything we do.
“Life Skills Manor make decisions that are in the best interests of the child which enables us to transform pupils that were lost in the system into happy and confident children. “We are delighted to be recognised for our dedication, but we will continue to drive forward and offer the best social, emotional, and academic outcomes for the children of Life Skills Manor.
“We are a community, an exceptional community, at the forefront of special education. Thank you, to all those involved in our success journey, lets continuing to prepare children into adulthood and change lives for the better.”
The report also highlights how pupils “talk very positively about their school “ and the bespoke curriculum which: “As well as developing life skills, has the academic rigour for pupils to gain the qualifications they need for their next steps.”
Mention is also given to pupils sophisticated understanding of equality and diversity and the range of out-of-school visits and work experience opportunities provided.
The report adds: “Parents and carers are very positive about Life Skills Manor and the impact it has on their children’s lives.
“All who replied to Ofsted Parent View would recommend the school. Their comments in free-text messages pay testament to the high-quality provision in this excellent school. “This includes aspects of overall well-being, such as the welfare, health and safety of pupils, as well as the quality of education they enjoy.”
When Life Skills Manor opened its site at Baypoint in 2022, Paul told The Isle of Thanet News that he was spurred to create more specialist education places after his own son was diagnosed with autism.
Paul, who taught at St George’s for 13 years before becoming deputy head at St Anthony’s school for four years, said: “We got an Educational Health Care Plan but to get a placement we had to go to tribunal and I thought it was just shocking. I knew what I was doing, being in education, but I just thought I could do something better.”
Life Skills Manor and Life Skills Enterprise is also in the process of restoring Northdown House to become a school that caters for children aged 10-18 with a primary diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition.
Find out more at www.lifeskillsmanor.co.uk
