Ofsted has praised an education department for young people receiving care for their mental health as a “school where kindness shapes daily life”.
The Poplar Therapeutic Education Department is based at Rochford Hospital and supports young people with their education during their admission to the Poplar Child and Adolescent Mental Health ward.
The service is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and provides care for teenagers aged 13 to 18. The school is an Essex Local Authority maintained school working with the NHS.
Ofsted inspected the education department in June and published its findings yesterday, Wednesday 16 July, which graded behaviour and attitudes as Outstanding.
Quality of education, personal development, leadership and management and sixth form provision were all rated Good.
The report said: “This is a school where kindness shapes daily life. Pupils learn in a homely setting where they feel safe and valued.”
“Even with the challenges they face, pupils find reasons to smile again.”
It said “warm, trusting relationships are at the heart of this school’s community” and the young people feel seen and understood.
The inspectors highlighted how teaching staff identify special educational needs and disabilities accurately and staff adapt their teaching to build on pupils’ interests and support them to gain qualifications.
Staff work with pupils, their families, the clinical team and external agencies to identify and meet the specific needs of each young person.
They also work with the local authority to make sure they continue to get the support they need to succeed once they leave school.
The Ofsted report highlighted how many staff have worked at the education unit for a long time and are “deeply committed to providing a safe haven for the pupils.”
Inspectors recommended the school focus on adapting teaching or changing explanations to help pupils when they misunderstand a concept or make repeated errors.
They also recommended strengthening the reading programme to support reading progress and encourage a lasting love of reading. They highlighted the benefits to mental health and wellbeing that a love of reading can bring.
Acting Headteacher Charlotte Baulch said: “The young people were just amazing throughout the inspection.
“Although it was disruption to their usual routines and unfamiliar people had come into their school, the inspectors commented a number of times that the young people were so calm, happy and engaged and that they made them feel very welcome!”
You can read the full report on the Ofsted website.