Fordwater School, Chichester

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 July 2023

From the moment pupils join this warm, vibrant school, action is taken to quickly identify their complex needs. All staff are highly skilled at understanding the nuanced ways in which pupils communicate. Each pupil's voice is at the centre of decisions made about their care and education. Pupils' personalities flourish because staff celebrate them as unique individuals. They learn new skills such as swimming, cooking and Japanese 'Taiko' drumming. Pupils practise numeracy skills to weigh ingredients when making batches of delicious cake to sell in the 'Nest Café'. They take enormous pride in marketing and selling products from their numerous enterprises. Every pupil has a personalised learning journey that is meticulously planned. Leaders prioritise pupils' personal, social and emotional development. Pupils learn to recognise and process their emotions. This restores pupils' resilience when they find learning a struggle. Relationships are incredibly strong in this school. Pupils treat each other with kindness and compassion because staff role model this behaviour. Pupils state that 'bullying does not happen here'. Education around inclusion and equality means pupils understand that being unkind is wrong. When pupils become dysregulated, staff provide effective and nurturing support. This helps pupils quickly get back to their learning.

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