ISP School Whitstable

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 September 2025

The school takes care in getting to know pupils prior to their first day at ISP Whitstable. Staff, parents and carers, and pupils work together to ensure that each pupil's needs are known and planned for. This partnership approach is built upon, through supportive communication, throughout pupils' time at the school. Pupils quickly develop positive and trusting relationships with staff and one another. They are greeted individually and warmly at the start of each day and are supported well to make a smooth transition to morning lessons. The happy atmosphere throughout school reflects pupils' feelings of safety. Pupils know and learn about the school's special words: 'please, thank you' and 'kindness'. These words help bring the school's ethos to life. Pupils understand that the school has great ambitions for their behaviour and learning. Initially, many pupils who join the school struggle to regulate their behaviour or to engage with learning consistently well. Movement breaks, adult support and personalised rewards help pupils to refocus and be ready to learn. Weekly trips to the farm enable pupils to practise positive behaviours and social skills in informal settings. Over time, pupils rise to the school's expectations with increasing success.

What the school should improve

• The school has not ensured that all staff are sufficiently trained to teach phonics and early reading. There is an inconsistent approach to the teaching of phonics and early reading. Not all pupils, at the early stages of learning to read, have books precisely matched to the sounds that they know. Consequently, some pupils at the early stages of learning to read do not catch up as quickly as they should. The school should ensure that all staff are trained in, and implement, the school's agreed approach to phonics and early reading.
• On occasions, individual lessons and learning activities that the school provides are too complicated for pupils to tackle without extensive support. Some lessons also fail to engage pupils well. This does not support pupils to learn or practise their learning effectively. The school should ensure that staff are trained and supported to provide pupils with work that deepens their knowledge over time.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)