The Dales School

Overview

The Dales School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes a school where positive relationships ensure pupils are safe, well cared for, and happy, supported by a highly personalised curriculum. Staff provide dedicated nurture, fostering a ‘can-do’ attitude that builds resilience and prepares pupils for life beyond school.

Strengths

• Positive relationships between pupils and staff ensure pupils are “safe, well cared for and happy,” with pupils confidently approaching staff for help.
• The school offers a “highly personalised curriculum” that seamlessly blends therapeutic and academic approaches, building knowledge logically over time.
• Staff expertly use multi-sensory approaches, clear language, and signing to support communication, enabling pupils to access the wider curriculum confidently.
• Well-established routines and visual supports help pupils manage transitions and changes in activities effectively throughout the school day.
• Governors provide “systematic and rigorous” oversight, while staff feel well supported by leaders who prioritise workload management and well-being.

Areas to improve

• The school should ensure that the content of the curriculum and the use of assessment are better aligned so teachers can use this information effectively to inform future teaching.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”