Dee Banks School receives outstanding Ofsted report

Nov 10 2011 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

Dee Banks School receives outstanding Ofsted report

GOVERNMENT inspectors have poured praise on a Chester special school.

Dee Banks School, on Sandy Lane, has been described as outstanding by Ofsted inspectors for the second time running.

The introduction to the report states: “Dee Banks continues to provide an outstanding quality of education for pupils of all ages with severe and complex special educational needs and/or disabilities.

“It is outstanding in many respects, not least in the care, commitment and dedication of staff supporting pupils and their families.

“It has the wholehearted confidence of parents and carers, its partner schools, and of the many health professionals involved with therapy.”

There was special praise for the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage with a statement that ‘at the heart… is excellent leadership, very good teamwork and a staff who know each child and their needs exceptionally well’.

In the letter to pupils, lead inspector Brian Padgett thanked them for making the members of his team so welcome and said how much they had enjoyed their visit.

He ended: “It is hard to think of ways of making Dee Banks better than it already is.”

One small criticism of the school was the lack of natural features in the outdoor area, although inspectors recognised staff’s efforts in taking the children on frequent visits to places such as Delamere Forest.

Headteacher Ray Elliott said: “I am utterly delighted with the report.

“The inspectors were most respectful toward the job that we do here, which is a very hard one. They really came in seeking the best and they found it.

“The team was particularly deep thinking and their report says a lot about the commitment of the staff and the quality of work they do for our pupils.”