Partnership work is central to our practice at Dysart. We maintain very close links with parents and carers: in 2019 we were granted the Leading Parent Partnership Award in recognition of the exceptionally strong relationship that we enjoy with our families. We recognise that strong relationships with families leads to better educational outcomes for pupils. We are currently in the process of applying to have the Leading Parent Partnership Award extended for a further three years.

In addition to the parents and carers of pupils at Dysart, we maintain close links with Orchard Hill college. Orchard Hill college is an outstanding specialist college and is the sponsor for Orchard Hill College and Academies Trust, of which Dysart is a member. A number of our pupils have moved on from Dysart to Orchard Hill in recent years. We are currently in the process of developing this even further through the proposed Post-16 SEND campus in Kingston in collaboration with our friends at Bedelsford school, St Philip’s school, as well as Orchard Hill college.

We also enjoy excellent relationships with other members of the local community, including small businesses based locally to Dysart. Regular visits into the local community to promote the vital social skills that our pupils need to develop in order to lead healthy and independent lives as adults. Through our partnerships in the local community, we are able to offer a range of work experience opportunities for our older pupils to ensure that they are well prepared for the next step in their journey after leaving Dysart.

In September 2019, we opened a new satellite provision – Apollo 1 – in a small site adjacent to Tolworth Infants and Juniors. In September 2021, we opened a second satellite site – Apollo 2 – adjacent to Latchmere school. Opportunities for mainstream integration are an important part of the overall offer for Dysart pupils based at the Apollo sites and we have established effective partnerships with both Tolworth Infants and Juniors, and Latchmere school to facilitate this.

In addition to the above, we also maintain strong partnerships with colleagues in social care. Many Dysart pupils are subject to a Child in Need plan due to their disability. The staff responsible for safeguarding at Dysart hold regular meetings with senior leaders in the Disabled Children’s Team at Achieving for Children, as well as with senior leaders who run the short breaks service based at Moor Lane.

Pupils make exceptional progress in English and Mathematics because staff work alongside leaders, parents and therapists to agree goals. Ofsted 2018