The Forum School A GSG School
- The Forum School
Shillingstone
Blandford Forum
Dorset
DT11 0QS - Head: Greg Regan
- T 01258 860 295
- F 01258 860 552
- E forum.admin@cambiangroup.com
- W www.cambiangro…e-forum-school/
- A special school for pupils aged 7-19 with autism spectrum disorders along with complex needs, challenging behaviour, and moderate to severe learning difficulties
- Read about the best schools in Dorset
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Dorset
- Pupils: 32
- Religion: Not Applicable
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
What The Good Schools Guide says..
‘I can truly say our son is loved. It’s not just education, it goes beyond that,’ said one grateful parent. Around half of the parents are managing the difficult situation where the child’s needs are such that they need to be accommodated at the school year-round, and all the sorrow and guilt that entails. It’s all very lah-di-dah with horses and stables, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, and 28 acres to roam. ‘He loves the horses, he does hand-over-hand grooming, and has learned to…
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What The Good Schools Guide says
Principal
Since September 2018, Greg Regan, first as interim principal, now permanent. Qualified as a teacher at Plymouth University 10 years ago and has taught in a variety of mainstream and special schools.
Took over after Jo Galloway was in post for little over a year. She joined from The National Autistic Society's Radlett Lodge school, and was seen as a good catch for a school which needed some housekeeping after the sudden departure of its previous head Clive Padgett, for personal reasons after less than two years in the role, and a shock inadequate rating from Ofsted early in 2017, following a triple crown of outstandings.
Galloway put in place an action plan to address the weaknesses, and a follow up visit by Ofsted in Spring 2018...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Special Education Needs
The Forum School is an independent, residential special school, part of Cambian Education Services, catering for pupils with autistic spectrum disorders. The school aims to provide a 24 hour curriculum approach and to effect this, living accommodation is provided in small family house groups. The school has extensive grounds and good facilities including a sensory room, outdoor swimming pool, an adventure playground, bike area, play area, large grass field, gardens etc. In addition, the school has its own horses and stables with both indoor and outdoor arenas for horse riding. A range of therapies are available and used where beneficial. These include: aromatherapy, music therapy, riding therapy, and speech and language therapy. The school holds a number of awards including Artsmark Gold and Artsmark Healthy Schools. Following inspection, Ofsted commented, 'The Forum School is an outstanding school which provides an outstanding level of care and education.' All children admitted to the school have a reference to an autistic spectrum disorder on their statement of special educational needs. Unless the child is to attend as a private placement, local education authorities and/or social services departments make formal requests for placements; parents are advised to involve their local authorities at an early stage so that visits by appropriate professionals can be arranged to ascertain the suitability of the school. Prospective parents are welcome to visit the school by appointment.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | Y |
| Aspergers | Y |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | Y |
| Has SEN unit or class | Y |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| PD - Physical Disability | |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment |
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