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What says..

No uniform, first names for teachers, tree-hugging, non-consumerist, fiercely individual, unapologetically intellectual. Children here are encouraged to question ideas and teachers, to speak up, to resolve their own problems – all in a kindly free-range atmosphere. A small school, particularly in years 7 and 8; average class size is a diminutive 15. Could, perhaps, be described as...

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What the school says...

Dolphin School offers a 'hands-on' approach to learning, high academic standards and a unique field and walking trip programme both at home and abroad which takes education beyond the classroom and brings it to life.

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What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since 2019, Adam Hurst (40s). Educated at Kelly College; read English literature at Reading. Began his teaching career at Shiplake College in 2004. He moved on to Caldicott Prep where he was head of sport, then became housemaster of the junior boarding house at Dauntsey’s before a short spell at The Oratory, Berkshire, and thence to Dolphin.

He grew up in a sprawling theatrical family founded by his grandmother, an Italia Conti-trained actress and dancer who ran several theatre schools. His father is musician and record producer Mike Hurst (one of the Springfields, alongside Dusty – worth a Wikipedia search, we assure you). He is one of seven children, many of them in the theatre world, including sister Muffin who runs the Henley Children’s Theatre Group (first started by her grandmother)....

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Special Education Needs

At Dolphin there is an Individual Needs Co Ordinator who helps to identify any children who may need support or, in the case of the most able, extension material. The curriculum at Dolphin is challenging and consequently the majority of children are of average ability or above. We do not have a learning support unit, but some children do have weekly one-to-one lessons with qualified support staff where necessary, the cost of which is in addition to the termly fees. 09-09

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Y
Aspergers Y
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders Y
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia
Dyscalculia Y
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia Y
Dyspraxia
English as an additional language (EAL) Y
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment Y
Hospital School
Mental health Y
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Y
Natspec Specialist Colleges
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability Y
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Y
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Y
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Y
VI - Visual Impairment Y

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