Welcome to our School     Les Sage, Head Teacher     Portal House School is a Special School for pupils who experience Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties.  (SEBD)   In September 2004, the School was redesignated as a day school for secondary age pupils with the above needs.  Currently, the age range of pupils spans from National Curriculum Year 4 to Year 7.   .   ‘Portal House is a good school and effective in its work and enabling pupils to make good progress.  Pupils enjoy coming to school, have positive attitudes and behave well in lessons.  Teachers and classroom assistants work well together to support and manage pupils’ learning.  Where pupils are still experiencing difficulties in taking responsibility for their behaviour, they receive good guidance and support from school staff’.  (Ofsted 2000)     GENERAL INFORMATION     Address:                    Portal House School Sea Street St Margaret’s at Cliffe Dover Kent                    CT15 6SS   Tel:                                          01304 853033 Fax:                                         01304 853526 E-mail:                                    office@portal-house.kent.sch.uk     Head Teacher:                        Mr L. Sage     Type of School:    A day school for secondary age pupils who experience Social, Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties   Age Range:                             11-16 years     Chair of Governors:        Mrs E Talbot 01303 893148     Area Education Office:   East Kent Area Education Office Clover House John Wilson Business Park Thanet Way Whitstable   Tel:                                          01227 772992   Ofsted Inspection     Portal House was last inspected by Ofsted on March 13 – 17th, 2000, and was graded as a ‘Good’ school.  The following extract is taken from the Summary of the Inspection Report.   HOW GOOD THE SCHOOL IS   Portal House is a good school and effective in its work and enabling pupils to make good progress.  Pupils enjoy coming to school, have positive attitudes and behave well in lessons.  Teachers and classroom assistants work well together to support and manage pupils’ learning.  Where pupils are still experiencing difficulties in taking responsibility for their behaviour, they receive good guidance and support from school and residential staff.  The use of a reward system to acknowledge good work, behaviour and effort is an effective and positive factor in motivating pupils to try harder and do well.  The pupils place great value upon the points they receive as a result of this strategy.  The headteacher, senior management team and governors have all worked hard since the last inspection to raise standards in teaching and learning.    The school has made substantial improvements since the last inspection particularly with regard to raising standards of teaching and learning.  The school gives satisfactory value for money.   What the school does well   ·      Teaching and learning are good; there were no unsatisfactory lessons during the inspection. ·      The staff manages and monitors challenging behaviour very well. ·      The accommodation, care and activities provided for pupils in the residential unit is very good. ·      There is very good leadership and management. ·      The senior management team, staff and governors share an outstanding commitment to the future success of the school and has excellent capacity to succeed. ·      The curriculum is good, particularly the use of information communications technology as an aid to pupils’ learning.                     A copy of the full Report and Summary Report can be obtained on the internet at www.ofsted.gov.uk or from the school office.