A SPECIAL school open for under a year has been judged 'outstanding' by Ofsted and won two awards for its focus on mental wellbeing.

Dovecote School, at Shapwick, has been named as an ambassador school for is role in supporting young people's mental wellbeing.

The school, which opened last September, has 57 pupils aged five to 18, with capacity for 75.

The majority have autism and some have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or pathological demand avoidance (PDA).

Many have high levels of anxiety and have previously struggled to attend school.

Headteacher Neil Gage said: “I couldn’t be more delighted with the successes we have had in our first year.

"Ofsted said that what we do for young people and their families is life-changing and that is why we’re here.

"Before September, a lot of our students had not been in school for up to three years and now their attendance is 92 or 93 per cent, which is just incredible.”

Dovecote has been named an ambassador school with excellence in relationship and environment by Thrive, which trains teachers and other education professionals to support the social and emotional development of children and young people.

The accolade recognises extraordinary schools making a positive impact on pupils and the wider community by focusing on emotional wellbeing and creating an environment in which children’s wellbeing thrives.

It recognises schools which forge a strong connection between staff and pupils, creating a firm foundation for learning.

As well as academic assessments such as GCSEs, the school offers functional skills qualifications to provide a pathway to a career.

Its facilities include a farm, forest school and gardens that create a therapeutic environment and open up opportunities for developing skills in areas such as horticulture.

It has a high ratio of staff to pupils and a team of experts including a speech and language therapist and an occupational therapist who work alongside teaching staff in the classroom, rather than making referrals to external agencies.

There is also a strong focus on working with parents and carers so that children and young people have a consistent approach and common language at home and at school.

“In the short time it has been open, Dovecote School has made remarkable progress that is anchored in a genuine commitment to prioritising mental and emotional wellbeing. It is inspirational to read the impact it is having already and to think about what it will achieve in the future as it reaches more children and young people and continues to change lives,” said Eva-Marie Ford, Thrive’s relationship manager for the South West and Wales.