PROBLEMS continue at Coombe House special school – with fewer pupils than planned, many teaching posts filled by agency staff and little likelihood of a permanent headteacher for several months.

Dorset Council staff are continuing to offer support to the independent school and its school budget is having to be re-assessed along with the business plan.

When the school re-opened in mid-September it had 36 pupils on the roll – compared to 47 in the previous term when it first opened.

Dorset Council has committed to 100 pupils as part of its plan for the site near Shaftesbury which it bought for around £10 million after the former St Mary’s private school closed.

Sixteen pupils who briefly attended the school in the spring have since had to be found places elsewhere after it was decided they should not return to the campus.

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Some parents took to social media earlier in the year to claim the large school environment was not suitable for every child and said that the site was not ready when it opened, with building work still taking place.

Dorset Council admitted at the time that the first few weeks had been “bumpy” – which had led to some staff, including senior roles, leaving just weeks after being recruited.

An update this week said that progress is now being made, with the staff saying they are being supported and the pupils feeling that they are in a safe environment.

But Dorset councillors were told that residential care and short-break provision has been paused and not all posts on the board of directors have been filled – although an interview for a position specialising in finance is being held this week.

Children’s social services director Claire Shiels said: “Growth of the school roll has slowed, with fewer children attending in September than initially forecast in the original business plan.”

She said Dorset Council would continue to offer support, in the short term, especially for recruiting and finance.

The school is now being run by an interim head who also acts as managing director: Dr Sharina Klaasens took up the post at the end of August.

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She told a shareholder meeting of councillors on Wednesday evening that there had been “a great recovery journey since the start of the autumn term” but acknowledged “we still have some way to go”.

She said pupils have been telling staff they feel safe, most believe they are learning well and levels of engagement have been increasing: “Most are excited to come into school,” she said.

Ms Shiels said: “A new people structure has been agreed and recruitment activity has continued at pace, most notably resulting in the appointment of an interim managing director/head teacher; six interim teachers and six learning coaches…

“Back-office support and capacity has also been strengthened with some new appointments following some leavers and a reshaping of the team. A permanent recruitment plan has been agreed and is the focus moving forward.”

Director and chair of the Dorset Centre of Excellence, Ian Comfort, said that the challenges of opening a new school were being tackled with the ongoing support of Dorset Council staff.

He said: “The board, with the significant support of colleagues from Dorset Council, has looked to address the issues that impacted on the successful opening of the school.

“It has sought to swiftly and systematically recover the position to ensure that it can deliver a safe and rewarding learning experience for its pupils. The board is mindful that without the ongoing support of the council as its shareholder the company is not viable…“With significant support from Dorset Council officers the company has been able to recruit the required number of teachers and support staff to enable it to open the school. A number of those recruited are temporary agency staff and recruitment for permanent staff continues.”

He says that there are “significant financial implications” by not yet achieving full capacity at the school which has led to the re-forecasting of its budget and reviewing the longer-term business plan.