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We believe that the our pupils is at the heart of everything we do. Everyone at The Chiltern School is valued and we are curious; we work to understand others and our surroundings, ensuring equity for all and an inclusive environment.
The Chiltern School is a child centred value based school. We know that to keep all children and young people fully included, engaged in learning and improve outcomes we must build a school community where we celebrate diversity and ensure everyone is valued. We treat everyone with dignity and respect.
Our Core Beliefs
Our core beliefs and expectations are determined through our school values. Our values are Kindness, Curiosity, Respect, Aspiration and Courage.
- KINDNESS: We show compassion, share generously, and care for one another through our words and actions.
- CURIOUSITY: We are eager to explore, ask questions, and discover new ideas in a safe and supportive environment.
- COURAGE: We face challenges with determination, knowing we can grow stronger by supporting one another.
- RESPECT: We take pride in looking after each other and our school, valuing every voice and difference.
- ASPIRATION: We aim high, work hard, and welcome support so we can be the very best we can be.
Our values highlight what it means to be a member of The Chiltern School community.
We expect all staff to uphold these and for these to be modelled to our young people throughout the school. Good health and wellbeing in general, are promoted across the school by:
- Using a trauma informed approach to managing behaviour
- Using Team Teach in order to maintain the safety and welfare of our pupils. Sometimes it may be necessary to use reasonable physical intervention with a pupil, as permitted by law. The Governing Body has taken account of advice provided by the DfE – Use of reasonable force: advice for head teachers, staff and governing bodies and the school’s public sector equality duty set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. Physical intervention is generally used for two different purposes, either to keep children safe from themselves or from harm from others. More information on this can be found in our Behaviour and Mental Health policy, physical intervention is always a last resort.
- Encouraging healthy eating through our Healthy Eating Therapeutic Support Plan
- Encouraging independence in personal care through our Toileting Success Pathway
- Encouraging healthy lifestyles by regular opportunities for outdoor learning and physical playday.
RHSE
Our Relationships, Sex and Health curriculum is at the heart of our teaching and learning at The Chiltern School. We believe that education should equip pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to prepare them to live as independently as possible as adults.
The Chiltern School has developed a carefully structured and timetabled RSHE curriculum tailored to meet the unique needs of our pupils. We are committed to ensuring that every pupil has the opportunity to participate in RSHE at a level appropriate to them.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) emphasises that age-appropriate health and relationship education improves resilience and supports mental health, particularly for vulnerable children. Therefore our school adopts a ‘stage, not age’ approach, recognising that our pupils may be at different stages of emotional, social, physical, personal, and cognitive development compared to their chronological age.
As a result, elements of the RSHE curriculum may be delivered in bespoke groups or on an individual basis to ensure meaningful learning experiences for all pupils.
The framework is broken down into four subheadings.
A. Me, my bodily needs and emotions.
B. Relationships
C. My personal safety
D. Independence
Interoceptive awareness, the ability to understand and respond to internal body signals is embedded throughout these areas and integrated organically into everyday learning.
At our school, we view every interaction as a meaningful learning opportunity and promote a culture where learning and discovery are at the heart of all we do.
This begins as soon as the pupil arrives on site/at transition?. Through personalised learning journeys, supported by Personalised Learning Plans, we ensure each pupil’s strengths, needs, and interests are at the heart of their education. Our aim is to equip every young person with the communication, regulation and independence skills they need to access their communities in a meaningful way.
An Inclusive Environment
Community begins at school, and within our setting we have worked hard to build an inclusive environment where every individual is respected, valued, and celebrated for who they are. Our approach is rooted in trauma informed practice which means we seek to understand and respond to the meaning and communication behind behaviour and not just the behaviour alone.
At The Chiltern School our Behaviour, Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Policy reflects our whole school approach and understanding of child development, childhood trauma and Attachment theory. It supports the complex needs of our pupils and recognises how difficulties in these areas can impact on a person’s ability to regulate and engage in learning in a meaningful way.
We have a caring yet purposeful environment where high expectations, respect and positive relationships are nurtured. We work closely and collaboratively with families and other professionals and emphasise the importance of relationships, in making our children feel safe, connected and ready to learn. We support our staff to be the regulated and attuned caregivers that create emotional safety and enable children to be curious, explore and learn.
The Chiltern School Aims
- Everyone will thrive
- Everyone will feel safe, happy and fulfilled
- Everyone will have support to explore and be curious
- Everyone will acknowledge, encourage and nurture strengths and talents
- Everyone will be able to engage in positive and healthy relationships
- Everyone will have the determination to take the next step
- Everyone will challenge themselves when presented with opportunities for personal growth and development
- Everyone will be encouraged to express themselves, make choices and engage in decision making about issues that affect their lives