Ethos & Values Statement
Text
At Cleaswell Hill School, our purpose is clear:
Inspire the child. Discover your future. Empower the community.
These words reflect the ambition we have for every child and young person, whatever their starting point, needs or aspirations.
We are a school where every pupil is valued as an individual. We recognise that children and young people experience the world in different ways, communicate in different ways and need different levels of support to feel safe, confident and ready to learn. Our role is not to make pupils fit a single model of education; it is to understand them well, remove barriers and create the right conditions for them to succeed.
Our approach is informed by the principles of the Neuroinclusive Education Network. We recognise neurodiversity as a natural and valued part of human difference. We aim to build environments, routines and relationships that are predictable, accessible and responsive, so that pupils can feel understood and able to participate fully in school life.
We believe that behaviour is communication. Staff work with curiosity and empathy to understand what a pupil may be expressing through their words, actions, emotions or responses to the environment. This helps us to adapt our teaching, support and expectations in ways that promote wellbeing, regulation and meaningful engagement.
Integrated therapy is central to how we support pupils. Our school team includes Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists who work alongside teachers, support staff, families and other professionals. Their expertise helps us to understand and respond to communication, sensory, physical and emotional needs, ensuring that therapeutic approaches are embedded in daily practice across the school.
Expanders
-
Inspire the Child
We provide a broad, ambitious and carefully adapted curriculum through our Engagement, Core and Extended Pathways.
We want pupils to experience success, develop confidence and discover what they enjoy and are good at. For some pupils, this may mean communicating a choice, exploring an activity or developing trusted relationships. For others, it may mean gaining qualifications, building skills for employment or taking on greater responsibility.
We celebrate every achievement and encourage pupils to be curious, creative and proud of themselves as learners.
-
Discover Your Future
We help pupils develop the skills, knowledge and independence they need for the next stage of their lives.
For every pupil, this looks different. It may include communication, friendships, emotional regulation, life skills, accredited learning, work-related experiences or becoming more independent in the community.
We want pupils to leave Cleaswell Hill with a strong sense of who they are, what they can do and what they may achieve in the future.
-
Empower the Community
Cleaswell Hill is built on strong relationships and partnership. We work closely with pupils, parents, carers, governors, therapists, health colleagues, social care professionals and the wider community to provide the best possible support.
We value the contribution of every member of our community. Through our outreach work, training and partnerships, including the Fusion Learning Hub and the Neuroinclusive Education Network, we also share our expertise so that more children and young people can benefit from inclusive and effective practice.
Text
Our Core Values
Our six core values guide the way we learn, work and treat one another.
Determination - We encourage pupils and adults to keep trying, overcome barriers and take pride in their achievements.
Happiness - We want school to be a positive, welcoming place where pupils feel safe, enjoy learning and build happy memories.
Independence - We support pupils to make choices, develop confidence and become as independent as possible in their learning and everyday lives.
Resilience - We help pupils to manage change, recover from setbacks and develop the confidence to face new challenges.
Integrity - We value honesty, fairness and doing the right thing, even when this may be difficult.
Respect - We treat everyone with kindness, patience and consideration. We celebrate difference and believe that every person deserves to be heard, valued and included.
What This Means in Practice
Our ethos can be seen in the way staff know pupils well, adapt learning to individual need and work closely with families. It can be seen in the importance we place on communication, sensory and emotional wellbeing, therapeutic support, safeguarding, pupil voice and positive relationships.
We aim to create a community where pupils can be themselves, where difference is understood and celebrated, and where every child and young person is supported to achieve their potential and play a valued role in the wider world.