A Caldecott young person in a lesson at Caldecott School

Education

Education is a priority at The Caldecott Foundation, which has invested heavily in new, well-equipped classrooms to provide their children and young people with an outstanding environment in which to learn, grow and develop.

Completed in 2005 at a cost approaching £6 million, the new Caldecott School is purpose-designed for children, some of whom may have had little or no formal schooling, most with challenging behavioural patterns, and all with a need for success and self-affirmation.
The Caldecott School offers young people, both within Caldecott care and as day pupils, the opportunity to acquire the foundation skills for their future role in society. The uniqueness of each young person is confirmed by ensuring an equal opportunity to achieve regardless of familial circumstances, race, culture, religion or place of origin.

Class sizes are small (maximum eight) and pupil/adult ratios are accordingly high. Children are expected to adhere to classroom codes of conduct, and to treat their peers and teachers with respect.

The school maximises achievement with a progression matching pupils’ social development needs to their vital educational requirement. All students follow the National Curriculum and nationally recognised certification courses.

Nurture

The admission phase, where children are given special support to build self-esteem and confidence, and for early developmental learning. Here they are taught the essential behavioural skills for learning. The majority of children spend time in the nurture class, which is divided into areas for formal teaching, quiet reading, play and a ‘homely corner’.

Junior

Based on mainstream primary education in structured classrooms, but also covering deficits in each child’s learning while stretching more able pupils. Children are increasingly encouraged to work co-operatively.

Middle

For children who have reached secondary school age, but may require additional coaching and attention, before moving on to…..

Secondary

Formally timetabled education with specialist subjects taught in dedicated classrooms. The school encourages each young person to achieve to their highest potential and all students will be able to achieve a minimum of one GCSE and have access to a range of nationally recognised qualifications across the curriculum. The continual assessment and base line setting will allow our SEN team to give extra support in this aim.

Special Educational Needs

Baseline assessments, identifying educational deficits, weaknesses and strengths are undertaken for every child. This enables individual programmes with relevant targets to be planned for every pupil. SEN staff work on a 1:1 and class basis to help overcome educational deficits and maximise potential.

Learning and Work

A successful bid to achieve recognition in a national environmental learning scheme has led to the creation of practical classes in land-based studies and design technology. This enables older pupils to bridge classroom learning with workplace skills, and work-related learning is further enhanced by extensive use of the National Skills Profile.

Sport and extra curricular activities

The high-quality new sports hall, partly funded by DfES, facilitates PE lessons, school theatre productions and concerts. Other sports activities are arranged regularly, from coaching at a nearby national-standard athletics stadium to joining local cricket, netball and hockey clubs and inter-school matches. An outdoor education and activities programme has also been established which helps develop life skills of teamwork and co-operation.

Celebrating success and promoting self-worth is at the heart of Caldecott’s educational and care philosophy, and supports the mission outlined by the government that ……"Children in public care are our children. We hold their future in our hands, and education is the key to their future".

It is also designed to meet the objectives of Every Child Matters – of being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution, and achieving independence and economic well-being.