Cheddington Combined School
Cheddington Combined School…enjoying our learning, sharing success
At Cheddington Combined School we instil a joy in learning. We create a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment for children and staff, with our values at our HEART. We foster a sense of pride and belonging providing all our children a solid base for lifelong learning and success.
Our one form entry school is situated in the heart of Cheddington village in rural Buckinghamshire, and serves Cheddington and the two neighbouring villages of Horton and Slapton, drawing some children from out of catchment. Our building is part Victorian and part mid-twentieth century, which gives us a sense of history, as well as some challenges to meet the needs of teaching in the twenty-first century. We are fortunate to have wonderful outdoor learning spaces in which to offer active learning experiences.
We hold to a holistic approach to every child. We aim to ensure that each child feels safe and valued in our school and therefore is able to flourish.
We are committed to promoting healthy life choices and encourage cycling, scooting and walking to school. As an eco-school we enable every child and family to understand how together we can care for our planet, and this is very much the ethical heart of our school. We offer recycling opportunities for the community, as well as using all resources needed in the school day with care and thoughtfulness.
We are equally committed to supporting all staff in our school to have a life-work balance, to be developed professionally, and to contribute to the development of our school. Our annual School Development Plan is written cooperatively with all staff and Governors setting the direction of travel.
Our commitment to learning:
We embed high aspirations for every child in our care, regardless of ability or learning needs. Staff training is a foundation of our practice to ensure that we offer every child the chance to shine. We have recruited a dedicated teaching team with a range of experiences, so keeping professional discussions vibrant and challenging. We have continued to prioritise skilled support staff who also participate in regular training. This means that not only is every child supported in the best way possible in their academic learning, but also in their emotional well-being and development of life skills.
We have always stayed true to our belief in a balanced curriculum despite the external pressures to demonstrate high levels of attainment in English and Mathematics. Life chances need an understanding of place and history, of art and culture, and of science and technology. Learning is linked across curriculum areas to both embed and to create meaningful application. Our curriculum extends beyond the walls of the classroom as we offer a wide range of additional learning opportunities. Throughout their time at our school every child is also taught road safety, cycling skills and how to play a musical instrument. Throughout all areas of learning we model and teach values for life.
A love of reading is a life gift, and begins with sharing stories and understanding phonics. Through a careful analysis of barriers, we have ensured that the children can attain very highly in the required phonics test alongside enjoying reading. Our library is at the heart of the building, and also at the heart of offering a world beyond experience. Consequently the children develop not only skill to interpret and understand, but also a desire to read.
Our future:
The future for our children may sometimes be unclear as we prepare them for roles that may not yet exist in our rapidly changing world. However, we are fortunate to have a strong Governing Board who are the moral compass for our school, ensuring that in every decision the needs of the children come first, the needs of the staff come second, then any initiatives or other considerations. As we look to the future we acknowledge the challenges and the need to offer security and empowerment to the children. We aspire as a school to continue to offer an outstanding level of teaching and learning for every child and to enrich their lives beyond the core curriculum. We aim to help them to become self-aware and selfconfident young adults who treat everyone with respect, learn with passion and teamwork, and have patience and determination.