Vision and Values

Our overall vision of 'Understanding People' captures our core purpose perfectly. At Bridgelea school we want to help our children, families, and communities to understand themselves and others more, whilst keeping their understanding of the statutory and wider curriculum.

Our 5 values directly reflect our main principle; nurture. We believe that all of our young people deserve the best education possible and we do this by creating the conditions for them to thrive.

Our Identity and Context

At Bridgelea Primary School, we proudly serve 134 children in Key Stages 1 and 2, focusing particularly on those with Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCP) for Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMH). We provide an essential day-six education programme for children in Manchester at risk of exclusion or those who have been permanently excluded, ensuring they receive the bespoke support they require in a nurturing and inclusive environment.

Our two-site provision enables us to deliver intimate learning experiences with high levels of staff support, reflecting the diverse and complex needs of our children. Our school community is rich in diversity, comprising various ethnic backgrounds, with a considerable number of children eligible for pupil premium funding. Many of our children encounter multiple challenges, including ADHD, communication difficulties, and social care involvement. This context informs every aspect of our work, driving us to be responsive, compassionate, and unwaveringly focused on each child’s holistic development.

Our Vision: Understanding People

Our vision, 'Understanding People', encapsulates our core purpose perfectly. At Bridgelea School, we aspire to help our children, families, and communities better understand themselves and each other, whilst remaining mindful of the statutory and wider curriculum.

This vision underpins everything we do. We firmly believe that genuine learning starts with understanding — understanding oneself, understanding others, and understanding the world around us. This empathy and insight serve as the bedrock for academic success, personal growth, and a positive societal contribution.

Our Core Values and Their Practice

1. Understanding Through Communication
   We strive to enhance our understanding of one another through clear and effective communication.
• We prioritise Speech, Language, and Communication Needs (SLCN) through specialist support, including SALT interventions and ELKLAN-informed teaching strategies.
• We eliminate barriers to communication by using visuals, scripts, and allowing extended processing time to ensure every child can express themselves and engage fully.
• Our staff collaborates creatively and solutions-focused to meet communication needs, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity.
2. Inclusivity and Partnership
   Inclusivity is central to our approach with children, families, staff, and governors.
• We foster strong, trusting relationships with families and multi-agency partners, including CAMHS, Social Care, and Early Help, to provide holistic support.
• Our graduated response to SEND and SEMH ensures personalised learning and wellbeing plans that reflect each child’s unique circumstances.
• We actively involve families and community members in school life, promoting a shared responsibility for children’s success.

1. Safety and Wellbeing
   We prioritise the safety and support of our staff and learners in all aspects of their lives.
• A comprehensive safeguarding framework and curriculum permeate all we do, encompassing personal, online, and global safety.
• Staff receive training in Team Teach and positive handling, which emphasises de-escalation and restorative practices that prioritise emotional safety.
• Wellbeing groups for staff and children encourage resilience, mental health, and a nurturing culture that fosters optimal learning.

1. Aspiration and Life Skills
   We aim to equip our children with the knowledge and skills they need to make positive choices independently.
• Our curriculum integrates Skills for Life, metacognition, and self-reflective learning strategies to nurture independence, resilience, and problem-solving capabilities.
• We set high expectations for all learners, fostering respect, communication, collaboration, empathy, and creativity.
• Enrichment activities, Rights Respecting initiatives, and global citizenship experiences broaden horizons and prepare children for future success.

Our Educational Approach

At Bridgelea Primary School, our curriculum is intentionally designed to reflect our vision and values. It is flexible, nurturing, and evidence-based, meeting the developmental needs of children with SEMH and other complex challenges.

• Nurture and Emotional Literacy: As a National Nurturing School, we embed nurturing principles to create a safe base for learning, supporting emotional development alongside academic progress.
• Communication at the Core: ELKLAN approaches and language-friendly strategies ensure that communication is prioritised, enabling children to access the curriculum and develop confidence.
• Metacognition and Skills for Life: We teach children how to learn, think about their thinking, and develop essential life skills such as teamwork, self-management, and problem-solving.
• Rights Respecting and Global Citizenship: Our curriculum is enriched by embedding the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, fostering respect for diversity, democracy, and social responsibility.
• Individualised Progression: Detailed subject overviews and assessments ensure learning is accessible, progressive, and responsive to each child’s prior knowledge and needs.

Living Our Ethos and Values: Concrete Examples

• Zones of Regulation and Boxall Profiles guide personalised emotional support, helping children recognise and manage their feelings in a safe environment.
• The Article 12 Squad empowers children to voice their opinions on learning and school life, ensuring their rights and views shape our school community.
• Through multi-agency partnerships, families receive coordinated support, ranging from speech therapy to mental health services, ensuring barriers to learning are removed.
• Staff utilise Team Teach de-escalation techniques to safely manage challenging behaviours, promoting repair and reflection rather than punitive responses.
• Children take part in Skills for Life workshops and enrichment activities such as Forest School and cultural visits, linking learning to real-world contexts and aspirations.
• Regular parent workshops and newsletters keep families informed and engaged with curricular developments, nurturing a collaborative learning environment.

Conclusion

At Bridgelea Primary School, our ethos represents a living commitment to understanding people — our children, their families, our staff, and the wider community. Through our nurturing, inclusive, and relational approach, we create a safe and stimulating environment where every child is valued, supported, and empowered to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We believe that by fostering understanding, communication, and resilience, we prepare our children not only for school but for life as confident, compassionate, and capable global citizens.