Welcome to our School 

The Corner School is founded on the importance of providing a relational approach to teaching and learning, understanding that strong and positive, nurturing relationships at school are at the heart of a child’s ability to feel confident to try new things, to experiment with getting things wrong on the way to getting them right, and to develop a growth mindset on their lifelong journey of learning.  Prior to arriving at the Corner School, our students have often experienced a variety of educational, social and sometimes familial challenges.  Despite wanting to succeed, they may have ended any given school day feeling frustrated, angry, and hopeless.  Any combination of dysregulation, hyperactivity, resistance, aggression and difficulty maintaining positive relationships with staff and peers can leave a child feeling misunderstood and disconnected, and parents/carers worried and marginalised. 

Our approach at the Corner School is to begin by really learning the child: to understand any diagnosed or emerging needs: neurodivergent, learning, sensory, social, emotional and mental health, and to adapt our language, modelling, relationship and teaching approach to meet the unique, complex and changing needs of each child. 

Our teachers, teaching assistants, and therapeutic team, highly dedicated and passionate about helping our children explore their fullest potential, are fluent in ideas and practice from education, child development, attachment, neuroscience, physiology and positive psychology to support children with their sensory, emotional, social and learning needs. 

The landscape of education has changed greatly in past decades, moving towards greater standardisation with increased focus on academic outcomes.  We believe that regardless of previous challenging school experiences, children want to succeed at school.  The foundation for this arises from positive and strong relationships. Children need to know that their needs are seen, understood, thought about and that they are valued and delighted in as individual members of the school community.  From this starting point, we find that students of all abilities become more thoughtful, self-aware and capable learners, taking ownership of their academic work and developing enthusiasm and pride in their achievements. 

We aim for our students to experience an environment: 

• that is nurturing, safe, creative and inspiring, where children can try new things and make new learning choices 

• where everyone shows kindness, helpfulness and caring 

• where everyone feels valued, respected, has a voice and enjoys positive Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) 

• where everyone supports each other in learning and celebrates everyone’s successes 

• where standards are high, and children are supported to success, knowing that for many of our learners, this is likely to require patience and practice over considerable time  

Cassie Oakeshott

CEO &  Clinical Lead Unlocking Potential