Great importance is attached to the development of social and emotional skills.  Children are encouraged to be self-disciplined in their behaviour, to build good relationships and to develop a sense of responsibility towards the needs and feelings of others and of their environment.

Our school feels it is of the utmost importance to have good systems in place for protecting children and safeguarding their welfare, throughout all the activities which the school undertakes.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If you are worried about a child or family, it is your duty to talk to someone and get help.  If you have any concerns, we encourage you to contact the school and staff will follow the right channels to provide support.  If you prefer to discuss concerns with someone external, you can contact the South Team Locality and Community Support Service (LCSS) in Abingdon on 0345 2412608 LCSS.South@oxfordshire.gov.uk or for an immediate concern about harm to a child contact the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0345 050 7666.

Childline is also a national counselling service provided by the NSPCC for young people: https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/contacting-childline/

Being happy and healthy

Ensuring a happy and healthy environment is central to our school ethos.  We do our utmost to ensure that children feel able to approach staff with any problems or concerns.  We do not tolerate bullying and this is never an acceptable behaviour.  We promote healthy eating through fruit snacks and encourage everyone to drink water throughout the day. We make the most of our extensive school grounds and whenever we can we use our outdoor environment to learn.

Supporting each other

We encourage a supportive and caring learning environment where everyone can feel safe, happy, and valued as part of the Shellingford School Family. Older children help younger children spontaneously in the playground as well as in more organised class activities.

We expect all members of the school community to play a part in fostering our four key values of creativity, respect, spiritually and belonging. These are central to our school vision of “Inspiring hearts and minds” through roots and foundation in love (Ephesians 3:17-18). We aim to nurture good health and promote positive wellbeing for all staff and children which is part of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy

We use a ‘Peaceful Problem Solving’ strategy, with a language of ‘choice and consequence’ to resolve conflict or upset. This approach uses peer mediation to build, maintain and repair relationships.

You can download our

Peaceful problem solving and 'I' messages posters from the links on the right.