BY ANNA HUTCHINSON
AFF EDUCATION & CHILDCARE SPECIALIST
Sitting ‘behind the wire’ on Blandford Camp, Downlands Community School is a well-established feature of the Army community in Dorset and has certainly done its homework when it comes to putting the children of service families at ease.
Key to that care is a firm grasp of the challenges students from military homes can face, according to headteacher James Rielly.
“Making children feel safe and happy, and that they belong is something that is in the DNA of the school,” said James, who has upheld Downlands’ motto – We care. We share. We believe. We achieve – for the past seven years. “It’s something that is built into everything we do.”
A warm welcome is also extended to parents, with an open-door approach that encourages families to step inside, talk to staff and feel part of the school’s daily routines.
The head promotes interactions with teachers during drop-offs and pick-ups – or at one of the frequent coffee mornings held to bring Downlands’ community together – and believes doing so builds trust and confidence that pupils are in good hands.
Inclusive environment
Ensuring inclusivity is important to the school’s staff, who work hard to identify gaps in confidence or learning and put programmes in place that support the children.
There is a dedicated emotional literacy support assistant hub for pupils to use to advance their social skills, build self-esteem and develop their emotional wellbeing.
Playtimes encompass practices such as having a dedicated bench where children can signal the need for a friend, while students in older year groups act as play leaders and encourage inclusive play, so all children have the option to join in.
These initiatives demonstrate the school’s commitment to helping children feel stable and secure, no matter what is happening at home.
Downlands also works hard to embrace other elements of camp life to make sure families feel connected beyond the school gates. International cultures are celebrated during events such as Fiji Day and Nepal Day, which give children a chance to share their traditions, feel recognised and see their experiences reflected in the classroom.
Change and transition
Schools with close military ties inevitably face the challenge of a high turnover of pupils but Downlands takes special care to mark every arrival and departure. James showed me a ‘Welcome and Goodbye Wall’, which has been created to help children feel seen from their first day until the moment they move on. Photographs, names and messages of encouragement remind children that they are part of something meaningful, even if their time at the school is short.
Each pupil is also given a Child Passport in which they can note their achievements, memories and milestones. For those whose lives involve frequent change, the record becomes a tangible link, something constant they can take with them as they move. James said some children who return to the school bring their passport back and show teachers how they have continued to fill it in. It helps them celebrate their progress and understand their own story.
What makes Downlands special?
James explained that, at its heart, Downlands is a place where children can learn without having to explain the intricacies of their home lives. Many classmates have experienced similar disruptions, so new students quickly discover that they are understood. They have time and space to figure out who they are, surrounded by adults and friends who listen, and within a community that cares.
Visit downlandsschool.org for more information.