Maple Grove School, Chester, celebrates presentation of prestigious National Children’s Bureau, Wellbeing Award for Schools

Cheers rang out at Maple Grove School in Chester today when it was presented with a Wellbeing Award for Schools (WAS) from the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) for its outstanding work promoting mental health and wellbeing within its school community. Maple Grove is an independent special school for children with a diagnosis of autism (ASC), part of Options Autism, an award-winning organisation that operates a nationwide network of schools for young people with ASC, associated complex needs and behaviours that challenge.

Dr Helen Mills, WAS award assessor, was extremely impressed with the newly opened school, commenting, “What Maple Grove School has achieved since opening 18 months ago is remarkable; I cannot emphasise enough that this is a ‘happy and safe school where everyone is nurtured, valued and listened to’.

“Outstanding leadership is a key factor in understanding the success of the school in promoting emotional wellbeing, mental health and resilience. The financial investment, skills, commitment, and approach of the senior leadership team, change team, staff and the whole school community has created innovative ways of working. It has fostered a seamless and consistent welcoming, non-judgemental, therapeutic, caring, kind, supportive, trusting, empathetic, safe, happy, fun, positive, creative, nurturing and resilient culture.”

The report went on to say, “All staff spoke with great pride, openness and honesty, which was also evident during the governor, pupil and parent interviews. A real sense of belonging and a strong team approach was evident, demonstrating the school’s ability to work effectively as a team.”

The school was praised for its, “excellent wellbeing plan, vision and strategy. The ‘Parents Allied with Children and Teachers for Tomorrow’ (PACTT) ethos which prepares pupils for independent living and participation in the community, eight areas of learning, an integrated ASC progression framework, alongside its outstanding therapeutic and trauma approach, meet the individual needs of all students.” These “are central to the success of the school in creating a safe haven for all pupils and their families, and has created a sense of autonomy, belonging, shared responsibility and a strong bond.”

The award process highlighted multiple examples of “outstanding wellbeing practice” including “a creative and personalised curriculum written by staff, and an outstanding range of 1-1 and group targeted wellbeing interventions that meet the individual needs of all pupils.”

Commenting on the relationships within the school and community, Dr Mills reported, “the school has worked innovatively to develop outstanding stakeholder voice, parental engagement, effective communication, community links and partnerships, which has led to trusting relationships, and a desire to be a part of the Maple Grove school community. These approaches ensure that all children and their families are supported swiftly and effectively.

“..The excellent communication methods, including staff outside to meet and greet, the school Facebook account promoting health and wellbeing events, newsletters, total communication, pupil wellbeing goals, and annual reviews of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans with parents and pupils, demonstrate the sense of connection and belonging. Parent praise and gratitude for staff in school is exceptional.” Parents described Maple Grove as “an amazing school, it’s like a big family.”

The award also commended the school’s approach to staff wellbeing, saying, “Attention must be drawn to the value and priority given, along with significant financial investment, to staff wellbeing. This is valued greatly by staff as they feel that the strategies in place that support their emotional wellbeing enable them to provide the most effective support to the children. The Headteacher has committed to improving staff wellbeing and reducing stress through innovative ways and this should be highlighted as best practice to give other schools the confidence to follow.

“Resources provided by Outcomes First Group include training, a mental wellbeing hub, an employee assistance programme providing counselling, salary finance initiatives, a clinical team to provide guidance on health and wellbeing concerns, and a wellbeing budget which includes lunch provided daily.

“Staff celebrate as a team, feel valued, listened to, connected, supported and enjoy their jobs. Professional development opportunities are outstanding and staff can focus on an area of personal interest.” Describing their experience of working at Maple Cross, staff said, “We’re inclusive, everyone is valued. It’s the most rewarding job. I’m really proud to work here.”

One school Governor praised the Headteacher, Ben Reading, saying, “Ben’s leadership shines through and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) are mindful of supporting staff wellbeing. Their values are embedded in all staff who support each other. It’s a place where everybody is kind and grows together.”

Dr Mills also reported , “Children feel extremely safe and happy in school and have many friends. The children articulated how the school supports them with their emotional wellbeing and mental health and are confident to express their feelings and to ask for support. They described numerous strategies that help them manage their feelings and emotions and how they actively help each other and are kind.

“The staff understand the importance of valuing each other, working as a collective team, promoting positivity, trust, nurture and empowering the whole school community to look after their mental health and wellbeing. This ensures the children are happy and safe, impacting positively on their ability to achieve.”

Dr Mills’ closing remarks described Maple Cross as, “An embedded happy, kind, trusting, positive, nurturing school with a culture and ethos that values everyone’s voice. It has invested in highly trained, passionate staff.. The whole school team at Maple Grove School works passionately to make a positive difference to the lives of all the pupils, parents and staff.”

For more information on Maple Grove School please visit: