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Gender
Boys & Young Men
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Specialism
Autism
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Location
Kent
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Ages
7-19
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Type
Residential & Day
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Capacity
15
School Overview
Cambian Whinfell School offers up to 52-weeks residential placements and day places for local students.
The School offers OUTSTANDING care and education for boys and young men aged 7-19. Students often arrive after difficult education and domestic experiences and are potentially lacking of confidence. Whinfell School aims to provide stability within a safe and nurturing environment, whilst supporting students academic, social and emotional development to prepare them for the future.
In this video, our Principal Paddy Sandham shares her thoughts on what makes Whinfell an amazing place to be.
Student Profile
- Males, aged 7-19 - Who May present with one or more of the following:
- Diagnosis or traits of Autism and associated conditions including ADHD and PDA
- Mild to moderate learning difficulties
- Complex needs and associated challenging behaviours
- Often multiple exclusions and placement breakdowns
- A history of school refusal, periods of time out of school and may have experienced previous admission to a CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) inpatient unit
- Difficulties such as dyslexia and dyspraxia
- Has an Education, Health and Care Plan
Supporting young people with complex needs
Our young people have often experienced significant disruption to their schooling in the past and may come to us from multiple placement breakdowns. They may also present a risk to themselves or others due to high levels of challenging behaviour or deficits in personal development.
Typically they are very disengaged, isolated and have little self-belief. By prioritising these deficits, we create the conditions for young people to re-engage in education and achieve their full potential.
We believe that it is not enough to just provide a safe and happy school experience. We prioritise connections before corrections, recognising that strong, trusting relationships form the foundation for genuine growth and learning.
In a supportive way, we want to challenge all of our young people to grow as individuals and acquire the skills, confidence, knowledge and qualifications to be as successful and resilient as they possibly can be when they eventually move on to further education or independence.
“This Outstanding rating is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, who tirelessly support our young people in overcoming barriers to learning. We believe every young person is unique, and our tailored approach ensures that they can achieve their true potential.”
Paddy Sandham, Principal (On being rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted for the 5th consecutive time)
Our holistic approach to care, education and wellbeing
More about Whinfell School
Meet the Whinfell team
Paddy Sandham
Principal
Jennifer Carradus
Registered Manager
Michelle Turner
Head of Education
Emma Brown
Care Manager
Christina Gray
Parent Liaison Officer