Whitfield Aspen School is unusual in a national context.  It is a combination of a mainstream primary and a Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) for primary age pupils with profound, severe and complex learning needs (PSCN). In September 2022, we developed the Engagement Model as an approach across the whole school to support children with complex social emotional and mental health needs (SEMH), who are disengaged with their learning. In addition, there is a Specialist Intervention Nursery team who support interventions and next steps for identified children in local mainstream Nurseries. We also offer on-site provision for Specialist Intervention, for Nursery age children who are not able to access a mainstream setting, due to their complex needs.   

Whitfield Aspen School works collaboratively with a group of 11 other local mainstream schools, the Samphire Learning Hub. We are a group of schools that work collaboratively to improve outcomes for children. We also are part of Kent Special Educational Needs Trust which contains all the Special Schools within Kent. We work closely with them to ensure the staff within the SRP are as competent as those teachers working within Special Schools.

At Whitfield Aspen school the proportion of pupils with profound, severe and complex learning needs far exceeds the national average for a mainstream school.    In September 2021, the school split over 2 sites. The Richmond site opened for Yr. 4, Yr. 5, Yr. 6 and KS2 (Key Stage 2) pupils on the SRP roll. The lower school for EY, Yr.1, Yr.2 and Yr.3 and KS1 (Key Stage 1) pupils on the SRP roll, continues to be based on Mayfield Road. We are maintaining the fully inclusive model over both sites. 

An additional block will be added to the Richmond site during 2024-2025. This will create the capacity, initially, for an additional 4 classrooms. We currently have 630 students across two sites and in excess of 230 staff. Our Governors play an active role in school life and support our school aims fully.

In January 2025 we went through a Graded Inspection and maintained our Good status.