Welcome to Belong School Devon

Belong School Devon is an independent special school for students aged 11 to 17 from across Devon. Our approach to learning at Belong School Devon is built around our vision of enabling all our students to become thriving, successful adults in a modern world. 


Building strategies for learning and life

Our education offer for all students combines classroom-based learning with a diverse provision of structured Learning Outside The Classroom. Using this approach, we build strategies with our students to support their academic, social and emotional development.

Working with students from across Devon

We are focused on working with young people who have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) and we are commissioned by the local authority 0-25 team.

Ofsted

Read Belong School Devon’s latest report here

“There is a calm and orderly school environment. Staff help pupils to develop the tools to recognise and express their emotions effectively.”

Marie Thomas, HMI
May 2023

Newsletters

Keep up to date with the latest news from Belong School Devon with our newsletters

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Facebook Posts

🎣 Another fantastic day for one of our students on their Learning Outside the Classroom adventure with LD Active.

This week, there will be visits to Shallowford Farm to help with the animals and 2 action-packed days with Skylark Adventures.

For many of our students learning outside the classroom and outdoor adventurous activity provides vital support — helping them build confidence, emotional regulation, problem-solving, social communication, resilience, independence and the skills they need to feel safe, settled and successful in school. It also gives them opportunities to work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, AQA awards and Climbing Awards.

We’re incredibly proud of the progress they’re making every day. 💛

#BelongSchoolDevon #LearningOutsideTheClassroom #SEMH #DofE #OutdoorLearning #SmallStepsBigProgress #ProudMoments
... See MoreSee Less

🎣 Another fantastic day for one of our students on their Learning Outside the Classroom adventure with LD Active.

This week, there will be visits to Shallowford Farm to help with the animals and 2 action-packed days with Skylark Adventures.  

For many of our students learning outside the classroom and outdoor adventurous activity provides vital support — helping them build confidence, emotional regulation, problem-solving, social communication, resilience, independence and the skills they need to feel safe, settled and successful in school.  It also gives them opportunities to work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, AQA awards and Climbing Awards. 

We’re incredibly proud of the progress they’re making every day. 💛

#BelongSchoolDevon #LearningOutsideTheClassroom #SEMH #DofE #OutdoorLearning #SmallStepsBigProgress #ProudMomentsImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

... See MoreSee Less

... See MoreSee Less

🌟 A Big Day at Belong School Devon! 🌟

Today our whole school went off timetable to allow our first ever parent consultations to take place — and what an amazing day it’s been for our students!

With a fantastic range of trips and activities including We The Curious in Bristol, Exeter Christmas Market, iBounce, Ten-Pin Bowling, The Cinema, McDonald’s, and Adventure Golf, every student had the chance to select their activities and enjoy a fun, engaging, and meaningful learning experience.

Our students gained so much from the day, including:
✨ Travel training — using public transport, following directions, and navigating busy places
✨ Social communication skills — interacting with peers and staff in real-world settings
✨ Independence and confidence building
✨ Understanding money and budgeting while exploring shops, markets, and food venues
✨ Problem-solving and teamwork through shared activities and challenges

All the trips were a huge success, and we’re incredibly proud of how our students represented the school. A massive thank you to the pastoral team and learning coaches for supporting the students with such valuable experiences — and to our families for joining us for parent consultations today.

Belong School Devon — where learning goes beyond the classroom.
... See MoreSee Less

Load more

Relational Practice

Belong School Devon’s approach to learning places the development of life-long skills at the centre of a student’s education provision to enable all to become successful both at the school and in the wider world.
Our methodology combines Restorative and Trauma Informed approaches with strong relationships to support our students to manage themselves and to learn, grow and thrive

Individual Education Plans (IEPs)

relational, individualised approach to learning provides each student with a programme which will respond and flex to their specific levels of learning and identify strategies to ensure progress. 

Upon entering the school, each student engages in an Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting, placing the student at the centre of their plan to identify strengths and interests to support areas for development.

Home involvement is crucial in ensuring a collaborative approach to our provision. The Individual Education Plans that emerge from this process are informed and underpinned by the outcomes in the student’s EHCP.

English as an additional language

We are committed to highly flexible ways of working which support students for whom English is an Additional Language. In line with our wrap-around approach to personalised teaching and learning, we will develop, monitor and review our approaches to supporting EAL students within the classroom and as part of the school and wider community. Where appropriate, this may include (but is not limited to) provision of additional language sessions to support the development of everyday fluency, the use of specific resources in a student’s native language and specialist training for key staff.

Behaviour and Relational Practice

We value relationships. Staff model the value of relationships through all their interactions. Where a relationship has been damaged, we seek to repair and restore this relationship, following a trauma informed approach.

At Belong School Devon, we understand all behaviours as a means of communication, often stemming from an unmet need. It is our aim to support students to learn to meet their needs in prosocial ways, being positive members of their community. Our focus is less upon managing behaviour but seeks instead to help students to learn to manage their own behaviour whilst building resilience, in turn leading to the acquisition of the skills required to learn, grow and thrive as an adult.


Gilbert House

Headteacher: Roz Harman 

Gilbert House, Grace Road, Marsh Barton,

Exeter EX2 8PU

Contact

infodevon@belonglearning.co.uk

Phone

0300 303 5755

Read Belong School Devon’s policies

Find out about Belong School Devon’s Curriculum

Get in touch