Bacton Primary School has achieved the Inclusive School Award.
‘Working Together – Aiming High’
Bacton Primary School is a one form entry primary school with 119 pupils on roll. There are six classes, the class sizes vary from 14 to 3o and each class is taught by a qualified class teacher and supported by a teaching assistant. The school is part of the John Milton Academy Trust, a growing MAT in Mid Suffolk, that provides education for children aged 4-18 across six settings, including two specialist provisions for supporting pupils with cognition and learning needs.
The school serves the families of the village of Bacton and the surrounding catchment. Most of the children live in the village and there is additional building work being carried out on the outskirts of the village which might impact the numbers in the school in the future. The majority of the children are English speaking and the number of children with EAL is relatively low. The complex needs of any children with SEND are addressed so they make good progress.
The school ethos is ‘Working Together – Aiming High’. The school promotes high achievement and strives for children to develop enquiring minds and a spirit of curiosity whilst becoming highly motivated life-long learners. They want their children to be flexible and adaptable for the modern world, have high self-esteem, be able to work independently and collaboratively and achieve high standards in all areas of the curriculum. They also strive to ensure children seek to extend themselves in mind, body and spirit. Nearly all disadvantaged pupils make good progress.
Quality First Teaching
In June 2023, the school was inspected by Ofsted. The report was ‘good’ overall and states the following regarding pupils with additional needs: ‘Leaders expect pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to achieve as well as their peers. Leaders act quickly to identify pupils’ needs. They ensure that staff are well trained to provide support to meet the needs of pupils with SEND. Leaders liaise with external agencies to secure the support pupils need. As a result, pupils with SEND access the full curriculum, and most achieve well.’
There is a focus on quality first teaching with children requiring additional support being involved in the lesson, but also being skilfully supported by a TA when necessary.
Reading is a high priority, particularly in EYFS and KS1. Innovative teaching and an investigative approach to learning and an ethos of support, challenge and encouragement to succeed is fostered within the school.
Ofsted stated: ‘Leaders prioritise the teaching of reading. Pupils start learning to read from the moment they start school. Leaders ensure that teachers are well trained to teach reading. Lessons are well structured. They include fun and engaging activities that help pupils learn phonics. Teachers carefully check pupils’ progress. They quickly identify any pupils who fall behind and make sure they have support to catch up. Pupils’ books are closely matched to their reading ability. This enables pupils to practise their reading skills at home. Therefore, most pupils become fluent readers by the end of Year 1.’
Lively, Happy School
Bacton Primary School is a lively, happy school where children enjoy their experiences and show great respect for each other. The school has a calm, purposeful environment where everyone knows what is expected of them. All staff have high expectations of children and offer a caring, supportive and encouraging environment where positive relationships are crucial to the progress of all the children.
There is a strong emphasis on kindness and good manners and this was evident whenever the children were asked a question or when they moved around the school. They regularly open doors for adults and greet them with a smile. Children mirror this in their relationships with adults and peers alike. There is a stimulating learning environment with a rich, varied and up to date range of learning resources.
The school has a stable staff and is well led by the Executive Headteacher who has moved the school forward in all its aspects since her appointment. The strong leadership of the Head of School and Senior Inclusion Lead, their accessibility and their commitment to inclusion and improving the opportunities for all children as well as ensuring that the IQM process is articulated by everyone are strengths of the school. Everyone spoke about the change in attitudes and direction since the current leadership team has been at the school.
They are well supported by an excellent Local Board. A representative on the Local Board, who is to be Chair in the near future, spoke enthusiastically about Bacton Primary School and its inclusive ethos and the plans for the future. He confirmed the strong links with the local community and the part that the school plays in the surrounding area. The SLT is committed to raising standards and providing staff and pupils with the best possible environment and opportunities. The Trust also provides a great deal of support for the school in terms of professional development, data tracking and providing an ambitious curriculum which the school uses well to offer children a fully inclusive, coherent and progressive way forward in their education.
Enrichment Activities
Zones of Regulation are understood by the children and are displayed prominently around the school. Children are given time to reflect on how they feel and staff understand that some children need more time than others to do this.
There is a wide range of enrichment activities, including school trips, enrichment days, lunchtime activities and after school clubs. The school believes that each child will succeed through experiencing quality in a broad and challenging curriculum with an enriching programme of extracurricular activities and visits.
The school prides itself on its strong communication with parents where concerns are shared and addressed together and success jointly celebrated. Displays have a consistency around the school reflecting the care and attention shown by all the staff. In the corridors, displays focus on French, the Stone Age, the Romans, Visit the Infinity Park, Geography, PSHE, Minibeasts, Wow boards and I look in the mirror and I see….me!
A Beyond Bacton display celebrates children’s out of school talents and hobbies. It shows the children the possibilities of other professions such as a baker, train driver or footballer. In the staffroom there are displays highlighting the school ‘s priorities and health and safety. Classrooms focus on working walls in English, Maths and Science, Zones of Regulation, how you can help yourself, how you might feel today and destination reader. All these show a consistency and reflect the curriculum that is delivered across the school.
Welcoming Outdoor Environment
The outdoor learning environment includes opportunities for children to develop aspects of sport and learning through play. The well set out EYFS outdoor environment encourages free flow and teacher-directed and child-initiated activities, whilst the playground and field have a range of apparatus to encourage children to play creatively. The playground and field are spacious and there are shaded areas provided by trees for the summer and ample space for children to use their creative instincts.
An area of the field is being developed to provide a Forest School space and is used presently by children in reception, Y1, Y2 and Y3. Observations during lunchtime demonstrated that the children used the spaces effectively and enjoyed the time they had to use the apparatus that was provided for them. The welcoming outdoor environment gives parents and visitors a good first impression of the school and the office staff present a friendly reassuring face to parents and visitors.
Excellent work is carried out with families, pupils and the community generally to ensure that children are cared for and valued. There are good communication systems which give parents and carers confidence in the school and in its support for their child’s needs. Email, texting, newsletters and parent consultations as well as one to one conversations keep parents regularly informed about their child’s education and needs. Arbor is widely used by the school as a means of communication by parents needing to find out more about their child’s progress at school. Tapestry is used in the EYFS. There is a good learning partnership between school, home and the community.
Bacton Primary School is an example of a school committed to meet the needs of its children and in its implementation of inclusive practice. It is a happy, caring environment for pupils where high expectations have a huge impact on attainment, progress and wellbeing.
Find out more about the IQM Inclusive School Award
If your school is interested in obtaining the IQM Inclusive School Award or you wish to talk to a member of the IQM team please telephone:
028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm)
or email: admin@iqmaward.com for further details.
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