Bailey Green Primary and Nursery School, North Tyneside has achieved the Inclusive School Award for the third time.
How will it Benefit the Children?
“How will it benefit the children?” is the question that is upmost in everyone’s minds at Bailey Green Primary and Nursery School together with Bailey’s Butterflies when a new idea is presented. This sense of inclusion comes from the visionary and innovative Senior Leadership Team, expertly led by the Headteacher, who is praised by all stakeholders for her leadership and commitment to the pupils. The Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher were described by staff as genuine and caring to everyone.
Pupils Love the School
Pupils love the school. One pupil said,
“Everyone is like family here and the teachers are very supportive and understand me.”
Their enthusiasm and interest in learning were clearly evident during the online discussion. A Year 6 boy, with dyslexia, spoke about the presentation that he gave to 20 pupils about his learning style and the kindness and support that he got from his peers. Another Year 6 boy talked about how he supports a Year 2 vulnerable pupil at playtime, helping him to self-regulate during this less- structured time.
Adapted Well to COVID Restrictions
The school has adapted well to the restrictions that they have been placed under with the COVID-19 lockdown. An exciting example is the Halloween celebrations that take place every year. This year all the classrooms have prepared Halloween windows so that pupils can bring their families to walk round the outside of the school and follow the art trail as they look at the work in the windows. Everyone will be dressed up in costumes and have traditional treats at the end of the activity, but social distancing will have been maintained. There are similar plans for Christmas time when windows will have a movie theme.
Positions of Responsibility
A member of school council spoke passionately about the eco-projects that they are involved in whilst a prefect said that everyone loves being a prefect and wearing the new badges. Being a Butterfly Buddy and helping with the babies and toddlers was also a very popular and responsible role that excited the pupils. The group were a credit to the school.
Parents are Kept Informed
The school has been a pilot school for the new PSHE Curriculum, showing their commitment to being at the forefront of educational advances. They have now devised their own bespoke curriculum, drawing on schemes such as “Jigsaw” and the North Tyneside scheme with adaptations to reflect their own context. Parents have been kept informed about the plans for Relationships and Sex Education through a parent booklet and a parent/carer newsletter.
Thrive Programme
Teaching Assistants run the Thrive programme which is delivered on a 1:1 basis. One of the parents spoke about how the programme had helped her son become more confident and self-assured.
Safeguarding is Paramount
Safeguarding is paramount and the Deputy Headteacher spoke about how the school uses CPOMS extensively, with it being of particular use when the children were not at school as a means for all professionals to be kept informed of concerns on a daily basis.
Early Identification of Additional Needs
Bailey’s Butterflies admits babies from birth and is open from 7.30 in the morning until 6 in the evening for 50 weeks a year. One of the parents said that the provision meant that she could be a working parent and she praised it highly. Due to children starting at the setting at such a young age, early identification of additional needs is well-coordinated and timely with interventions taking place as soon as the need is identified. Work can start with families before the issues lead to the need for child protection.
Transition is Seamless
The staff at Bailey’s Butterflies do joint planning with the Early Years team so that transition is absolutely seamless for the children as they move through the school. Butterflies have lunch in the main school with Year 6 pupils being Butterfly Buddies, helping with the highchairs and keeping the babies and toddlers amused. This an excellent example of inclusive practice.
A Strong Community Feel
The Chair of Governors described the school as being very inclusive with a strong community feel. She is fully aware of all of the school’s plans and is particularly impressed with the training programme that has been developed to meet the needs of the Teaching Assistants. Although Governor visits have not taken place due to the current COVID restrictions, all Governors have been kept informed of all developments and are supportive of the work of the school. She described the social context of the school and how the school supports all of the local community rather than seeing their work as only extending to the children.
A High Level of Staff Satisfaction
Staff turnover is well below average with staff surveys showing a high level of staff satisfaction with their roles in school. The general feeling is that everyone is very excited to be back at school after lockdown and keen to push forward with all the new plans.
Parental Support
One of the parents spoke about how she comes to school on an annual basis to present lessons to Year 4 pupils, giving them a basic introduction to finances and life-skills through her sessions called Junior Tax Facts. She also did some Disability Awareness sessions, linked to her own disability.
Staff Training is Well Planned
CPD is planned to have the maximum impact for all staff. All staff have been trained in how the Thrive programme works and know how the 1:1 work provided by the Teaching Assistants leads into improved emotional and social skills which are generalised into the classroom. Staff understand the referral system and use it effectively when a child may need a bit of extra support at a particularly stressful time in their lives.
A Wide Range of Extra Curricular Clubs
The school offers a wide range of clubs such as breakfast club, horse-riding club, sports clubs, boot camp every morning, after-school clubs and many more. Residential trips are given a high priority too with all children from Year 3 onwards, having the opportunity to go skiing in Italy, go to France, climb the 3 peaks in Yorkshire as well as the Lake District. Staff are encouraged to do after school fitness activities and their physical health is also a priority and part of the school’s well-being programme.
Effective Communication Between Teams
All staff are invited to all meetings which means that communication between different teams is effective and everyone feels included whatever their role.
A Caring and Supportive Environment
Another parent said the school is now back to where it was before the lockdown and her daughter loves being back in the caring and supportive environment of the school.
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: [email protected] for further details.
Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack.