Elmswell Community Primary School Retains IQM Inclusive School Award

August 14, 2026

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Elmswell Community Primary School has retained the IQM Inclusive School Award in recognition of its strong commitment to inclusion and its ongoing efforts to create a fully inclusive educational experience that reflects the needs, aspirations and lived experiences of all members of its school community.

A Culture of Pride, Belonging and Success

A strong culture of pride permeates the school environment. Pupils take excellent care in the presentation of their work and are enthusiastic in celebrating their accomplishments. The school promotes its Golden Rules; being kind and helpful; listening well; working hard; being gentle; taking care of property; and being honest. These are reinforced in assemblies and house meetings, and pupils met during the assessment were able to explain their importance clearly. A broad range of reward systems provides meaningful opportunities for pupils to experience success, nurturing confidence and a powerful sense of belonging.

From the moment pupils join the school, they benefit from effective early assessment processes that ensure needs are identified swiftly and accurately. This enables timely, well‑targeted support to be put in place, maximising progress and helping every pupil achieve their full potential.

An Inclusive Curriculum for Every Learner

The curriculum includes a well‑structured reading spine that offers an impressive selection of literature exploring diversity, including ethnicity, disability and gender. Because the school is situated in a predominantly White British rural area, leaders place great importance on providing pupils with opportunities to understand a wide range of cultures. Throughout the year, the school has increased pupil exposure to different perspectives, including learning about gender and the diversity of family structures. The link with Bury St Edmunds through the Black Lives into Schools initiative has further enriched pupils’ experiences through assemblies and learning opportunities.

Supporting Wellbeing Through Inclusive Practice

Classrooms included helpful visual timetables, vocabulary and subject‑specific desk mats, and a ‘calm corner’ where pupils experiencing anxiety or similar emotions could take time out while remaining included in the learning environment. Some pupils with additional needs also had dedicated spaces within the classroom. Additional calm corners around the school provided welcoming spaces for pupils who find breaktimes overwhelming.

The school has also successfully embedded the Zones of Regulation approach across the school. Pupils spoke confidently about how it helps them recognise and manage their emotions, enabling them to develop effective strategies to support their own wellbeing.

Opportunities to Thrive Beyond the Classroom

A wide range of educational visits gives pupils opportunities to experience history, sports and the arts first‑hand. While parents are invited to contribute to trip costs, the school ensures full inclusion by subsidising through Sports or Pupil Premium funds.

Pupils were confident, articulate and eager to share their experiences. They recognised that mistakes are not punished but treated as opportunities to learn, and several noted that they never feel they must cope alone, as there is always someone available to help.

Pupils greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn musical instruments, noting that every pupil learns either the cello or violin as part of whole‑class teaching delivered by a visiting professional musician. They were equally enthusiastic about lunchtime and after‑school clubs, ranging from sports to the recently introduced crochet club.

The school is strongly committed to high‑quality physical education as a vital contributor to pupils’ mental and physical wellbeing while providing opportunities for learners of all abilities to excel. Over the past year, the school secured a prestigious Gold Award. Increasing participation in girls’ sport has been a particular priority, resulting in impressive engagement and notable success, especially in regional football events.

Overall, Elmswell Community Primary School is a high‑performing, compassionate and inclusive school, where pupil progress is matched by a rich extra‑curricular offer. Pupils are supported to become confident, resilient and socially responsible young people, well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Find Out More About IQM

The Inclusion Quality Mark provides schools with a nationally recognised framework for developing and celebrating inclusive practice.

If your school is interested in achieving the IQM Inclusive School Award, contact the IQM team on 028 7127 7857 or email admin@iqmaward.com.

To find out more about IQM and request a free information pack, visit www.iqmaward.com.