Ben Levinson OBE, is the Director for School and Trust Development with the Tapscott Learning Trust. He is also the Executive Head Teacher of Kensington Primary School, one of our Flagship schools. Here he writes about the benefits he has experienced by being part of the IQM Family.
Inclusivity at the Heart
I am deeply proud of what we do at The Tapscott Learning Trust. There are so many transformational stories and achievements; both individual and collective. When I’m asked though, the one that always comes to mind is that all our schools are IQM Flagship or Centre of Excellence schools.
Inclusivity is right at the heart of what we do. Across our four primary schools we have two Resource Provisions and nearly 100 EHCPs. Our approaches to multilingualism (EAL) are at the forefront of current research and trailblazing a shift to an asset-based model with inclusivity at its core. We are rightly proud of how we ensure every child and every family is welcomed and celebrated within our Trust.
Individual Need
But it is tough. And increasingly so. From my conversations, most school and Trust leaders agree that SEND is in their top 3 – and often their top – challenge. A deeply complex coming together of decreases in resource – both in school funding and external agencies – increases in both individual need and overall demand, and the intricate balancing of parental choice with a school’s capacity to meet a child’s needs.
And, of course, it is often highly emotive for parents. I have spent a lot of time with parents at various stages of their journey with a child who has special educational needs and/or disabilities. I cannot speak confidently about what this must be like because I have not lived it but I have seen – and can to an extent imagine – how hard it must be at times.
Drawing on Expertise
So, back to IQM and being a Flagship or Centre of Excellence. Yes, we are proud because of the plaque outside the school. It confers a great deal about who we are, what we believe in, the decisions we make, and how we try to navigate these often complex challenges. Even more so, we are proud of – and thankful for – being part of a wider network.
I think it’s abundantly clear at this point that I think this is a challenging area for schools and Trusts. The most effective support in my experience is being part of a wider network. There is no one answer. The more you can draw on other people’s views and opinions, experience and expertise, the more you will start to find your own path.
There are lots of options for this but IQM, with the cluster groups as well as the assessments, is a great way of drawing on expertise. Even more so are the informal relationships you form and that help you grow your network – often outside of your immediate geographical area. Doing all of this with a group of people who are just as committed to inclusive practice as you are is inspiring. It fills your cup when you need it most and reminds you that there are many others out there who feel as strongly about inclusion, face many of the same challenges, feel equally lost and out of their depth at times, but who ultimately come together to transform the lives of children and families every single day. That is why we are so proud to be part of the IQM family.
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:
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