Gilbert Scott Achieves Inclusive School Award Again

May 3, 2019

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Gilbert Scott Primary School in Croydon achieves the Inclusive School Award for the fourth time.

Inclusion in Practice

Gilbert Scott Primary School is an outstanding example of Inclusion in practice. From the early morning breakfast club, the meeting and greeting of parents by the SENCO as well as the Parent and Family Support worker to the Magic Breakfast (free bagels for those on time for school), the day gets off to a great start for all the children.

Individual Needs are Well Catered for

Individual needs are exceptionally well catered for. One child waits with the adults before going to lessons as he needs more reassurance, another child with ASD is taken to his lessons by a familiar member of the office staff each day as that is his preferred way of getting to class. As one parent stated, “The inclusion of every child in this school is remarkable.”

The Spirit of Inclusion

The spirit of inclusion continues in the achievement assembly. The children sit in a large horse-shoe shape rather than the traditional rows. Parents were also present to see their children receive awards. Everyone can see and everyone takes part, through class awards, writer of the week, best class attendance and learning superstars. Rewards for good behaviour are given a high profile. Independence skills are valued as year 6 pupils organise the IT as well as giving out the awards and dismissing the pupils at the end. It was a pleasure to hear all the children sing an uplifting song, “I can do anything at all.” Children from the Enhanced Learning Provision (ELP) play a full part in the whole school assemblies.

Parents are Very Complimentary

Parents are very complimentary about the school and appreciate all the help and support their child receives as well as the family as a whole. One parent of a child with SEN said, “If it wasn’t for this school, I don’t know where my child would be now.” A parent of a child with a medical condition praised the school for their excellent communication links with her as well as the staff’s dedication in making sure that the health care delivered was appropriate and safe.

Careful and Systematic Planning

Children enjoy their lessons due to the careful, systematic planning done by the teachers who strive to make the lessons interesting and relevant. Differentiation in lessons is very evident. One example of this is the children in the ELPs having individual timetables, one-page profiles and a differentiated, simplified behaviour chart which they understand. The behaviour policy is then consistent throughout the school and differentiated according to needs. All the children in the school are aware of the behaviour passports and how the system works.

Pupils are True Advocates of the School

The pupils were highly praised in a previous Ofsted visit as follows, “Pupils are true advocates of the school. They are committed to and know well the school’s aims and values. Pupils are well behaved, polite and respectful (Ofsted 2017). As part of the school’s improvement drive, new agreed values were launched in January 2019; they consist of Excellence, Respect, Unity, Perseverance, Aspiration and Responsibility. Everyone was involved in devising the new values.

The School Council is Active

The School Council plays an active role in the school community. They were able to describe changes that the school had made that could be tracked back to their input such as having a comments book in the dining hall re school dinners and being able to have second helpings now. Junior Travel Ambassadors have been introduced as a new initiative and will be shortly doing a road safety assembly. The children were enthusiastic, let each other have a turn to speak and all said they loved school.

Links with Red Gates School

Links with Red Gates School are highly valued by everyone. Each Gilbert Scott class has a link class from Red Gates, and they work together on a weekly basis on lessons that have been jointly planned by the teachers from both schools. One boy said, “It is really good you learn how to do sign language and you learn about other children”.

Inspiring Pupils

The school holds enrichment weeks to inspire pupils and takes into account their interests.

Continuing Professional Development is Offered to All

Training is offered to all members of staff who may need to become more proficient in a particular teaching method or strategy. Recent training has taken place in Pre-teaching and Precision teaching.

Focus on Improved Outcomes

The whole school is focused on progress and improved outcomes for all the children. The recently formed school Governors are fully committed to Inclusion and giving the children the best chance possible in their education.

School Context

Gilbert Scott Primary School is a one-form-entry school with 212 pupils on roll including an attached Nursery that takes a maximum of twenty-six children part time. The Nursery children are also offered lunchtime and afternoon Nursery paid provision. As part of its community provision, the school has a fourteen place Enhanced Learning Provision for pupils with moderate learning difficulties (MLD) split across two groups, EYFS/KS1 and KS2.

Excellent Opportunities to Develop and Improve

Gilbert Scott has twelve part time places for nursery children with severe, long term and complex learning difficulties (Willow Tree Nursery). In September 2018, Gilbert Scott Primary became part of The Collegiate Trust that is made up of two secondary schools including a sixth form and four primary schools. This has been a positive move, providing excellent opportunities to develop and improve with the support of the Collegiate Trust and other local schools.

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: info@iqmaward.com for further details.

Want more information on the IQM Award? Click here to request your free IQM information pack.