Grove Street Primary School has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Centre of Excellence status.
Particular Attention to Vulnerable Groups
Grove Street Primary School is a larger-than-average primary school for children aged 2-11 years old in New Ferry, Wirral. There are currently around 340 pupils on roll. The school welcomes a significant number of children entitled to free school meals (FSM), well above the national average, and twice the national average number of children who receive support for their Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The majority of children are White-British, with the number of children who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL) increasing. The school experiences high mobility, with many mid-year transfers joining across the year groups.
The school serves an area of high deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation Decile = 1- most deprived in England). The Headteacher explained that in a recent research article “Left Behind Neighbourhoods”, New Ferry appeared in the most challenging “10% of areas for both deprivation and community needs”. The Headteacher provided information about the high levels of crime in the area to give a contextual overview for the IQM assessment, commenting that the area is ranked ‘1’ in the Crime Decile Index, (1 being the highest level in England). The most significant issues are related to gang warfare, drugs and knife crime. The school Leaders also report a higher number of safeguarding referrals for domestic violence incidences since the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of children identified as suffering Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) is high and continues to rise significantly.
Specific year group cohorts have a high percentage of vulnerable pupils, for example pupils with SEND, disadvantaged (those in receipt of Pupil Premium top-up funding), safeguarding referrals or the children identified as the bottom 20% in terms of reading ability. These children are identified with a purple heart by the school on all documentation and Pupil Progress Meeting pro formas to make sure that careful attention is paid to this particularly vulnerable group. There is currently an average of 83% of vulnerable group children per class. This is significant in terms of the level of need across the school and the level of planning required to ensure the pupils’ needs are met successfully.
Soothed by the Therapeutic Environment
Despite the additional challenges faced, from the moment you walk through the doors at Grove Street Primary School, you are soothed by the therapeutic environment. Across the school, neutral tones, cosy corners, hessian displays, natural foliage and low lighting encourage a sense of calm and security. The calming environment reflects the calm atmosphere throughout the school, led by the calm, nurturing approach from the staff. The therapeutic theme spills over into the Leaders’ Offices which have comfortable seating areas, soft furnishings and a homely feel. The school is welcoming and inviting, immediately putting visitors, parents and carers, staff and pupils at ease.
Pupils and families are met every morning at the gates by members of the Senior Leadership Team and Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs). Leaders are visible and accessible to all families. They will respond to any issues, as they arise, to ensure the children have a positive day. The morning greeting initiative started following Covid-19 lockdowns, as the staff felt it was important to rebuild relationships with parents and carers. They have worked hard to break down any barriers and change parents’ perception of education. Now, relationships between home and school are strong. The school has become a real community hub and go-to place for parents and carers in times of need.
The Headteacher began the review by explaining that inclusion is “just what we do”. Leaders are modest about how they clearly go above and beyond to ensure that the pupils at Grove Street are well looked after. When the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) was asked to describe the inclusive ethos at Grove Street in one word, they said “welcoming” as “everybody is welcome; we have an open-door policy”.
Inclusive approaches are never static as the staff are constantly responding to the individual needs of the children, parents and local community. All systems are continuously evaluated to look at the impact, with a clear rationale behind everything they do.
Pupils are Happy and Safe
The Ofsted report from October 2022 commended the school for its inclusive provision, stating, “pupils thoroughly enjoy attending this caring and harmonious school. Staff make sure that pupils are happy and safe. Adults forge strong relationships with pupils. Leaders ensure that pupils have every opportunity to learn, grow and develop into young adults”.
A reflection of the school’s approach to inclusion is evidenced through the layout of the classrooms, which are completely different across the classes. The layout and design are entirely planned around the needs of the cohort, which varies year on year, according to the individual pupils.
The school actively engages with the wider community, welcoming external professionals and organisations to collaborate. Strong relationships with families are cultivated through various initiatives, such as breakfast mornings, workshops on diverse topics, and interventions for social and emotional wellbeing. The school’s focus on holistic development ensures that children are provided with the best opportunities to thrive.
The school has built a positive reputation within the Local Authority for its inclusive provision. On the day of the IQM assessment, the Headteacher had been invited by the Assistant Director of Education for Wirral to present to the Department for Education on their inclusive approaches. Leaders pride themselves on “never standing still”, with an outward facing mindset.
For the IQM Assessment, the IQM Coordinator and Senior Leadership Team provided wide-ranging evidence to validate the process including access to a vast array of documents on their shared Google Drive folder.
Our Assessor added, “I was welcomed into the school with warmth. Staff received the process with an open culture of self-evaluation. This reflective culture ensures that the school is continuing to move forward. Leaders know the areas of strength and have clear plans to improve any areas which need further development.”
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.