The learning environment at St Bede’s Catholic Junior School is calm and welcoming, with an industrious and effective learning space on offer for all students. The positive relationships fostered between pupils and staff, and parents who need support, is a testament to the school’s unwavering commitment to inclusion. Smaller class groups are delivered by teachers and support staff to ensure the highest levels of inclusive practice in their teaching. The Assistant Headteacher shows an outward commitment to driving up standards for the school community. Inclusion is a whole school issue at St Bede’s, with every member of the community engaged and ready to place inclusion at the forefront of learning.
The learning environment across the school is consistent, with high-quality teaching taking place in every single classroom. Working walls reflecting the current work of pupils are found around the school, helping children when stuck or as a reminder of current learning. Pupils can confidently discuss their learning and are empowered to share their knowledge and skills with others. Clear adaptions are made for pupils with SEND, in the form of resources or through staff support. Expectations are high for every pupil, but always in accordance with their needs. This is reflected in the excellent behaviour and attitudes of pupils across the school. A teacher commented that “It takes every ounce out of us to be a primary teacher, but we love it”. The school’s Outdoor Play and Learning is a shining example of how the school is fully committed to providing a wide range of educational resources for its pupils. Before playtime, learning support staff set up the activities for the children in different zones on the playground, so all pupils can access play time. OPAL pupil leaders take their roles seriously and can articulately describe why the school have chosen to do this, and how all the children have been trained to tidy away resources at the end of playtime.
Academic support is personalised and thorough at St Bede’s Catholic Junior School, regardless of class or learning group size. Staff can provide both academic and emotional intervention, with strong bonds between pupils and staff shining through. The school has reading mentors and multiplication mentors, who are pupils that support other pupils every afternoon if they are struggling in these areas. TAs told our assessor that “inclusivity is huge. If the children don’t do the curriculum of the year group, we make adaptations, whatever adaptations we need to make to help them learn. We constantly adapt learning to keep them in class”, showing that inclusion is always considered when implementing strategies. Indeed, the school has identified speech, language, and communication as priority areas, with TAs undertaking assessments for SALT for all pupils across the school, where children can be referred to a SALT therapist if they need additional support. The extent of this support is seen in the positive attitudes of the pupils. One told our assessor that “we include people with disabilities. We do different sports, we have different lessons from different teachers, you get to work with different teachers, and we have lots of opportunities for representing our school such as prefects, ambassadors, reading, art, multiplication help and the school council”. This list is not exhaustive of the many ways St Bede’s work to empower and support their pupils. Another child noted that “There are also wellbeing ambassadors to support children’s mental health, for instance, if there was a Y4 who was upset, we can go and help, as sometimes children would prefer to speak to other children” – this proactive approach to understanding the wellbeing needs of other pupils is a testament to the effectiveness of St Bede’s inclusive messaging.
Inclusive community extends beyond the school gates at St Bede’s Catholic Junior School. Parents are made to feel like equal and important parts of the school community. A clothes rack near the playground is available to parents and carers so they can take what they need for their children to arrive at school well-equipped, including winter coats. Macmillan coffee mornings, mental health support and reading activities are just a sample of the activities on offer to parents. The Foundation Governor aptly described this relationship with parents: “We have a very holistic approach, it is everybody’s business, we know how certain children have been supported by the school. It’s our culture, to help the 2 extremes of poverty and affluence. There is a real humanitarian ethos alongside our Catholic ethos and the parents interact well with staff”.
By providing a high standard of teaching and resources, St Bede’s Catholic Junior School is able to provide an exemplary education for its students. Irrespective of differences, everyone is included and celebrated at the school, with students themselves willing and ready to contribute to inclusive learning and support for the whole school community. It is this focus on community and looking out for one another that makes St Bede’s a welcoming and uplifting school for all its learners.