St Giles Spencer Academy is entering its sixth year as a Flagship school. It is recognised as an Outstanding Ofsted school for SEND primary-aged children. At St Giles Spencer, there is a strong emphasis on the fact that all are valued members of the St Giles family. There have been active discussions about embedding this sense of inclusion in the ethos of the school moving forward. Staff are reminded that they have ‘ownership’, and in turn they value the relationships and connections they build to support every learner in their community.
There has been a significant increase in the number of children admitted to their SEND school, who have a range of trauma and ACEs. Two key leadership staff have undertaken the Train the Trainer programmer so they can deliver the PROACT-SCIPr-UK approach to behavioural support to all staff. Subsequently, they have trained sixteen of the classroom staff as of July 2024. Indeed, there is a strong commitment to rolling CPD at St Giles Spencer, acknowledging the link between inclusion and a well-supported staff. Staff are now fully trained in this positive de-escalation programme, and it has empowered staff to work together in a more structured and consistent way to provide the best support for their pupils. Staff have been further encouraged to upskill through Trauma Informed Awareness, so they have a greater understanding of their children’s trauma, and feel more confident in asking families difficult questions, at times, to get a fuller picture of the child. It has facilitated interventions for every child in need of one, so they can remain happy and content for longer periods of time and become more independent learners. At St Giles, the wellbeing of every child is a whole school responsibility, with senior staff, classroom assistants and classroom teachers interchanging to enable each child to remain focused and able to de-escalate at their own pace.
The physical space on offer at St Giles Spencer Academy facilitates exemplary learning conditions. The school hosts 15 classrooms, a cooking room, outside learning areas with new climbing frames, a Forest School, newly updated sensory gardens and 3-tier ramps for the children, particularly for those who rely on wheel support to move around. Inclusion is at the heart of the learning surroundings, which in turn allows every pupil to learn in an environment that meets their needs. The school’s 3D curriculum incorporates global awareness and citizenship through their PSHE programme, leading to international days celebrating food and culture. Some pupils are encouraged to participate in MAT activities such as football, Sports Day, and RE day. It has also allowed students to look at the specific challenges that the human race is now facing, most notably climate change. The school has set up their ECO Schools focus through their School Parliament, and encouraged wider discussions about how everyone can lower their carbon footprint, such as saving electricity on the school site.
St Giles ensure that through collaborative activities, all students can feel included in school life. For example, our assessor noted a particular group of children were making ‘traffic light’ fruit biscuits to then share as part of the whole class’s afternoon ‘snack and share’ time. There is also an opportunity for learning beyond the school grounds, with St Giles offering a week’s residential in an Outdoor Activities Centre to learn life skills, such as planning a shopping list to buying the required ingredients. They are then required to follow the recipe, cook, and then share the food with others, showing that learning and sharing new skills embody the values of inclusion. Walks around local National Trust facilities are also available to help children independently use maps and navigate new locations, including facilities like bathrooms and the car park. Inclusion is not just a classroom initiative for St Giles Spencer; they adopt an inclusive attitude when teaching skills for life.
