Lambs Lane Primary School Achieves IQM Inclusive School Award

August 14, 2026

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Lambs Lane Primary School has been awarded the IQM Inclusive School Award in recognition of its strong commitment to inclusion and its ongoing efforts to create a fully inclusive educational experience that reflects the needs, aspirations and lived experiences of all members of its school community.

A School Built on Community and Belonging

The leaders at Lambs Lane are fully committed to inclusion, carefully establishing a culture in which staff understand a range of barriers. Although there are several pupils with complex needs, these are resourced and supported well. Leaders are clear on how and what they want to achieve and look to find solutions within and beyond the school. Staff at Lambs Lane work productively with outside providers to make sure barriers are reduced and needs are identified quickly and with accuracy. One parent celebrated how the school held her hand with the new challenges, giving her the support she needed, with a gentle nudge at the right window of opportunity for her child.

Removing Barriers to Learning

Provision for children with SEND is carefully planned and managed and there is a high level of support for children with complex needs. Leaders and staff consistently review and evaluate the provision. Reading is a priority at Lambs Lane. All pupils need at least 5 entries in their reading record to be part of the weekly lottery. Because not all pupils will be able to have space at home, all types of reading count reducing barriers and increasing reading. Teachers are robust in removing barriers, by exploring the barrier and looking for solutions, with the child at the centre. Reading texts have been reviewed, so that they meet the learning needs and interests of the cohorts.

Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment

The physical nature of the classroom is also adapted, for example in one class there was a standing desk and in another various seating supports so children can be with their peers despite being in wheelchairs or other support equipment. Teachers ensure that all learners can learn together with adaptations such as movement-breaks and having space in another part of the school at lunchtime. All spaces are used to enable provision to happen for therapy or quiet time.

Where outside schemes are used, they are adapted and adjusted to meet the needs of the pupils. Learning is adapted well in lessons, with various versions of the tiered approach to challenge. Children said they valued the PSHE lessons, speaking highly of how assemblies are used to cover topics being seen around the school.

Pupils Who Feel Valued and Supported

Pupils describe Lambs Lane as ‘understanding,’ ‘friendly’ and ‘where you can trust’. One pupil stated, “the school is helpful, gives you all the help you need.” Classrooms have ‘worry boxes’ and these can be another way of getting help when you need it. Pupils are used to children learning differently. Not one pupil seemed to see the challenges physical or otherwise, they simply saw the child, the name, the friend that they had made. Pupils have space, support and scaffolds to excel with a strong ethos to not giving up. Effort and progress is celebrated well at Lambs Lane, with such awards as Shinfield Cup. Pupils are rightly proud of being selected and so are parents.

Strong Partnerships with Families

Parents, carers and guardians are proud of Lambs Lane. Parents celebrated the speed of response for any query or concern, with things sorted out straight away or certainly swiftly. One parent summed up the relationship, “teachers are very helpful, like friends, comfortable to talk about anything.” Lambs Lane parents value the time to be together and also to learn from each other. A parent stated, “the school will always give something a go, will look for solutions and if this does not work, will try again.” There is a sense of partnership and shared expertise between parents and staff, with challenge given proportionately.

Find Out More About IQM

The Inclusion Quality Mark provides schools with a nationally recognised framework for developing and celebrating inclusive practice.

If your school is interested in achieving the IQM Inclusive School Award, contact the IQM team on 028 7127 7857 or email admin@iqmaward.com.

To find out more about IQM and request a free information pack, visit www.iqmaward.com.