Laurel Lane Primary School, in Hillingdon, London, part of the Frays Academy Trust, has achieved the Inclusive School Award for fourth time.
Meeting Challenge Head On
Laurel Lane Primary School is situated in a deprived area of Hillingdon. It is part of the Frays Academy Trust and another one of the Trust’s schools, St Martin’s Church of England Primary School is next door. Two of the Trust’s other schools are in Hillingdon, with two more in Wokingham. Laurel Lane Primary School is a two- form entry school but is facing a falling roll. From Reception to Year 6, 30% of pupils are SEND, 48% Pupil Premium and 70% are EAL. The school has a number of Traveller children and because of its proximity to the airport hotels, it has a number of refugees. The school does then have a number of challenges which it accepts and manages with determination and vision.
Essential Enrichment
From the moment the Assessor arrived, it was clear that the needs of the pupils are paramount, and the expectation is that every child should accomplish in line with their abilities. Staff are encouraged to adapt schemes to give the pupils a good learning experience. The emphasis is clearly on enjoyment that will engage pupils and encourage them to be active learners. Enrichment experiences are seen as an essential part of the pupils’ experience. The school does seek support for funding for trips and was able to secure money to support Years 1 and 2 to go to Littlehampton to experience the beach. Years 3 and 4 will be camping overnight on the school field, with tents and equipment loaned by the Scouts and the following day the pupils will be experiencing a range of outdoor activities on the field. Year 6 are going bowling and a three-night residential experience. Some experiences do need family contributions, but the school tries to mitigate as much as possible. Another example of how the school tries to support the financial needs of the families in a room in the school which has school shoes donated by Sal’s Shoes. Families can access this when needed.
Mutual Support and Recognition
On the school tour, the Assessor was struck by the calmness of each classroom. I observed much activity, for example, teacher led discussion, pupils exploring ideas whilst talking to each other. There was real engagement demonstrated by the pupils and positive interaction between pupils and adults. I did see some pupils who were finding it difficult to manage situations, but they were spoken with calmly and were not further heightened by the reactions of staff. It was clear how the staff know the pupils and know how best to interact with them. The Assessor also witnessed how the staff supported each other when dealing with the pupils.
Consistency of Provision
Great care has been taken to support the pupils by ensuring that each classroom has the same range of displays. There is a maths wall, a writing wall where best sentences are shared, science information, key words for topics and help boxes, recognition boards and visual timetables in the form of Now, Next and After, with some pupils having individual timetables. As well as that, the same widgets are used across the school from the Nursery to Year 6. All of which gives structure and support to the pupils. The impact of colour on the pupils has also been considered with one corridor being painted blue for its calming impact. The building design had allowed some heightened pupils to run around corridors, so door locks were installed to curtail this. Pupils are then safe when they leave the classrooms. This was clearly explained to the Assessor and demonstrates how staff look for practical ways to support the pupils and how they understand individual needs.
Exemplary and Imaginative Use of Space
The school is lucky enough to have a Nursery provision from the age of 2. This building had initially been created for the Trust to use but is now only used by Laurel Lane. Staff and local residents make use of the facility. There are different indoor areas that can be used by the different age groups, and they all use the outside space which offers a wide range of activities, bikes and climbing. What had been the school’s Nursery is now being developed as a place for sensory support with sensory circuits and it is a quiet place at lunch and playtime for those pupils who do not enjoy being in the playground. This change of use will really enhance the options for support for pupils and again exemplifies how SLT are responsive to pupils’ needs.
Equipping Pupils For Success
The Assessor was able to observe some of the interventions taking place in school, precision teaching, phonics, and Zones of Regulation. These highlighted the strength of the relationship between the adults and pupils. The adults know the children well and are able to engage the pupils in the activities. The pupils were relaxed and willing to participate. Staff make use of available space to run the interventions. The school also benefits from additional support from the EP, SALT, OT, and Physio to name a few. On the day of this visit, a worker from Hillingdon’s Traveller Team was working with Year 5. This support was welcomed by the school, but their aim is to have that information shared school wide rather than one year group.
Shared Vision
It was evident when speaking to staff how they all share the same vision as the SLT. Children come first. Teachers spoke about how the curriculum is being strengthened by the new maths programme and the emphasis on speaking and echoed what SLT had said about these developments really supporting the pupils. Teachers did say how it had been a challenge when the support staff had been reduced but now could see how TAs were being used more effectively. A strong sense of teamwork came from speaking with the staff. There are clear routes of who to go to for help and everyone is more aware of the needs of the pupils. The excellent work the SENDCo has completed clearly supports this.
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