Lea Forest Primary Academy has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Flagship status.
Knowledge of the Pupils
Lea Forest Primary Academy is a school of choice for parents and an oversubscribed school. It has been an Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) school for several years and an IQM Centre of Excellence school for the last three years.
Our Assessor spoke to several members of staff during the visit and was impressed by their knowledge of the pupils, their families and the community. From the first meeting with the IQM Lead, it was clear that inclusion was at the forefront of the school’s work. Our Assessor saw examples of curriculum planning and resources including the carefully sourced sensory stories and abridged texts that were produced by school staff over the past two years to support pupils with additional needs.
Leaders take staff training seriously and have created a comprehensive Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plan for all staff. It was great to meet the staff working with pupils at the school. They all bought into the school’s ethos and vision and felt part of the team. The training provided for them was referenced during the meeting and they could all articulate why this was important. The support assistants interviewed all referred to the importance of teamwork. One member of staff identified the school as being one big team who all supported one other.
High Aspirations for all Pupils
The school has worked hard to establish the enhanced provision for pupils with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP). Staff are knowledgeable of the needs of each individual and support their needs well. The school continues to have high aspirations for all pupils, and this clearly extends to pupils outside the enhanced group as well. Ofsted Inspection December 2022, noted, ‘this is an exceptional school where pupils flourish. Leaders and staff work together very successfully so that pupils reach their full potential.’
The learning walk to a variety of classes highlighted the excellent relationships between staff and pupils. In these classes, pupils’ behaviour was impeccable; they enjoyed completing their work and positively engaged in classroom discussion.
Our Assessor was able to observe focussed precision teaching being delivered in the classrooms visited. There was a consistent approach to classroom organisation, with these environments supporting and scaffolding pupils’ learning, and encouraging independence. All classrooms comprised of live working walls, reading areas and subject specific displays.
It was such a pleasure to talk to the children during the review. The confidence from them was infectious and they clearly enjoyed being part of the school community. They were positive about the way staff supported them to find their ‘own remarkable’ and made them feel safe. They summed up the school as a family feel school, where all differences were celebrated.
Firm and Open Relationships
The parent/carers of the school were keen to express their gratitude to the work conducted at the school. There was a firm and open relationship with all parents/carers. Communication was exceptionally strong, with staff working hard to sustain good relationships with families. One parent stated, “I am always supported, and my child is always supported. They know my child. They have always supported his needs before I have told them. The school takes onboard what parents say and staff are very approachable.”
The school has achieved a significant range of externally accredited awards such as Gold status for UNICEF Rights and Respecting School, in addition to Gold for School Games and English as an Additional Language (EAL) quality mark. These hard-earned awards reflect the school’s inclusive practice and its commitment to a broad and balanced curriculum. The awards also stand as testament to the experience, expertise and hard work of a dedicated and enthusiastic staff.
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.