Montalbo Nursery and Primary School has achieved the Inclusive School Award.
Inclusion Underpins All Aspects of School Life
Inclusion is embedded in Montalbo Nursery and Primary School’s ethos and underpins all aspects of school life. Leaders are committed to providing an offer that is holistic and aspirational. Children are at the centre of every decision. Staff are committed to ensuring that pupils are happy and confident and that the opportunities that are provided for them are relevant to their needs. The school tagline, ‘Collaborate, Endeavour, Inspire’ is a nod to the three school values of: ‘To endeavour; to be inspired and to collaborate’. These values are lived and breathed across the school.
Montalbo Nursery and Primary School is a smaller than average sized, Local Authority (LA) maintained school in the market town of Barnard Castle, County Durham. The school catchment is diverse and the school serves both the town and rural community. An increasing proportion of children come from the growing village of Startforth. The school has large classes due to an extension which was completed in 2019; however, this has not diluted the offer that each child receives.
Children Enjoy Being Part of This School
The school was inspected in January 2023 and received a grade of outstanding and it is clear to see why. Children enjoy being part of this school and the whole school community is passionate and proud of their school and the work they do. The strong leadership of the Headteacher, his accessibility, commitment to inclusion and providing opportunities for all children, is a strength of the school.
In discussions with the Headteacher, his commitment to Montalbo Nursery and Primary and the local community shone through when he talked about some of the work they do. He explained, “we use the local history of where we live to bring the community into the school and give children a sense of place”.
The school attends regular community events such as the ‘Meet Parade’. Staff also bring local history to life with learning opportunities such as children across the school creating published books about the local area and landmarks, e.g., The Market Cross and Egglestone Abbey. History for children, by children. In discussions with a parent, they said, ‘there is a lovely community feel”. A child said, “I love our history lessons!”
Love, Nurture and Family
Across the school there is a sense of love, nurture and family. All staff know their pupils and this dedication allows them to ensure children are happy, well-rounded and achieving. Throughout the assessment day, many staff talked about how well they know their children and the ‘family feel at Monty’.
During the learning walk and tour of the school it was clear to see that inclusivity is part of the whole school ethos. Pupils have a voice and are seen as individuals. Warm relationships exist throughout the school. Staff are adept at adapting resources and the curriculum, to suit the needs of all and to ensure all children can access the ambitious curriculum offer. On the assessment day, one child said, “the staff are kind and help you out”. Another said, “we can talk to adults here. They are all reliable.”
Supporting All Children
All staff feel passionately about supporting all children to help them reach their full potential. They know that a holistic approach to education is needed. Wellbeing is taken seriously by the school and there is even a dedicated wellbeing page on the school’s website. Leaders prioritise the wellbeing of the whole school community.
In January 2023, Ofsted reported, ‘Leaders are committed to staff development and wellbeing. Professional development is prioritised. Subject knowledge and leadership skills are continually developing. Staff value the lengths to which leaders go to ensure that staff are looked after and that their workload is manageable.’
This was triangulated in discussions with the Headteacher and the IQM Lead, with the Headteacher stating, “I like to develop staff and support them in growing. There are lots of opportunities for professional growth and continuous learning, for example, staff completing National Professional Qualifications.”
The wellbeing and development of children is also a high priority. Across the school, several staff are trained in supporting children with mental health and wellbeing, as well as working with the Emotional Resilience team or other professionals where necessary. Each class has two children as Wellbeing Champions who look out for their classmates. Parents voiced their appreciation of the wellbeing support for children and themselves, with one saying, “there are strong relationships across the school and support is put in place for us when we need it”. Another summed it up simply stating, “it is a unique place with a family feel”.
Excellent Relationships
The school has formed excellent relationships with all stakeholders, from parents and carers to outside agencies who help provide advice for the children of Montalbo. Many families choose this setting as staff provide a great environment for all children to learn in, adapting the curriculum where necessary to ensure all children can succeed.
One parent articulated this when they explained, “I moved from another area so my child could come to this school. The right support is put in place and my child now has his needs met. It is all that I hoped for and more.” Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are included within all areas of the curriculum, including after school clubs and make strong progress in academic, emotional and social skills during their time at the school.
Leaders at Montalbo Nursery and Primary are clear about the vision and next steps for the school. They are a reflective team ensuring all staff are included and valued and buy into the school vision. This is an outward-facing, research-driven school that share best practice and are keen to learn from others. As one Governor explained, “leaders are good at keeping up with research and best practices to keep driving the school forward”.
Inclusion is More Than a Policy
At Montalbo, inclusion is more than a policy; it is a way of life. The culture of inclusion is woven into the very fabric of the school, evident from the purposeful, ambitious and welcoming learning environment, the sensory resources on offer in every classroom, the classroom displays and the carefully planned curriculum.
The dedicated and inspirational IQM Co-ordinator, produced an accurate and detailed evaluation of the school’s position. This was further supported by conversations with various people from the whole school community, which illustrated that the written evidence was accurate. Suggestions for future development outlined in this report have been identified accurately through the school’s Self-Evaluation Report
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.