New York Primary School has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Flagship status.
‘It Feels Like Home’
During our Assessor’s visit to New York Primary School, it was evident that inclusion sits at the heart of everything they do. A member of staff commented, “You can just feel it here – belonging, it feels like home. You can achieve your best. The school motto, ‘Come as you are, leave as your best’, applies to staff as well as children.” This encapsulates everything that this school stands for.
Pupils in this school are proud to be a “New Yorker”. They appreciate all the opportunities that are offered to them, and there are many. After-school clubs are abundant and varied. The Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) talked about ensuring there was something for everyone – ranging from eco club to Pokémon lunchtime group. Pupils are passionate about what they are interested in, as are the staff that run the clubs. Children really feel they can make a difference. One pupil commented, “It’s nice to be included in school decisions.” There is a sense that their voice matters and they can change things they feel strongly about.
Clear Vision for the School
The Headteacher and the SENCo have a clear vision for the school. New staff feels they have a good understanding of this vision and are eager to support the SLT to realise it. All pupils are included. They believe the school community has an awareness that pupils may need to be supported in a different way and may need adaptations, but this is seen as a strength of belonging to New York Primary School.
This is born out in the “proud words” that are part of the core values of the school. Each week there is a word that is focussed upon and the children are encouraged to demonstrate this through their actions. Children are able to articulate them well and use them regularly when describing how they feel about their school, themselves, and each other. A very young pupil stated, “I love my friends – I think they respect me.” It is clear the children have a good understanding of what it means to be a good citizen and what it looks like in action.
Curriculum is an area of real strength. New York Primary School is a Champion Heritage School and a Local Heritage Beacon School. Working with Historic England has enabled the school to further develop its curriculum offer. Although the pupils are learning about local history, links are made with other curriculum areas such as geography, Personal, Social, Health and Economics (PSHE), and art. This has meant that pupils not only know and remember more about history but they are also able to use skills and knowledge from the other subjects to support them. Lessons always start with, “How does this link?” supporting pupils to transfer skills but also widen and deepen their knowledge.
The impact of the heritage work is not confined to curriculum however; this work runs much deeper than subject knowledge. Learning about their local community and its history has brought about a deep sense of pride. Learning about significant people in their area, who have contributed to change for the better has empowered them to feel that they can too. The importance of valuing diversity and equality and instilling in young people the mantra of,” Don’t be a bystander” are virtues that will enable them to become agents for change in the future.
Real Passion for Taking Opportunities
Nothing in this school is done by chance. Everything has a clear rationale. Pupils take part in a number of initiatives that excite them and make them want to be at school, which is why the school’s attendance figures are so positive. The Lego League provides pupils with opportunities to learn about coding, problem-solving, collaboration, teamwork, inclusion, and creativity. Pupils use Lego progressively throughout school in their lessons. Younger children are taught through Lego Discover and in Key Stage 2 they are taught through Lego Explorer and Lego Challenge. The pupils attended the regional and national finals, which was a fantastic opportunity for them to further develop their skills in a competitive environment. There is a real passion for taking opportunities that can raise aspirations and lead pupils somewhere in later life. For example, the pupils took part in a session in which they taught delegates from Sage, Microsoft, and TSB how to use the Lego software themselves.
The Eco team is a vibrant, knowledgeable group of children who are passionate about what they do. Recently they have taken part in a project in which they have helped to redesign a piece of wasteland into a sensory garden and woodland trail. The pupils talked about their delight at being able to see the sculptures they have made of themselves which will be displayed on the walls of the garden. “It will feel like we are still part of the project,” one pupil commented while another shared how they will feel a sense of belonging there.
The staff who run the clubs, such as the Eco team and the Lego League, are genuinely passionate and excited about the extra-curricular area that they run, and this is true of any member of staff in the school. They love working at New York Primary School. They understand the high expectations that the SLT has for the school, but they understand the rationale behind it. They are supported by a Headteacher and colleagues, whom they feel listened to and value them. “We talk about it – we are so open about how we feel” a member of staff commented. It is little wonder with staff who are able to model how to deal with challenges and difficult emotions, that emotional wellbeing is an area of strength.
All Feelings are Seen as Valid
Pupils consistently described the care they received during conversations. The Mental Health ambassadors talked of their awareness that, “You can see stuff on the outside but not on the inside” another describing it as a superpower “to see it in other people” when they weren’t ok. As a result of the work pupils have done with Connect Mental Health and the lessons they have delivered, behaviour and attitudes in school are exemplary. All feelings are seen as valid, but it is how you deal with them, and pupils spoken to were able to articulate well what it means to be emotionally literate. Mental Health is seen as just as important as physical health. The school ensures that this message is shared with parents too and the staff from Connect Mental Health are visible at school events, in the yard, and take every opportunity to link with the wider school community.
There are common threads running through the heart of everything that is offered to pupils. From the equipment provided in the yard, which pupils mentioned as something they loved about the school, to the carefully planned curriculum and enrichment offer. All are planned and delivered to provide enjoyment, excitement, and engagement but sitting behind it is something deeper. The “proud words” that pupils strive to embody are in every opportunity and modelled in every adult interaction. Links and connections are constantly being made between subjects, enrichment activities, each other, and with the wider community.
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.