Oasis Academy Ryelands has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Flagship status.
Staff are Very Proud of the Academy
Oasis Academy Ryelands is an Academy Primary School with a nursery provision located in the London Borough of Croydon There are over 400 pupils on roll. A small number of pupils are on the SEN register/have an Education and Health Care Plan. Staff are warm and welcoming and are very proud of this academy. The academy is a calm environment and there are lots of lovely places for small group interventions to take place. Inclusive practice is a strength of Oasis Academy Ryelands.
Despite the pandemic, the academy has kept its inclusive ethos at the heart of its practice. The academy is very proud of the 9 Habits which are the foundations of the academy ethos. When the Headteacher initially took over the Headship a number of years ago, the academy had no clear vision or ethos, so it implemented ICARE – Inclusion, Community, Aspiration, Resilience, Enjoyment. The Trust now uses the 9 Habits but the Headteacher has expertly weaved the ICARE values through the 9 Habits.
Strong Ethos of Inclusivity
There is a very strong ethos of inclusivity amongst all of the staff. Staff want to work here and are happy in their work. Staff have opportunities for high quality training and development. TAs have Continuing Professional Development Training (CPD) every Monday morning based on need and suggestions from TAs. The academy invests in its staff. The ethos of the Leadership Team is that every child has the opportunity to succeed. 
The academy is aspirational for its pupils. It has a very strong Transition Programme which not only focuses on transitioning pupils into the academy in Reception and Nursery and on to secondary school at the end of Year 6, but also up to Year 3. Transitions Books are available and are adapted for pupils with additional needs and staff offer Stay and Play Transition Events, which not only help to settle pupils but also give help parents build vital connections with each other.
Wellbeing a Key Priority
Wellbeing remains a key priority for Oasis Academy Ryelands. There are lots of places where pupils can receive support within the academy day including a Sensory Room, Sensory Circuits and Kris’s Calm Corner. The Calm Corner which is run by the Mental Health First Aider (also known as the Wellbeing Champion to pupils), supports small groups of up to four pupils and helps with mental health and trauma. It is an additional safe space for pupils to open up and to share any worries and concerns they may have.
A pack around mental health is currently being developed for families that they can work through with their children at home. The home pack will be needs dependent and will have visuals for those pupils who need further access. It is envisaged that this will help to develop the relationships between parents and children.
Families who are also struggling are able to talk with specific staff members and the academy has just become involved in The Felix Project, a surplus food project which delivers food here to the academy which staff can then distribute to vulnerable families.
Highly Ambitious Curriculum
The curriculum is another strength of the academy. Pupils follow a highly ambitious curriculum which revolves around The Horizon Project – a Trust Wide initiative which introduce iPads for each child at all Oasis Schools. The academy uses iPads for learning but the learning is very structured. 
They have very specific apps that they use within the academy and pupils bring the iPads home. This ensures that families are able to see the work that has been carried out in the academy during the day. The use of iPads in the Early Years are more limited but they are still used to promote and develop independent learning. Reading and Phonics is also high priority.
It’s a Really Friendly School 
In our Assessor’s meeting with the Head Girl and the Head Boy they talked incredibly positively about the academy and how their role is to support staff in ensuring that pupils thrive and lead by example.
They are Ambassadors for the 9 Habits and are really keen to get the rewards associated with them.
They talked about how these are linked with the curriculum.
There are Wellbeing Champions in Key Stage 2 and they meet with the Mental Health First Aider each week to promote good mental health across the academy.
Pupils said that ‘school is very supportive.’ One pupil said – ‘I remember when I joined in Year 1 and everyone was trying to play with me. It’s a really friendly school.’
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.