Overseal Primary School in Derbyshire has achieved the Inclusive School Award with Flagship status.
Broadening Pupils Experience
Overseal Primary School is a smaller than average primary school with 209 students currently on roll from Reception to Year 6. The school catchment covers a range of socio-economic backgrounds as the village moves to being a commuter village for many parts of Derbyshire and the East Midlands area. There are currently 23% of pupils eligible for Pupil Premium funding.
The majority of pupils are of white British heritage with a small number of children with English as a second language. A significant number of pupils within the school have limited experience of the outside world. The school places great importance on broadening pupil experience and developing their cultural capital.
The school recently underwent an Ofsted Inspection and was graded ‘Good’ following a successful visit. Ofsted describe the school as ‘A happy school where every pupil is valued. Cheerful voices can be heard wherever you go.’ The work completed by the school on safeguarding and wellbeing was highlighted by the Ofsted Team who also commented about the extraordinary positivity from parents as 100% of parents stated they would recommend the school to others.
Drive Inclusive Ethos
The Headteacher has remained the IQM Lead, supported by her SENDCo and Leadership Team. Inclusion clearly remains at the heart of the school and Leaders and staff show an incredible commitment to inclusion. The school vision: ‘SHINE’, (Self-Confidence, High Aspirations, Independence, Nurturing environment, Excel and Achieve) is highly visible across the school and continues to drive the inclusive ethos of the school. 
‘SHINE’ practices are evident across everything the school does with staff, parents and Governors being fully committed to inclusive practices, reinforced through the values, practices and ethos of the school.
This is underpinned by the school’s aim ‘to create a happy, welcoming, secure, inclusive and stimulating environment in which all members of the school community can grow in self-esteem and develop their potential as human beings’.
CPD around SEMH is particularly strong and the introduction of the Autism Education Trust training has provided an additional level of knowledge and understanding around ASD.
Parents are Very Positive
Overseal Primary School is a very popular school within the local area and parents are very positive about the provision made for their children. Relationships with parents are strong and parents spoke very positively of the support provided to their children.
Parents feel well supported by the school and appreciate the ease with which they can communicate with staff when necessary. Leaders and members of office staff are available at the entry gates to the school at the start of the day and message boards are used effectively to pass messages to class teachers. Staff take time to provide feedback to parents ensuring parents hear positive messages regarding even the most challenging pupils.
Parents particularly commented upon the availability of the Headteacher and her willingness to find time to talk to and support parents at times of need. Opportunities for parents to come into school have been reinstated this year and parents have appreciated the Monster Phonics Launch session and the open classroom evenings that have allowed them to find out more about their child’s class and year group.
The school strives to provide opportunities for pupils to show leadership and has worked hard since Covid to reintroduce clubs and activities. The School Council has been reinstated with children from each year group represented. The School Council meets regularly and provides children with an effective voice within the school.
As a result of a request that originated in the School Council pupils were all given a Halloween colouring session as a ‘reward’. The School Council also supports the school with the Christmas Fair and is involved in the planning of special events in school for Children in Need, Anti Bullying week and other events. Children are also chosen as Library Monitors and the House Teams are all led by House Captains.
Enrichment Activities
The school has successfully reintroduced a range of extra-curricular and enrichment activities following Covid. Over the last 12 months pupils have been able to access choir, dance and drama clubs run by staff in school, alongside a selection of sporting clubs, many delivered by outside providers including dodgeball, girls’ football, mini basketball, New Age Kurling, and multi skills. A Laser Tag Club and a Zorbing Club have recently been introduced following the success of a ‘Good to be Green’ reward day when children had the opportunity to sample the activities.
Musical instrument tuition with the LA Music Service has also been reinstated. Parent workshops are also gradually being reinstated with a reception and Year 1 parents being invited to the launch of the school’s new Phonics Programme, Monster Phonics. 
The school missed being able to take part in community activities during the Covid restrictions and have quickly reinstated community-based activities. The choir took part in the Remembrance Service within the village in November and the choir will also be singing carols in the local Care Home in December.
Pupils have represented Overseal Primary School in a number of sporting competitions including New Age Kurling, football and athletics. Pupils enjoy taking part in the South Derbyshire Active Schools Partnership which organises the sporting competitions.
Well Resourced
The school has a well-established highly trained staff who benefit from having access to a range of CPD and professional qualifications. The school uses the National College Training materials and staff readily take up opportunities for Professional Development.
The Headteacher is also an associate improvement partner for the Local Authority and currently supports 5 schools within Derbyshire. Leaders are very quick to acknowledge the strength of the Staff Team and recognise the hard work and level of commitment shown and are always mindful about work life balance and workload.
Staff really appreciate the ‘Chocolate Fairy’ who puts chocolates and other sweet treats into pigeonholes and the other acts of kindness shown by Leaders, Governors and their Colleagues.
The school is well resourced with interactive white boards in every classroom, and sufficient laptops for all pupils to be able to access IT as required during lessons. All classrooms also have ‘write on wipe off’ boards and the school has recently replaced these with pastel-coloured boards to support children impacted upon by dyslexia.
The school has a good range of resources to support pupils with SEND, particularly those to support SEMH and pupils were observed accessing these independently during my visit and were able to articulate how the resources supported them. The extensive grounds including a Trim Trail, Sensory Garden and Forest School are used effectively to support the curriculum and also support the SEMH needs of pupils.
Transition arrangements are carefully planned by the school with new reception children having 2 opportunities to spend time in school during the summer term prior to starting in September. Reception children all have a staggered start, attending 2 or 3 sessions during the first week of term in small groups before starting full time in week two.
All children meet their new teacher during the summer term with the school having a day when all children move to their new classroom and teacher for an introductory session. Year 6 were able to visit their new secondary school, and the SENDCo ensures information is shared effectively with the schools the children are moving to. Parents spoke to me about the support provided by both the SENDCo and Headteacher regarding appeals and tribunals for pupils requiring a place in a school with a special needs base.
Governance is Good
Governance in the school is strong and Governors play a clear role in monitoring practice during learning walks, looking at books and learning about the broad and balanced curriculum. Governors are linked to key areas of the school including achievement and attainment, pupil premium, safeguarding, SEND, Early Years, Health and Safety, GDPR as well as curriculum subjects and the Link Governors meet with staff at least twice each year.
The school’s ‘Good to be Green’ behaviour approach works very well. Behaviour in school was excellent on the day our Assessor was in school and key children with additional needs are managed exceptional well. Pupils are expected to behave well with rewards given for exceeding the expectations. As a result of the ethos across the school and the well managed behaviour systems the school has not had any fixed term or permanent exclusions in the last year.
‘Stop and Think’ visual cards are used to remind children about expectations and red cards, leading to missed playtime used where behaviour continues. Phone calls to parents are made by Leaders whenever a child receives 2 red cards. A ‘Good to be Green’ stamp is added to every child’s reading diary. Children who remain green for the whole week earn 10 minutes toward a monthly golden time session.
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.