Pallister Park Primary School, Middlesbrough has achieved the Inclusive School Award.
Background
Pallister Park Primary School is a larger than average school situated in the Local Authority of Middlesbrough. The School is now part of an Academy and is the lead school in the Our Children 1st Multi Academy Trust. In its most recent Ofsted inspection (July 2019), the school was graded as Good. The school is situated in an area of high deprivation with the proportion of disadvantaged children at 60% which is three times more than the national average.
Totally Inclusive School
“I can’t praise the school enough, the support that has been given to me and my family has been amazing.”
This is how a parent described how the school staff are 100% on her side to support her and her 3 children and how her family would be in a bad place if her children did not attend Pallister Park Primary school. This non-judgemental approach and guidance for families is evident everywhere within this totally inclusive school. The staff are very dedicated, skilled and ably led by an inspiring Senior Leadership team. Staff morale is high which leads to a very happy and hard-working school.
A Childhood They Deserve
The school’s ethos is to give the pupils the childhood they deserve and to protect them from adversity. This ethos is clearly evident in practice when a visitor walks around the school.
Family Feel
The SENCO is highly skilled and very ‘in-tune’ to the needs of everyone in the school, with or without Special Educational Needs. She greets everyone by name and is very popular with all pupils as she walks around the setting. The Meet and Greet session is carefully structured so that all pupils are greeted as they enter the school and parents are confident enough to approach staff at this time. Book and Bagel is a great way to encourage pleasure in reading and to have a snack at the same time. This goes a long way to foster the ‘family’ feel of the school.
Confident Staff and Pupils
The latest Ofsted report states that ‘Strong relationships exist across the school. There are high levels of mutual respect, which enables pupils to grow in confidence and demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning.’ Staff, teachers and teaching assistants, say they feel supported by each other, their professional development needs are met and they feel confident in their roles. The Co-Heads place a strong emphasis on work life balance which is appreciated by staff.
Behaviour is Excellent
Behaviour is excellent with all pupils eager to talk about the positives about their school and what makes it special. There is a feeling of warmth and belonging within the school. Pupil questionnaires, completed by pupils with SEND at their review meetings, as well as discussions with pupils during the visit, show that pupils feel safe and know who to approach if they have a problem. All pupils say that they like their teachers.
Knowledgeable and Keen Pupils
The digital leaders are very knowledgeable about e-safety, so much so that they are planning to present an assembly for the whole school about their role and how to keep safe. They have completed an after-school course to reach this level. The Inclusive sports group were similarly keen to describe their sporting achievements and able to say that everyone is included in a wide range of sporting opportunities that the school offers. They are proud of the pupils who have been selected for district and regional teams- some Olympic stars of the future!
Colourful and Interactive Class Displays
The building is very well maintained with new furniture, bespoke carpeting and matching chairs for each Key Stage. Pupils take pride in their classrooms, which have colourful and interactive class displays celebrating success, which are carefully planned to show topics that the pupils are working on.
Support
The school caters very well for pupils who need extra help. The Vulnerable Pupil Support Team are highly effective and are able to provide counselling for all Looked After Children and others who need this support. SEND support plans are clear and personalised to the individual needs. The school works with outside agencies. Other schools in the area approach Pallister Park for support. The staff are very good at recognising a need and acting upon it.
Funding is Matched to Needs
Pupil premium funding is well matched to the needs and context of the school. Extra- curricular trips are paid for, for all pupils as well as wellington boots, coats and sun hats for pupils in the Nursery.
Pupils Feel Special
Each child is given a carefully chosen book for their birthday, signed by the Headteacher. This makes them feel special and fosters a love of reading. A book for every birthday and each World Book Day, means that pupils will have 14 books before they leave school. Christmas is a very special and important time for the school. They make sure that everyone gets a present from the school. Present giving may be a major issue for parents or carers; therefore, the school makes sure that the void is filled by presents from school.
Good Progress
Pupils enter the school with below age expectations and leave in Year 6, after making good progress. Families in this area face many daily challenges which impede on the school but the school deal with these issues very well and should be rightly proud of the progress that the pupils make.
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.