Rebecca Cheetham Nursery and Children’s Centre Retains Flagship School Status

August 14, 2026

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Congratulations to Rebecca Cheetham Nursery and Children’s Centre on retaining its Flagship Status. This achievement reflects the dedication, expertise and commitment of the whole school community in providing an outstandingly inclusive environment where every child can thrive. The school should be proud of the positive impact it continues to have on children and families.

Outstanding and Evolving

Rebecca Cheetham Nursery and Children’s Centre continue to be an exceptionally inclusive provision for all young children. All needs are met to a very high standard.

Staff are a very strong asset to the setting with their knowledge, dedication and commitment to inclusion. Even though the school was graded outstanding by Ofsted in all areas last year, (March 2025) they see themselves as being on a constant journey of self-improvement.

Strong Foundations

The setting is very proficient at identifying any special educational needs at the earliest stage possible. The school applies for EHCPs early so that when pupils leave they are either on the pathway or have an EHCP in place. The school recognises that this is a great advantage to parents so that they are accepted for their first-choice primary school. The SENCO has a SENCO assistant and members of the Inclusion team who have all gained Level 3 in the SEND qualification. This means that there is a strong team in place.

Parents as Partners

Parents speak very highly of the Nursery school and Children’s Centre. All the children love the setting and there is a real sense of “family” for all the parents. They feel that all staff know all the pupils very well, they know each child’s routines and likes and dislikes. They report that they find all staff including the Senior Leadership team very approachable and inclusive towards all the children. One example was how all the children take part in the Nativity play, at their own level. They spoke about the excellent communication systems between staff and the parents- the very informative newsletter got a special mention!

Growing Together

Wellbeing is a significant part of the curriculum for the pupils. They learn strategies to self-regulate, how to name their emotions and mindful activities through the listen to the stories in their core books. Children are brought together through whole nursery events such as the annual Fiesta Fun where all families take part, meet other families and enjoy the community event. It promotes the sense of belonging and community cohesion that is so vital for everyone.

Forest School Success

The school is an accredited Forest school, with currently two qualified practitioners who work with all the pupils in the nursery in the forest school setting for one day a week. It is accessible to everyone, through scaffolding and other inclusive techniques. It is an opportunity for pupils to access nature in a safe but stimulating environment.

Find Out More About IQM

The Inclusion Quality Mark provides schools with a nationally recognised framework for developing and celebrating inclusive practice.

If your school is interested in achieving the IQM Inclusive School Award, contact the IQM team on 028 7127 7857 or email admin@iqmaward.com.

To find out more about IQM and request a free information pack, visit www.iqmaward.com.