Riversdale Primary School in Wandsworth has achieved IQM Flagship School status.
Inclusion is at the Forefront
The welcome I received from Riversdale Primary School on my last visit in September 2019 and my day there, showed me what a special place it is. Inclusion is at the forefront and the Headteacher and her staff work hard to create an environment that is welcoming, happy and somewhere you know good things are happening. From the staff being called by their first names, to being a Rights Respecting School, Riversdale Primary School take pride in the school being for everyone, regardless of their barriers to learning.
The Spirit of Inclusivity
During the online review, the same spirit of inclusivity was evident. The staff work tirelessly for the happiness and potential of all of their pupils. Through these difficult last six months, they have been creative and strived to still offer their children the best school experience they can with wellbeing being a top priority.
Enthusiasm and Excitement
What the school has achieved since September 2019 should be highly commended. Not only have they achieved their targets and gone beyond what they set out to do, when they had a setback, they rose to the challenge and found something even better to get their teeth into with enthusiasm and excitement. The links they will forge with the school in the Caribbean, I have no doubt will become lifelong, way after the project has finished.
Very Special Staff
On my first visit the Headteacher told me that her staff are very special and all bring more to the school than their role requires, they are a strong community but also want to share what they do with the neighbouring schools with generosity and commitment. This will be evident through their Flagship project and also the discussion around opening a “mini base” to respond to the need of their ever-changing cohort of base children, whose complex needs become more profound. The staff look to see what training they may need and how to make the experience as positive for those children as possible, they adapt to the changing needs of the children with confidence and professionalism. However, it is clear that they expect excellent provision for all pupils.
Happy Staff
New staff discussed their welcome to the school community immediately and felt like they had always been there
“It is pretty wonderful here, I feel supported and no question is deemed silly. I have been given the tools I need to be successful.“
Another staff member stated,
“Being able to draw on the wisdom and expertise of the older members of staff makes me feel so supported.”
Lastly, another mentioned that she heard about Riversdale Primary School and knew she wanted to be part of the team. Adding that the inclusivity made her want to come and teach here.
The Ethos of Inclusion
A long serving Governor shared that she is delighted with the school’s drive and ambition. They support SLT’s decisions and were very keen to approve the Assistant Headteacher’s role with NASEN promoting good practice in other schools. The Governors are very keen to make sure new Governors share the ethos of inclusion and the open-door policy, which promotes excellent communication between them.
Happy Parents
Parents felt that their views were listened to and of all the parents I spoke to, they all agreed that their children were known extremely well by school staff, they were happy and that their needs were being met giving them the best school experience. One parent who works at the school and had a son in the base until he left to go to secondary school last year, told me how the school had accommodated her son during the lockdown by allowing him to come back to school to wait for her as his school finished at 1:45pm and he couldn’t go home alone. Her gratitude towards the Headteacher and the staff for this gesture was palpable and she said
“The Headteacher doesn’t realise quite what she did for me by allowing my son to come here to wait for me, I can’t sing her praises highly enough.”
Exceptional Home and School Communication
All of the parents mentioned the highly skilled staff, a special mention was given to the Base Lead Teacher and the communication between home and school being exceptional. All of the parents said that the Headteacher and her staff were caring, supportive and the wellbeing of the pupils was at the heart of everything they do.
Happy Pupils
With the help of the Assistant Head, I was lucky enough to have a chat with 4 pupils online, they were polite, articulate and all had positive comments about the school. Three of them were Year 6 and all felt quite sad to be moving on. One pupil told me he had made lots of friends and had lots of help with his emotions, which had made him happier. Another pupil told me “ Riversdale is the best school in London !”.
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.