St. Andrew’s CE School and Nursery has achieved the Inclusive School Award.
Real Community Feel
St. Andrew’s CE School and Nursery in Evesham has 304 students on the school roll and another 76 in the nursery. The school has grown over the past few years and developed from a one form entry to two form entry as a result of expansion to the building. A purpose-built nursery was opened in January 2023 to meet the demand due to the extensive housing developments in the area. The number of students who access free school meals has risen substantially from 7.8% in 2018 to 22% in October 2022 and it sits in the fourth quintile of deprivation. Students registered as SEND make up 19.4% of the cohort and seven students have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
The inclusive ethos is really evident in all aspects of the school; the school values of respect, perseverance and friendship are fully embedded and shape all aspects of school life. There is a warm welcome as soon as you step foot in the door which reflects the Christian vision and that continues wherever you go around the school and whoever you speak to. There is a real community feel as parents appreciate everything the school does not only for the students but for the families as well.
Fully Committed
The Headteacher is fully committed to getting the very best for those in her care and she said, “the mindset of our staff is to help anyone in need”. There is a genuine trust between the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the staff and this is embodied by the “approachability of the Senior Leadership Team” mentioned by so many of the staff throughout the day. The Headteacher works incredibly hard to ensure that the resources are readily available to ensure every child receives the support they need and they are constantly sourcing different streams of funding as well as getting the very best value from the Pupil Premium (PP) funding.
The Leadership Team drives the inclusive ethos and facilitates its delivery through their dedication to improving standards for both staff and students. The trauma informed practice ensures the very best care for the students and the wellbeing of staff is “high on the agenda”.
The Assistant Headteacher said, “the Pastoral Team don’t just look after the children, they look after the staff too”. The Headteacher went further by saying, “we want to empower our staff to have the skills to look after themselves”. As a result, there is a very close eye kept on workload and various measures have been introduced to reduce workload such as short briefings and reduction on written marking and feedback. The school supports a very broad spectrum of need which is rapidly changing; it embraces this and ensures every single student receives the support they need.
Genuine Passion
The school is very proactive in identifying needs and swiftly puts in place a very broad range of impactful interventions. Staff have a genuine passion and they take pride in the fact that, “inclusion is just normal here” and they have a “prevention not reactive approach”.
All staff speak highly of the support they receive from the Leadership Team and the fact that they genuinely care. In the encounters with staff it was clear they all go the extra mile to do everything possible to support the students in their class and understand their needs. The school is very proactive in identifying need, and swiftly puts in place a very broad range of impactful interventions.
There is an incredible thirst for knowledge at all levels of the staff team and training is constantly sought to ensure the best quality provisions are available to students. Staff have high expectations of all students and the learning environment is excellent. There are high needs in most classrooms but students fully understand why some students need extra support. Staff make effective adaptations so all students can access the curriculum.
The Teaching Assistants (TAs) are well trained and strategically deployed based on their strengths and the needs of the students. It is quickly evident that staff in all areas know their students and greet them wherever they are in the building. TAs have access to fantastic Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and are encouraged to grow and develop within the school. They are a passionate team and one TA said, “every child deserves an education”.
Attitudes to Learning are Exemplary
On learning walks the attitudes to learning are exemplary and the support to different groups of students is outstanding. Students acknowledge that others need different support and are focused on their own learning allowing interventions to seamlessly take place in the same classroom.
The pastoral support for students, parents and staff is exemplary at all levels and the care extends to families and the community at large. The ‘Orchard’ provides a safe space for students who may be struggling during the day due to a range of issues and they are given excellent support. This provision is not just for students and the ‘Orchard’ is used by staff as well.
Students are very proud of their school and feel their voice is both heard and valued. One student said, “No one can ever say they are not safe in this school” and “school is so fun, I love it”. There are many opportunities for leadership roles from the School Council and Pupil Parliament to Class Ambassadors. Students talk enthusiastically about the many trips they go on and the extra-curricular clubs that are available to them. They enjoy the rewards they are able to achieve and the awards they receive in the weekly assembly. The students have access to a vibrant outdoor area which includes a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and Forest School. Lunch times are structured and there are a range of different activities to get involved in.
Totally Dedicated
The school makes the most of external support networks and deploys them very effectively to support students, staff and parents. When our Assessor spoke to the school Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) worker and Speech and Language Therapist (SALT), they spoke very highly of the engagement that the school has with them and that the communication was excellent. The Therapist (SALT) said that the school was, “totally dedicated to ensuring students get the support they need”.
Parents have so much confidence in the school and are so thankful for the support that not only their children receive but the support they get.
One parent said, “the staff care so much and constantly go above and beyond for our children” and that, “I feel like I was given a very big hug from the school community when I needed it the most” after her family was supported through a “tough time”. When asked about the staff, one parent said, “everyone knows the names of every child which is incredible, they know our children so well”. They also commented how accessible staff were and they genuinely felt that their views are valued and acted on.
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.
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