St Thomas More Catholic Primary School retains the IQM Inclusive School Award

September 8, 2026

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St Thomas More Catholic Primary School has been re-awarded the IQM Inclusive School Award.

Developing The Bridge

The school had a structured approach to setting up the Bridge, a resourced provision base designed to support a number of pupils with a wide range of complex needs. Initially trialled with one student, the impact was measured and used to guide future planning. The Bridge is now a fundamental feature of the school.

During the trial TEACCH-style workstations were introduced, these supported the visual learning of selected pupils, with targeted individualised learning plans in place and predictable routines supporting the young people’s development, allowing them to make progress, build confidence and achieve positive outcomes. Throughout the school these practices are now mirrored with all areas using visual prompts, including widget symbols and structured plans for the day in place to aid all learners.

The Bridge continues to develop but has firm foundations already in place, staff investment is clear, this shone through in my conversations during the day. The Bridge and Stepping Stones are highly effective and are driven by all who lead and support within them. It was an absolute pleasure to see on the day one student reach a new milestone and the delight was shared by all there. These milestones are recorded using an app, snapshots and commentary are then turned into learning journals evidencing progress.

Developing Staff Expertise

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) has clearly had a SEND focus and has been led by the SENCo and in partnership with Rivermead Solutions. School staff have also benefitted from training sessions by Speech and Language therapists (SALT) and Occupational therapists (OT) which has focused on a variety of needs including sensory regulation strategies, motor skills development, communication strategies, and adaptions to working environments.

Adaptive Teaching Across The School

At St Thomas More Catholic Primary school there is clear evidence of robust and meaningful continuous professional development (CPD) for all staff. This training is both relevant and intentionally planned to address the changing needs of the pupils they support.

Leadership and management both monitor and evaluate the adaptive teaching strategies continuously, this ongoing cyclical review takes place through learning walks, lesson observations, data collection, and staff feedback. The school prides itself on its strategies being embedded across all classes.

The feedback from these reviews informs next steps and evaluates the suitability of other strategies they may introduce, adjusting their developments as the complex needs of students changes year on year.

Working In Partnership With Families

The current school IQM lead has developed a thoughtful and well-sequenced plan to ensure that the transition to a new SENDco strengthens, rather than disrupts, relationships with families.

A comprehensive handover, coupled with regular opportunities for parents to meet the new SENDCo through workshops, coffee mornings and informal drop-in sessions, will help build confidence and continuity from the outset.

Equally important is the commitment to listening to parent voice and using this feedback to shape future provision.

By embedding meaningful communication and genuine partnership, the new SENCO will reinforce the well-earned legacy principle at St. Thomas More Catholic Primary School that parents are valued contributors to their child’s educational journey, ensuring inclusive practice continues to develop in a collaborative, responsive, and sustainable way.

Find Out More About IQM

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.