The Link School in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear has achieved Centre of Excellence status for the sixth time.
The Link School’s Motto
The Link School is an alternative provider working with young people across Sunderland. There are two schools that form part of The Link School, Springwell Dene, for pupils in Key Stages One, Two and Three, and Pallion, which provides education for Key Stage 4 pupils. The Link School’s motto ‘Reach’ encapsulates the school’s core values of “respect, effort, achieve, communication and happy and healthy” to provide a clear, holistic vision for all. The Headteacher explains how they aim to ‘Reach’ everyone through their inclusive approach including pupils, staff, parents, carers, and the wider community. The staff aim to:
“give the pupils high aspirations because they don’t have them for themselves.”
The Heads of School shared their inclusive approach, explaining that the pupils
“need someone to care about them and we do. Nothing is too much trouble.”
There is a solution-focused culture and they “do not tolerate failure; it is not an option.”
The Children are Positive
The children at The Link School are all very positive. They all feel safe and prefer being at The Link School to their previous mainstream settings. Some of the reasons given as to why they prefer The Link School were “we can do more fun things,” “they help us here” and it “is a nice school.” They particularly enjoy the mindfulness sessions. There are student ‘Mindfulness Warriors’ who offer peer support in class. They offer reminders of the mindfulness techniques to help you calm down. Many pupils attended the mindfulness sessions offered at school during the holidays. They feel the mindfulness approaches have supported their improved behaviours, helping them to self-regulate.
Governors Are Fully Supportive
The Link School’s Governors are fully supportive of the inclusive vision. They offer a wealth of knowledge and support due to their personal skills and experiences. Governors spoke about the Headteacher’s role in the Local Authority and how she works collaboratively with the other Alternative Provision providers to share best practices. They describe the Headteacher as “passionate” with “an ability to think outside of the box.” She is well-respected within the Local Authority and uses this gravitas to extend her impact to prevent young people from being excluded. The Link School staff and Governors are key partners with Sunderland Council’s Together for Children. They have examined evidenced-based research to identify the casual factors for which pupils end up excluded. Together, they are currently looking at developing a provision to support younger children where the early indicators of potential future exclusion are evident.
‘Together for Children’
Together for Children delivers children’s services on behalf of Sunderland City Council. The Together for Children’s Strategic Lead for SEND & Alternative Provision, the Director of Early Help, the Early Help Team Manager and the Inclusion and Access Officer have been working closely with The Link School since 2019. They described the “way in which the Headteacher leads and the part she plays in the City is key to the outcomes for the young people.” The Link School’s values are aligned to those of Together for Children. When discussing the positive transformation which takes place for those young people who are sent to The Link School following permanent exclusion, they explain how the “parents always say it is the best thing that has happened to their child.” When asked about The Link School’s ethos, they said it is one of “kindness and is person-centred.” The “core values flow through the setting.” The work undertaken by the staff at The Link School is valued and appreciated by the other Headteachers in the mainstream settings.
There is a True Passion for Inclusion
Support for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) is a crucial aspect of provision at The Link School as 83% of pupils have identified SEND. The main area of need is social, emotional and mental health (SEMH). Each child is supported by a SEND plan and the staff to pupil ratios are kept small. Interventions are varied and designed around pupils’ individual needs. SEND provision is regularly evaluated for effectiveness and development plans are amended following the evaluation of impact.
The Headteacher leads with a true passion for inclusion and the staff team are fully aligned to her vision. The innovative Vulnerable Pupils Assessment Hubs model is exceptional. It will be exciting to track the impact of this project over the next few years. The leaders have proved their expertise over the years of IQM accreditation and they have the passion and capacity to continue to drive the inclusion agenda in their own setting and beyond.
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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