Hardy Mill Primary Achieves The Inclusive School Award Again

Introducing Hardy Mill?

Hardy Mill Primary School is a very happy and successful school where all are welcome, and everyone is part of the team/family. They pride themselves on valuing every child and helping them to achieve success, whatever their starting point, unique gift, or talent. Staff endeavour to deliver an exciting and relevant curriculum which inspires and motivates all children. Enhancing the pupil’s learning through classroom teaching, visits, and visitors to school, where appropriate, that are linked to curriculum themes that are specifically designed to enrich their experience. They encourage children to be independent learners and thinkers, developing them as responsible members of their community. The school’s exceptionally strong partnership with parents is vitally important to them as they firmly believe that children have the best chance of success when the school and families work closely and co-operatively together.?

Naturally Inclusive?

Staff, parents, pupil’s, governors, and external partners all spoke confidently and eloquently about inclusion and about their involvement with the school. It became apparent that inclusion, occurs naturally and is a highly pervasive and ingrained element of the positive culture of the school, as is the dedication and drive of the staff to make a positive difference to everyone they work with fitting seamlessly with their vision??

‘To be the best we can be’ and their mission ‘children at the heart of everything we do. We inspire motivated, resilient, confident learners who always strive to achieve their best.’?

Truly inclusive statements that everyone involved with the school models daily and should be proud of enacting daily.??

Dedicated, Knowledgeable and Skilled?

Staff, parents, governors, and external partners shared their views on inclusion as it related to them. It was clear from these conversations that they all shared a genuine ambition and integrity to ensure the best for the children in their care, families, and the community. It was apparent from discussions that all receive equitable provision and support, each member of staff, governors and external partner spoken to was dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled. Their sense of drive and determination to improve the outcomes for all came through very strongly. The implementation of rigorous structures and processes supports staff in all areas and at all levels to work strategically and collaboratively.??

Inspirational and Aspirational Leadership?

Inspirational and aspirational leadership from SLT coupled with strong teamwork among the staff is at the core of the school’s extremely inclusive practice. Staff support each other to develop their skills and they are highly motivated to improve not only themselves but to improve the lives of everyone involved with the school so that they achieve their potential and goals. Leaders were clear about the vision and next steps for Hardy Mills. They have excellent reflective skills and want the best outcome for all children no matter their starting points or individual needs, no one feels left out or is left behind at Hardy Mills Primary School. Discussions allowed an accurate and outstanding picture of the school’s intuitive and naturally caring inclusivity to emerge. It was a privilege to engage in so many wide ranging, detailed and probing discussions and conversations, with such enthusiastic, dedicated, and professional staff, pupils, governors, and external partners.??

Dedicated and Passionate?

All staff described feeling looked after and included in all aspects of school life and feel they are an active part of ‘The Hardy Mills Family.’ As such they wholeheartedly buy into the vision and values of the school and are passionate about their pupils succeeding, with an unwavering passion and determination to ensure that everyone receives the best education possible. It was clear that staff will not settle for anything but the best. They should be extremely proud to be part of such an inclusive and successful setting.?

Effective Relationships with External Partners?

A letter of endorsement from the schools Educational Psychologist said, ‘As a consequence of the inclusive ethos at Hardy Mill we are able to work together in a positive, solution focussed and problem solving way that promotes proactive work which can follow a plan – do – review process aiming for best outcomes for the pupils and their families.? Staff are always friendly and happy to make time to hold discussions aimed at identifying needs and refining ways to meet the needs. There is a positive, professional approach to joint working and a pride in the achievements of pupils and it is a pleasure to work in such an atmosphere’. A fantastic accolade for the staff and the school that was echoed during the day by other external partners and is thoroughly deserved.?

Partnership with Parents?

The school has an exceptionally strong team of dedicated staff, who give their absolute best to ensure the successful outcomes for each child, so that they can access to all that their school can offer. Staff are extremely skilled in specific areas of special needs relating to their pupils and as a team there is a willingness and a desire to develop their own skills and specialisms to support them. The school has developed a strong CPD programme to ensure staff understand pupils needs and continue to develop their own interests, in turn developing their careers. Staff work extremely hard to build and maintain strong working relationships with families and with other agencies who support their pupils and families. The school and its staff are active members of a variety of groups within their cluster of schools and the local authority, and various working groups and projects, doing everything within their power to give their pupils the best opportunities, thereby enabling them to be the best that they can be. A powerful inclusive statement and vision which the school and its staff efficiently and effectively deliver each day.?

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 feel free to telephone: 028 7127 7857 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm) or email: [email protected] for further details.?

?