St Mary's Lewisham CofE Primary School Achieves Inclusive School Award Again

There Is A Strong Team

The pupils who attend St Mary’s Primary School are fortunate to belong to such an inclusive school. They are happy children who are respected and valued. They are strongly supported in all areas of the curriculum by passionate and dedicated staff led by the Headteacher, who has a clear vision for ensuring that St Mary’s offers the best possible education and enrichment activities. She is ably supported by a strong team of senior leaders who share her determination that no matter what the children’s starting point is they will all receive an amazing experience at St Mary’s.

Staff Are Approachable

One parent expressed that ‘the Family Support Worker fixes everything, she is on the door in the morning and after school, she is very supportive and approachable’. Another parent explained that ‘the school treats each family differently depending on their circumstances, they are a listening ear, the school helps to support them for example, giving them money to come to school, food vouchers and helping with housing issues. ?

Parents Are Informed

The school offers a vast number of parental workshops, which the parents find very informative, such as strategies for parents to manage their children’s anxiety. A parent spoke fondly of the stay and sing sessions for babies and children up to pre-school age, this allows the parents to get to know each other before their child starts school.

Behaviour Is Excellent

During the morning worship, linked to one of the school’s values, ‘responsibility’, the behaviour of the children during the worship was excellent. The Deputy linked the charitable work that the Year 3 did, collecting food for people in the community. The children had the opportunity to reflect on how the value of responsibility applies to their everyday life and how they are going to show responsibility throughout the day.

The School’s Values

The school’s values are displayed all around the school, the values lie at the heart of everything the children do. Every classroom has a Growth Mindset display, the school is focusing on building children’s resilience. All the classrooms are well organised; the vibrant displays celebrate the children’s learning and progress. Prompts in the classes aid their independence. The teachers plan their lessons carefully considering their children’s needs and interests. Support staff are well trained and make a valuable contribution in class or provide interventions for individuals and groups where necessary.

Children Voice Their Opinions

The R.E lead explained that the children are taught about the meaning and purpose of life, they are given the tools to tackle stereotypes and they are given the opportunity and confidence to voice their own opinions. The children have opportunities to visit a range of places of Worship. In the future Year 5 will be visiting a Mandir and Year 6 go to Southwark Cathedral for their leaver’s assembly. The staff have made the school a warm, friendly, and welcoming place. Everybody has a clear sense of purpose. The children have confidence in their teachers and support staff and know their needs will be met. They feel inspired in their learning by the highly imaginative teaching and enrichment opportunities. All staff, whether teaching or support staff, reflected the same message, that the school was all about inclusion and that they wanted each child to feel valued and included. The culture of the school is to ask if you do not understand. As the school is small this helps to give a family feel and very good communication between all stakeholders. ?

The School is Family Orientated

Both pupils and adults feel supported and said there is always someone to listen to you and offer help, this was echoed during discussions with members of staff ‘this school is family oriented; we support each other. The staff is very diverse, and we all follow the same values, children receive an amazing education here and we are very supportive of our families. The staff speak a range of languages, and the Family Support Worker is a God send.’ During lockdown every child, who needed it, received a laptop or/and a dongle to enable to access their online lessons. The school tutor said that:

?‘this school is a real community, inclusion is very important, SEND children are never excluded.’

?

Staff offer pupils a plentiful range of clubs and trips. The Year 3 children said

?‘this is the bests school ever. We have the best teachers in the universe, and we go on a lot of trips.’

?

Inclusion Is Everyone’s Responsibility

Governors continue to play an important role in the school, both in a supportive and challenging capacity. Their role is much more than governance; they live and breathe the ethos of the school and are so proud of what they are achieving here. Their knowledge of the action plan review and future developments is more evidence that inclusion is everyone’s responsibility.

Individual Needs Are Met

There is a warm welcome given by staff and pupils in the school. There was so much evidence to support the school’s positive work on inclusion and how much it meant to staff to ensure that the needs of individuals are met. The staff’s reflective and thoughtful approach ensures that the school is warm and welcoming and aspires to do the best for each child.

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