A PRIMARY school has been recognised for its “exceptional” inclusive culture and practices.
Ofsted has given Emersons Green Primary School a rare top rating for its work with children who have special educational needs and disabilities, and disadvantaged pupils.
It is the first school in the region and one of only 11 in the country to be given the regulator’s highest judgement for inclusion since the grading system was changed last year.
Ofsted says inspectors “only award this grade when we see practice that is among the very best nationally, which should be shared with other schools or providers to help them improve”.
The school, which has 207 pupils aged from four to 11 on its roll, has a specialist resource base for children with physical disabilities.
Ofsted’s team of three inspectors, who visited the school in June, said: “Leaders’ high aspirations for all pupils to achieve, belong and thrive underpin all aspects of the school’s work.
“Staff are highly effective at precisely identifying the varied needs of pupils. They use this information to plan well-tailored support so that barriers to learning and well-being can be rapidly removed.
“Most impressive, however, is pupils’ own understanding of the importance of including everyone.
“This means they actively look for opportunities to help and include others, for example by choosing to play accessible sports so they can all be part of one team.”
The inspectors said school leaders ensured pupils with special needs or disabilities have the adaptations they need to “learn very effectively alongside their peers”, including large print and Braille for visually-impaired children and teaching pupils across the school how to use communication devices and Makaton sign language.
Ofsted said: “This means that those pupils who use these are seamlessly included in lessons and social times by their peers.”
Highly-trained staff ensure pupils with visual impairment and physical disabilities take part in “all aspects of school life”, including trips, and community volunteering, and the school uses additional funding to help disadvantaged pupils participate in clubs and trips.
The school in Guest Avenue received ‘strong standard’ gradings in all other areas: achievement; attendance and behaviour; curriculum and teaching; Early Years provision; leadership and governance; personal development and well-being.
A ‘strong standard’ grade has been compared to a high ‘outstanding’ rating under Ofsted’s previous rating system by the school’s executive head teacher, Simon Botten.
The report highlighted pupils’ high quality written work and the school’s higher than average national test results, as well as the high expectations for attendance, and carefully-planned, “broad and ambitious” curriculum.
The inspectors said: “This school firmly believes that all pupils can be ‘mighty’.
“This motto has instilled in pupils the confidence that everyone can be successful so long as they are brave enough to try.
“Consequently, pupils have a highly positive attitude towards their learning.
“Pupils make excellent progress from their starting points.
“The high-quality curriculum and effective teaching prepare pupils well for their next phase of education.
“Pupils are exceptionally proud of their school.
“The highly inclusive culture of the school means that pupils feel that they belong.”
Head teacher Soraya Young said: “Our shared ambition for the children of Emersons Green Primary is written into every aspect of our Ofsted inspection report – ‘strong’ in all areas and ‘exceptional’ for inclusion.
“I am most proud of the way our mission of ‘forging mighty futures’ was seen and clearly permeates all we do.
“The inspection report is tremendous, with so much well-deserved praise heaped upon our school. “The outcome reflects our children’s hard work and talent, the incredible commitment and dedication of all our staff and the support, encouragement and partnership of our parents.”
South Gloucestershire Council director of education, learning and skills Hilary Smith said: “I would like to congratulate all school staff on the wonderful outcome of the inspection.
“It is great to see Ofsted recognise the commitment to inclusion which is embedded across the whole school, ensuring a positive experience for all children.”