Mendlesham Primary School achieves national inclusive schools award

The primary school has been awarded an Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM), with assessors praising the school’s ‘calm and orderly’ environment.

The school’s Mulberry SEND centre and the way pupils are integrated into the rest of the school particularly impressed inspectors.

The IQM report reads: ““Mendlesham Primary School stands for inclusion and being supportive as its core ethos.

“The school is welcoming and warm and there are prolific examples of bespoke packages.  

“Opportunities for staff to grow, opportunities for children to grow and take leadership opportunities and this is allowing the community as a whole to flourish."

It continues: “Parents spoken to were highly complimentary of the levels the support staff at the school go to, to ensure their children can be successful.

“Parents describe multiple examples of staff who have made reasonable adjustments to accommodate an identified need to ensure children do not become disadvantaged, but an ethos that challenges barriers to learning.”

The Mulberry Centre opened in collaboration with the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Academies Trust (SENDAT), which staffs the centre.

Karen Grimes, CEO of JMAT, said: “It is wonderful to hear that the hard work of everyone at Mendlesham has been recognised with an Inclusion Quality Mark.

“We are very proud of the Mulberry centre at Mendlesham Primary School and the opportunities it provides for learners.”

Joe McCann, CEO of IQM, congratulated the school on its award.

He said: “We are delighted to recognise Mendlesham’s commitment to inclusion with the Inclusive School Award. 

“We know from our experience working with schools, that when a school strives to be inclusive, it significantly increases the life chances for all its pupils.

“Inclusive schools literally change lives.”