Our cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, has praised Yeo Valley Primary School, an academy based in Barnstaple, for its ‘outstanding’ teaching of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Children and young people with SEND may need extra help or support to be the person they want to be, and to access the same opportunities as other children of the same age.
Many children with SEND can thrive in mainstream, local, schools if the right support is put in place. Yeo Valley Primary School has been praised by Ofsted inspectors following a recent inspection for how they support children with SEND in their school.
Following the inspection in May, inspectors gave the school a rating of ‘good’ in three of five areas – but singled out the quality of their SEND and Early Years provision, ranking both as ‘outstanding’.
Gavin Summerfield, lead inspector, said: “Pupils are proud to come to this welcoming and inclusive school. The warm and caring environment provides a safe space for the pupils to flourish. Leaders ensure that they have high expectations of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
He added that SEND provision within the school was a ‘strength’ and added: “Leaders identify the needs of pupils with SEND quickly and accurately.
“Leaders and staff use technology imaginatively to support the learning of pupils with SEND. Pupils are very adept at using this technology.
“The school mentoring programme, with particular focus on pupils with SEND, ensures that every pupil has the chance to discuss their academic and pastoral targets with a trusted adult.”
Our Cabinet Member with responsibility for schools and children’s services, Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, said:
“I want to congratulate the staff and governors at Yeo Valley for both their rating from Ofsted and for providing children with special educational needs and disabilities with an exceptional level of help, support and education.
“The inspector’s comments show it is possible to identify and support special educational needs in a mainstream setting. We are working hard with the education sector to make Devon schools more inclusive so that more children with SEND can thrive in their local, mainstream school.”
Jonathan Bishop CEO & Executive Headteacher of Cornerstone Academy Trust, said:
“Yeo Valley joined Cornerstone Academy Trust in 2019 and the school has gone from strength to strength where an amazing and enriched curriculum offer, a dedicated team of teachers who are pioneering the way with 1:1 digital devices are building a community of learners that love coming school., and I am very proud what we have achieved here.
“The Trust is also responsible for four curriculum hubs, which are centres of excellence in behaviour, English, Science and Computing working with many schools and teachers across the region.”