feature: Involving and including
17 March 2008
'Inclusion' is one of the buzz words in education. Here we take a look at one school in the borough which has been praised for its work in this area.
Involving pupils from different backgrounds as well as those with special needs is one of the key objectives of Haringey schools to ensure all children make the most of their opportunities and abilities.
Like many schools in Haringey, Belmont Junior School in Rusper Road, Turnpike Lane, faces a number of challenges.
Ofsted inspectors – who rated the school as “outstanding” – said the school has a “very high” number of pupils whose first language isn’t English and added that the number of pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities is “well above average”.
But they praised the school as a “truly inclusive school that provides an outstanding education for all pupils”.
In particular, Ofsted highlighted Belmont’s long-established partnership with the Vale Special School and the eight pupils who have physical disabilities who study at Belmont Junior School full-time.
The school has a number of facilities specifically adapted to support children with disabilities, including a partnership room for teaching, physiotherapy and other specialist input, a lift and a highly trained team of staff.
During Inclusion Week every February, the school runs a number of events and exhibitions to highlight the challenges and difficulties facing different groups of pupils.
One of these involved pupils being given instructions for a task in different languages and having to work out what to do. Other pupils wore goggles which obscured their vision to give them an understanding of what it’s like to have a visual impairment, while other ablebodied pupils use a wheelchair. Parents also played their part too – reading stories in a range of languages.
Headteacher Debbie Goodlad explains:
“Inclusion is central to the ethos of the school – with all children fully included in all aspects of school life. The partnership with The Vale has been in place for many years and is very successful.
“The partnership brings many benefits to the whole school community. All pupils learn to support each other with empathy and mutual respect and develop a greater understanding of disability and the issues around inclusion.”
Cabinet member for children and young people Cllr Liz Santry said:
“Belmont Junior School is an excellent example of a school which puts the aims and ambitions of inclusion into practice.
“Of course special help is required to meet their individual needs. But it’s important that, where possible, that happens side-by-side with other pupils.”
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