Special Educational Needs News

Bradford Council is firmly committed to the principle of inclusion and to ensuring that all the children and young people across the district have a real chance of success in their lives.

For this reason, as a Local Authority, we seek to provide a range of educational opportunities so that, wherever possible, children with special educational needs are educated alongside their peers in their local community. For most children with special educational needs, this provision will be made in their local neighbourhood school.

Contact: Please visit the Local Offer website where you will be able to find further information and help.

New Age Kurling Success at Bowling Park Primary

This year, Bowling Park Primary have been trialling a brand new sport called ‘New Age Kurling’.

This exciting new game is an adaption of the original curling sport, but can be played on any flat surface, such as a school sports hall, playground or field, instead of the usual ice.  This makes the sport more accessible for both able-bodied and disabled people.

The school tested the game with Year 3 and 4, helping to develop new skills and giving the children the chance to experience a new sport.

The year groups loved the sport so much that they created a team and entered a Bradford Kurling competition, where they were thrilled to come 4th!

The sport is now being promoted across the whole school and they are hoping to achieve even more success as ‘New Age Kurling’ increases in popularity.

Educate Positive – Edition 4

Welcome to the fourth edition of Educate Positive, our fortnightly bulletin which showcases the innovative and effective practice taking place within the district’s schools and settings. In this edition we celebrate Beckfoot School’s success in the Pupil Premium Awards, a primary school representing its constituency in a Parliamentary competition, a church primary being recognised for bringing a diverse community together and an update on the Bradford Literacy Campaign.

Beckfoot wins prize for its Pupil Premium work

Beckfoot School in Bingley has been recognised for the impact of its work for disadvantaged children in secondary schools.  The school took second place in the Yorkshire and Humberside regional finals winning £50,000.

Headteacher, David Horn, pictured second from the right, received the prize which was presented by Rt. Hon Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, at a ceremony in London.

David said that the school was delighted with this award, and how proud they all were to be a Bradford comprehensive school that provides exceptional opportunities for all its students. The Pupil Premium is targeted at supporting those students who are disadvantaged. Some of the things the school focuses on include:

• Regular meetings to discuss progress of groups of learners at Key Stage 4
• Investment in relationships with parents
• Tracking, measuring and tackling gaps for all groups of learners
• Breakfast clubs for Pupil Premium pupils
• Extending school time to deliver stimulating academic support in Maths and English
• Strong curriculum based on English and Maths so that they have the core skills
• Ensuring that pupil success is celebrated regularly.

The Pupil Premium funding is made available to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed in school, and the school is thrilled to be recognised for the amazing academic achievements of these students. Pupil Premium funding is also used for wider experiences including university visits.

Beckfoot School, judged outstanding by Ofsted in 2014, has much to celebrate at the moment as Hazelbeck School, which is a member of the Beckfoot Trust and is co-located on their site has also received Ofsted’s top accolade.

Bradford Literacy Campaign

Much is being done across the district to raise levels of literacy.  The National Literacy Trust is working with Bradford Council on a new and exciting 10 year partnership to achieve this aim.  The Bradford Literacy Campaign builds on the excellent work in Bradford’s schools, children’s centres and libraries and forges partnerships with a range of local and community partners to inject new energy into our mission to unlock literacy skills and support the district’s families to get reading and succeeding.  Highlights for this year include:

• Thanks to a host of events and exciting book collections organised by the district’s libraries, 4,000 of Bradford’s children took part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, up ten per cent from the previous year. Top performing schools were rewarded with author visits on World Book Day.
• Local boxing star, Tasif Khan is visiting schools across the district to give inspirational talks as part of the Bradford Literacy Campaign’s aim to provide strong local role models who read and write for enjoyment.  In March he visited Dixon’s Allerton Academy where he enthused about his favourite book which motivated him to pursue his career in boxing – ‘Mohammed Ali’s Autobiography’. Any teachers who wish to book Tasif to visit their school should contact imran.hafeez@literacytrust.org.uk.
• BookSpace and the School Library Association is working to set up a reading “centre of excellence” in one Bradford primary school, by funding a library makeover worth up to £15,000. Schools have had the chance to apply for a new reading space which will act as a blueprint for school libraries across the country.

Visit the campaign microsite, ourstories.org.uk  for news on its activities and for advice and tips on supporting your child’s literacy development.

To become involved in the Bradford Literacy Campaign, please contact:        Imran.hafeez@literacytrust.org.uk

Pupils in multi-faith school prepare for the future

One of the district’s largest primary schools has been praised for bringing its diverse community together.  Pupils and staff at All Saints CE Primary School in Little Horton were commended for their learning and respect for other cultures in its recent SIAMs (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspection which highlighted the strong ethos of racial harmony in the school.  The inspector carrying out the inspection said:  “Children talk unselfconsciously and with confidence about their faith and without exception can see the benefits of being in a multi-faith community.”

Pupils are aware that this learning and harmonious environment is preparing them for their future employment and lives.  The school has very strong links with All Saints Church and also the wider community.  Its new vision is to be a ‘united and caring community of learners’.

For further information please contact the headteacher, John Davie, T 01274 415222.

 School Council – Westbourne Primary School Parliamentary Flag

Westbourne Primary School Council is celebrating having been invited, by the Houses of Parliament, to represent the Bradford West constituency in the Parliamentary Flag 2015 Exhibition. The school was chosen following its engagement and involvement in the House of Commons following the School Council Speaker’s Award.  The Flag represents “freedom” with the flying bird symbol and the rainbow colours representing the diversity in the constituency. Pupil voice has never been stronger at Westbourne, so much so they have gained the Investors in Pupils status.  Pupils, via the School Council, really embrace having their voices heard and being involved in important decision-making, particularly around fundraising for many charities.

For further information please contact Harvinder Gill, T 01274 483138.

We hope you have found this bulletin informative and look forward to providing updates to you on a regular basis.  If you have any stories to contribute please contact Alyson Hardaker T 01274 385615 or Simon O’Hare T 01274 438899.