SENDCo

The five core values at Cooks Spinney Primary Academy, in Harlow, are Adaptable, Articulate, Adventurous, Altruistic and Ambitious.

Our fully inclusive school is safe, happy and caring, with children who are engaged and keen to learn.

Strong leadership comes from a passionate headteacher and Senior Leadership Team who promote a school with a set of golden rules, including be gentle, be kind, be helpful, listen, be honest, work hard and look after property. Effort points and achievement apples inspire children to strive for all of these goals and more. The most sought-after prize, though, is a place at the table with the headteacher who shares hot chocolate with pupils each week as a reward for exceptional behaviour.

We set the highest expectations for all pupils, regardless of factors such as gender or ethnicity. From Nursery through to Year 6, every opportunity is taken to extend the curriculum beyond the statutory requirements and push our pupils’ learning to ever-increasing heights. There are no limits, with every pupil encouraged to achieve their full potential.

We invested £25,000 in a sensory room to ensure all pupils were given the best opportunities to achieve.

We are therefore able to fully embrace pupils with educational healthcare plans which outline their additional needs, including those with Down’s syndrome, autism and developmental delay. We have a bespoke curriculum for those who need it to ensure they can thrive in our mainstream school.

Children and their families feel fully supported, with wraparound childcare including breakfast club before school and free after-school clubs every day and breakfast provided free in class for those who want it. We enjoy plenty of outdoor space, with new Early Years play equipment and a book swap where families from our deprived community can access materials to support their child’s learning. A Friday quiz gives yet more opportunities for children to win books to take home.

That outdoor space has helped us to develop an extensive physical education programme, winning the School Games Mark Gold award four years running, as well as School Games Virtual Award for our efforts to continue that work during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.