An 'outstanding' primary special school in Ellesmere Port has received a family partnership award.
It has been gained by Hinderton School on Capenhurst Lane, Whitby which has 35 children aged three to 11.
The award was presented to Karen Williams, family liaison worker and sleep counsellor, together with community governor Janet Mason and parent Lisa Wadey by Rita Cheminais, of ECM Solutions Ltd.
Rita has been working with schools in the town for a number of years.
Fifteen schools signed up to a two-year programme to improve relationships with pupils and their families.
Hinderton headteacher Liam Dowling said: “We are tremendously proud of this award as it recognises the dedicated work that staff at Hinderton put in to meeting the needs of all of our families. As a school we have tried to ‘Think Family’ in all that we do.”
The National Family Partnership Award provides clear guidance to schools to enable them to identify, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their work with families, as well as helping to deal with any gaps in their provision.
Working closely with parents, carers and other family members the self-evaluation covers six aspects relating to family partnership working.
Comments from parents in the report include:
“Hinderton has a wonderful warm feel to it. The doors are always open and you never need feel alone. The staff are always there to support you with any issues.”
“Hinderton School is not just a school but a community for parents, children and other family members.”
“The staff at Hinderton work hard to maintain close relationships with parents and carers and make families feel welcome and part of the school. Communication and regular newsletters really helps parents feel part of their child’s education”.
“My son has been attending Hinderton for just over a year now and the staff are all fantastic, friendly and easy to talk to if you have any concerns. Over the past year my son has come on leaps and bounds and we are really pleased with him and the school.”
“I have found Hinderton School and staff to be totally committed to bringing the best out of all pupils and helping them to be the best they can, along with support and help for parents and carers alike.”
“Amazing staff have changed my son’s life in many positive ways”.
Rita said she wished to thank the headteacher, governors, staff, pupils and parents and carers for all their hard work during 2012 to early 2014, in contributing to the evaluation and evidence gathering for the award.
The school had continued to build on existing good practice in relation to family partnership working.
She congratulated the whole school community for achieving the national award which is valid for three years.
