SENDSCOPE Independent School awarded prestigious IQM Inclusive School Award

SENDSCOPE Independent School in Crosby has been awarded the nationally recognised Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) Inclusive School Award following an extensive assessment process that praised the school’s “transformational” approach to inclusive education.

A deeply embedded culture of inclusion

The assessment report described SENDSCOPE as a place where inclusion is “not an aspiration but a lived reality.” It highlighted the school’s deeply relational ethos and the life-changing impact it has on pupils and their families.

The report noted that pupils, parents and staff consistently referred to the school as “a family.” One parent described the provision as “life changing” and another stated that the school had “saved his life prospects.”

SENDSCOPE supports young people with a range of additional needs. Many of its students arrive after experiencing disrupted education, anxiety, school refusal or unmet SEND needs. The report recognised the school’s success in rebuilding confidence, engagement and emotional wellbeing through highly personalised learning and a trauma-informed approach.

Transformational outcomes for pupils

The assessor, Mr Cole Andrew, praised the school’s adaptive teaching practices. He noted that staff demonstrate “a deep understanding of pupils’ needs, interests and barriers to learning.” Students themselves spoke positively about the support they receive with one stating:

“They speak to you to know why you’ve got a problem instead of just trying to fix it.”

One of the report’s most significant findings was the dramatic improvement in attendance. The average attendance for pupils on entry to the school was recorded at 37 per cent. Current attendance now stands at 88.9 per cent, closely aligned with the national average for specialist settings.

The report also celebrated SENDSCOPE’s broad and ambitious curriculum, which combines academic learning with creative, vocational and experiential opportunities. Students benefit from enrichment activities including museum visits, work-related learning, virtual reality experiences and preparation for adulthood programmes.

Parents praised the school’s partnership approach with one saying:

“I can now sleep at night because I know my daughter’s alright here.”

Another commented:

“We felt we’d found a family.”

Strong leadership and community impact

The report highlighted leadership and staff wellbeing as key strengths. It commended the school’s strong safeguarding culture, collaborative professional development and commitment to staff support, describing the staff culture as “second to none.”

Mr Cole Andrew also recognised the growing impact of Friends of SENDSCOPE, a parent-led initiative supporting families and strengthening community connections.

As part of the award outcome, IQM recommended that SENDSCOPE be formally awarded the Inclusive School Award and reassessed in three years’ time.

Ms Victoria Nolan, principal and IQM lead at SENDSCOPE, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive the IQM Inclusive School Award. This recognition reflects the dedication of our staff, the trust of our families and, most importantly, the resilience and achievements of our young people. At SENDSCOPE, every child matters and every moment matters. We remain committed to creating a safe, nurturing and aspirational environment where every pupil can thrive.”