Scarborough And Whitby MP Praises Inclusive SEND Environment At Wykeham Primary School

Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume has praised the innovative work taking place at Wykeham Church of England Primary School to create a supportive and inclusive environment for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume has praised the innovative work taking place at Wykeham Church of England Primary School.

The Member of Parliament described the setting as a strong example of how creating an inclusive environment for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities improves the educational outcomes for every child.

Ms Hume visited the small rural school, which currently supports fifty-three pupils, to see first-hand how staff are putting new inclusive strategies into practice.

At present, twenty-four per cent of the pupil population at the school have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

During the visit, the MP observed how the school is implementing what it learned as part of the government’s Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools programme.

Ms Hume was shown how low-level lighting, the careful positioning of furniture, and dedicated chill-out zones have been used to create a calmer, more reassuring environment.

These specific adjustments are designed to support children to feel settled and ready to learn within the classroom.

Alison Hume MP said:

"Wykeham School has a lovely, warm and inclusive feel to it. It’s not hard to see why they have an excellent reputation for supporting children with SEND. Their inclusive approach helps all their pupils develop independence, teamwork and a real connection to their learning."

After holding a series of public consultations on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities across her constituency, Ms Hume discussed the school’s facilities with Head Teacher Rowena Thorp.

They spoke about the school’s decision to establish a mini sensory room following their involvement with the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools programme.

Backed by nine and a half million pounds in government funding, the initiative supports neurodivergent students by training teachers to identify and better meet their needs.

The programme also focuses on improving parental engagement and is set to be extended for another year across a further one thousand, two hundred schools.

Alison Hume MP said:

"As a parent of a children with autism I am passionate about seeing better support for neurodiverse children in our educational settings."

During the visit, Ms Hume was also impressed by Wykeham’s strong commitment to outdoor teaching.

Weather permitting, lessons that would traditionally take place in standard classrooms are moved out onto the adjacent playing field.

Alternatively, the outdoor educational sessions are held in neighbouring outbuildings to provide a different learning environment.

After touring the rural school, Ms Hume met members of its pupil council.

She spent time answering questions from the children about her role in Westminster and how she represents local residents across the constituency.

Ms Hume was also presented with letters detailing the children’s views on the pros and cons of building on green belt land, which were written as part of a school project.

Alison Hume MP said:

"I enjoyed visiting Wykeham School where it’s clear that the government’s ambition to create an inclusive, support-first system that enables every child to achieve their full potential is already taking shape."

Head Teacher Rowena Thorp said:

"We were delighted to welcome Alison to Wykeham and share the work we are doing to help every child flourish. At Wykeham and Hackness, our commitment to high-quality inclusive teaching underpins everything we do, from our classroom design, which takes into account children's sense of safety and wellbeing, to regular outdoor learning experiences, which are planned throughout the week for all age groups. Alison’s visit also gave our School Council members a valuable insight into the role of an MP and inspired them to think more deeply about how they can represent the views of their school community and contribute to decision-making in school. This is exactly the culture we want to nurture, and I look forward to seeing this develop further."