A Teddington Primary School has won a national award recognising their hard work to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Stanley School on Strathmore Road, has won the Nasen ‘Excellent Practice in Primary School Award’ – recognising schools who educate primary-aged children where they have improved outcomes for those children with SEND through outstanding practice.

The school were nominated for the award by the mother of Alexander, a pupil at ‘Peartree’ the specialist resource provision for children with SEND at Stanley. In her nomination she outlined the work that Peartree do, and how well her son was welcomed and supported by all.

Stanley was Alexander’s 8th school placement and, following his time in the specialist unit there, he and his peers are accepted unequivocally as members of the mainstream school. His comments in the Year 6 Leavers book stated that whilst he will miss his Specialist Unit, he considers his biggest achievement to have been to “fit into the school” as a whole.

The school received their award at a special ceremony hosted by Vanessa Feltz. Cllr Penny Frost, Richmond Council Cabinet Member for Schools, said: “This is fantastic news – congratulations to all those at Stanley School, particularly those who work in the Peartree Centre.

“Ensuring that our schools provide excellent support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities is a priority for Richmond Council. And, this award is even more special as it originated from a parent – recognising all the hard work of the staff at the school.”

Ian Dickinson, Headteacher at Stanley, said: “We are delighted to receive this national award which recognises the great work that the Peartree Centre does as well as how hard everyone here works to make sure that children like Alexander do really, as he said – fit into the school as a whole.”