Cyril Jackson (CJ) recently welcomed Steve Reddy for a visit, led by Headteacher Hodo Dirir. Having heard strong praise about the school, Steve was keen to see its impact first hand.

The tour began with a discussion on how the school supports pupils who need additional help. Hodo explained the careful approach taken to move children from early support spaces into the main classroom environment, ensuring they feel confident and ready to learn alongside their peers.

This smooth transition reflects the Trust’s commitment to inclusive practice across its schools.

In the SEND division, Steve saw how staff tailor support to meet each child’s individual needs. The space is thoughtfully designed to encourage both academic and personal development, with clear evidence of strong progress. Hodo highlighted how this approach, supported by creative use of space and resources, can be applied across primary settings.

The tour continued into the Read Write Inc area, where Steve observed the impressive progress pupils make in reading. Pupils’ progression reflects the strength of teaching at CJ. In Year 5, pupils spoke proudly about the challenge to read 200 books before leaving the school, reinforcing a strong culture of reading and writing.

Steve also visited the Design and Technology modular classroom, where high quality artwork is taught by a specialist teacher, with pupils achieving levels beyond their age expectations.

The tour then concluded in the staff library, where there are extensive resources to support professional development, alongside clear examples of writing progression from Year 1 to Year 6.

Steve remarked that “the school environment is exemplary”, noting the high expectations throughout. This visit reflects the Trust’s mission to provide transformational education, as it demonstrates how high quality teaching, inclusive support, and a strong culture of development enable every pupil to thrive and succeed.