A PRIMARY academy in York is one of only six schools in the country to receive a special accreditation.

Haxby Road Primary Academy is celebrating after its Enhanced Resource Provision (ERP) for Communication and Interaction was accredited as a centre of excellence.

The national accreditation scheme was set up after education, health and social care chiefs said there was a need to set clear standards and provide schools with a ‘road-map’ to achieve good outcomes for children with speech, language and communication needs.

Lesley Thompson, Ebor Academy Trust academy specialist for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and currently interim head of Hob Moor Oaks, paid tribute to the ERP team.

She said: “It has taken an incredible amount of hard work and has been quite a journey so a huge well done to all the ERP team who showed such dedication towards this great achievement.”

Haxby Road Primary Academy works closely with City of York Council. Jess Haslam, head of disability and special educational needs, said: “This is really excellent and very well deserved – the work of the team has been fabulous. The ERP provision has been transformed over the last few years and it is completely focused on the needs of children and improving their outcomes.”

The York ERP provision scored top marks for supporting parents, young people and families; enhancing and adapting the environment; developing the workforce; identifying need; and providing appropriate intervention.

The Balanced System for Schools and Settings: Accredited Scheme for School and Setting Improvement complimented the ERP for “a brilliant job of supporting the needs of pupils with speech, language and communication needs as well as their families and home schools. The ERP has provided comprehensive evidence to show the range of provision.

“The strong leadership ensures a commitment to development language disorder and speech, language and communication needs which promotes awareness and understanding of the needs and challenges as well as appropriate provision.

“Family support is a strength and empowers parents to feel skilled and confident to support their child's speech, language and communication needs. A wide variety and quality of the evidence demonstrates the range and depth of provision.”

Haxby Road Primary Academy is part of the Ebor Academy Trust, which in York also includes Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy, Park Grove Primary Academy, Lakeside Primary Academy, Hob Moor Community Primary Academy and Hob Moor Oaks. Osbaldwick Primary School is set to the trust on 1 July. There are currently a total of 18 schools in Ebor, across York, Selby, the East Riding and the Humber and on the Yorkshire Coast.