Beyond Sutton

Autistic Pride Day – 18th June 2025

Celebrating Neurodiversity at Sutton Special School

On Tuesday 18th June, we will be proudly recognising Autistic Pride Day—a day dedicated to celebrating the strengths, talents, and identities of autistic individuals around the world.

At Sutton Special School, we stand firmly in the belief that autism is not something to be ‘fixed’—it is something to be understood, embraced, and celebrated. As a SEN community, we know that neurodiversity is a strength, and we are committed to creating an environment where every young person can be themselves, feel safe, and thrive.

What Autistic Pride Means to Us:

Acceptance over awareness – Moving beyond simply “knowing about autism” to actively accepting and valuing autistic people as they are.

Celebrating individuality – Recognising that autistic pupils bring unique perspectives, creativity, and insight to our school community.

Listening to lived experiences – Amplifying autistic voices and encouraging open conversations about identity, support, and inclusion.

Autistic Pride Day is not just a date in the calendar—it’s a celebration of identity, equality, and empowerment. We're proud to be a school that doesn't just support autistic pupils—we celebrate them.

Celebrating Learning Disability Week

At Sutton Special School, we are proud to champion Learning Disability Week—a national campaign running from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd June 2025—celebrating the achievements, voices, and rights of people with learning disabilities.

As a SEN school, our mission goes beyond education—we aim to empower every pupil by embracing their unique strengths, needs, and identities. Learning Disability Week is a powerful reminder of the fundamental importance of inclusion, understanding, and advocacy in all areas of life: in the classroom, in the community, and in the wider world.

This year’s national theme focuses on amplifying voices and promoting visibility. It’s about breaking down barriers, challenging stigma, and giving our young people the space to be heard, understood, and respected.

Too often, people with learning disabilities face barriers to opportunity, independence, and acceptance. Learning Disability Week reminds us that inclusion is not just a principle—it’s a practice. At Sutton Special School, we are committed to creating a space where every learner is valued, celebrated, and supported to thrive.

Together, we can help change perceptions, build understanding, and champion a future where everyone belongs. To learn more, please see here.

Foster caring in Dudley

We are proud to support Foster Care Fortnight and shine a light on the incredible work foster carers do across our borough. Dudley Council is always looking for people from all walks of life to consider fostering — single, married, retired, working, homeowners or renters — what matters most is a genuine commitment to making a difference.

Children in care deserve to stay in their local area, close to their schools, friends, and communities. Becoming a foster carer in Dudley helps make that possible.

If you’ve ever thought about fostering, now is the time to explore it further. Your care could change a child’s life — and yours too.

For more information, see the pdf attached, visit www.dudley.gov.uk/fostering or call the Dudley fostering team on 01384 815833 for a friendly, no-pressure chat.

Save on School Uniform – Upcoming Discounts!

We know how costly school uniform can be—especially when preparing for a new academic year. To help support our families, we wanted to share an upcoming 25% discount available at Marks & Spencer on school uniform items.

The offer is expected to go live soon, and you can find all the key dates and details on how to access the discount by visiting the Money Saving Central.

This is a great opportunity to stock up on high-quality uniform essentials at a reduced price.

We’ll continue to share tips and offers like this to support our families—because every little saving helps!