Did you know…? Friday afternoons are a time for PRAISE! 

Every Friday afternoon, our whole school comes together for our PRAISE Assembly – in a way that works brilliantly for our SEN community. All classes join safely and comfortably from their own classrooms via Teams, so everyone can take part in a calm, familiar environment.

One of the highlights is our Class Heroes. Mr Adams and our Phase Leaders visit classes to deliver awards personally, making each celebration feel extra special. We also recognise our Reading Champions, and pupils have the chance to proudly share achievements from outside of school too – from sports to hobbies and everything in between.

It’s a wonderful way to end the week. Pupils and staff love seeing what other classes have been up to, cheering each other on, and celebrating success together. Our PRAISE Assembly truly brings our school community together – celebrating as one, and praising together in style! 

Children’s Mental Health Week

Children’s Mental Health Week is an important opportunity to recognise the emotional wellbeing of our pupils and to highlight the support that is embedded into daily life at our school.

As a SEN school, supporting children’s mental health is not limited to one week of the year – it is central to everything we do. We understand that every child communicates and experiences emotions differently, and our approach is rooted in creating a safe, nurturing environment where pupils feel heard, understood, and supported.

Daily communication is a key part of this. We adapt the way we communicate to meet individual needs, using a range of strategies to ensure all pupils can express how they are feeling. This includes ongoing support from our School Counsellor and specialist input from Speech and Language Therapy, helping to remove communication barriers and enabling pupils to share their thoughts, worries, and emotions in ways that feel right for them. This allows us to respond early and provide the right support at the right time.

As part of our focus on Children’s Mental Health Week, we are pleased to welcome Loudmouth Performing Arts into school. Loudmouth are a nationally recognised theatre-in-education company who specialise in delivering engaging, age-appropriate performances and workshops around mental health, relationships, safety, and wellbeing. Their work uses drama to explore real-life situations, helping young people to understand their emotions, build resilience, and develop the confidence to talk about difficult topics in a supportive and accessible way.

We look forward to a meaningful week that reinforces the message that mental health matters, every day, and that no child has to face their feelings alone. To read more and see how you can support, please access the official webpage by clicking here.

 

Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day is an important opportunity to reinforce how we keep our children safe online and to highlight the work that takes place across our school throughout the year.

As a SEN school, we recognise that our pupils can be particularly vulnerable in online spaces. For this reason, online safety is fully embedded within our curriculum across all phases. Pupils are taught how to use the internet safely, respectfully, and responsibly, with learning adapted to meet individual needs and levels of understanding.

We work closely with external agencies to strengthen this message, including police-led interventions and age-appropriate workshops that focus on online safety, personal boundaries, and recognising risk. These sessions support pupils to understand how to keep themselves safe and where to seek help if something does not feel right.

Supporting families is also a vital part of this work. We offer parent workshops and guidance to help carers understand the online world their children are accessing, equipping them with practical strategies to support safe internet use at home. This shared approach between school and home is essential in keeping our pupils protected.

Online safety is closely linked to emotional wellbeing. Unsafe or unregulated internet use can have a significant impact on children’s mental health, including anxiety, low mood, and distress. By teaching pupils how to navigate the digital world safely, we help them feel more confident, secure, and supported.

This aligns closely with our school motto: Safe, Happy, Learning. When children feel safe online, they are happier, more settled, and better able to engage in learning both in school and at home.

Safer Internet Week reinforces an ongoing commitment to protecting our pupils and empowering them with the skills they need to stay safe in an ever-changing digital world. Please click the link for tips on how to secure your child's devices at home.

 

Race Equality Week

Race Equality Week is an important opportunity to celebrate diversity and to promote equality, respect, and understanding within our school community.

As a SEN school, we believe it is vital that all children learn about equality and diversity in ways that are accessible, meaningful, and appropriate to their individual needs. Many of our pupils experience barriers in the wider world, and this helps them to develop empathy, respect for others, and a strong sense of fairness.

Promoting race equality also supports emotional wellbeing. When children feel accepted, valued, and understood, they are more confident, secure, and able to engage positively in school life. Creating a culture where differences are respected helps all pupils feel safe and included.

Race Equality Week reinforces our ongoing commitment to inclusion and reflects our wider values as a school community — ensuring every child feels seen, heard, and respected.

 

Young Voices at the NEC

We are incredibly proud of our pupils who took part in the Young Voices event at the NEC, joining children from across the West Midlands for an unforgettable experience.

Our own marvellous group represented the school brilliantly, showcasing not only their enthusiasm and commitment but also their incredible talents. The power of singing for children with SEN cannot be underestimated. Music provides a unique way for pupils to express themselves, build confidence, and feel a strong sense of belonging. Events like Young Voices allow children to shine, focusing on what they can do rather than what they cannot.

Being part of something so purposeful and inclusive was a real release for many of our pupils — an opportunity to connect, express joy, and experience success on a truly grand scale. Watching the children perform together was nothing short of magical and a moment that will stay with us all for a long time.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to all the staff who went above and beyond to make this experience possible. From rehearsals to travel and support on the day, their dedication ensured the children were safe, supported, and able to fully enjoy the event — even with a very late return to school.

Young Voices was a powerful reminder of the confidence, joy, and sense of achievement that music can bring, and we could not be prouder of everyone involved.

 

NSPCC Number Day 2026

We’re excited to be taking part in NSPCC Number Day 2026 on Friday 6 February 2026 — a fun, nationwide event that celebrates maths while supporting an important cause.

Number Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate maths in an enjoyable and accessible way, helping children to build confidence with numbers in a supportive and inclusive environment. Throughout the day, pupils will take part in engaging, age-appropriate maths activities designed to show that maths can be creative, practical, and fun for everyone.

As a school, we recognise that learning looks different for every child. Activities will be adapted to meet individual needs, ensuring all pupils can take part, experience success, and develop positive feelings towards maths.

Please note that on Number Day, children should wear their normal school uniform.

We look forward to a brilliant day of learning, problem-solving, and number fun, while also helping to raise awareness and support the valuable work of the NSPCC. Thank you, as always, for your continued support. For more information please click here.

 

Trees Phase Update

Pupils across the Trees Phase have been busy engaging in a wide range of learning experiences, developing their academic skills, independence, creativity, and teamwork.

7T1
Pupils have been exploring medieval mosaics in art and learning about area, circumference of a circle, and trigonometry in maths. In English, they have been writing letters linked to their learning in R.E, where they have been discovering facts about Jesus. Life skills sessions included making pancakes, while in PE pupils took part in gymnastics and basketball. In computing, they have been learning about landscape and portrait formats. Pupils have also enjoyed football and dance after-school clubs, learning the recorder in music, and guitar lessons, where they have been practising a new song. SPAG work has focused on suffixes.

7T2
Learning has been themed around the medieval period, with pupils applying for the job of a medieval knight and pretending to be knights as part of their imaginative learning. In maths, pupils have been learning about thirds, while English sessions have supported communication and language development. Pupils have also been learning about classroom hazards, helping to build awareness of safety.

7T3
In PE, pupils have been building confidence by jumping off a trampette. In class, they have been learning about Neil Armstrong, exploring his achievements and significance.

7T4
Pupils have been developing important social skills by learning how to be a good sport, including applauding winners. They enjoyed problem-solving activities such as moving a balloon without using their arms or legs, discovering new ways to work together and think creatively.

8T1
Pupils have been working on swimming skills, focusing on swimming safely and correctly. Life skills learning included managing money during a visit to Merry Hill. Creative learning has included pottery in art, while PE and multi-sports club have supported teamwork and physical development. Pupils have also created a volcano PowerPoint, showcasing their ICT and research skills.

8T2
Learning has included creating volcano fact files, coding using Scratch, and designing posters about homelessness, encouraging empathy and social awareness. Pupils also enjoyed a walk around Himley Hall and the park, supporting wellbeing and learning outside the classroom.

8T3
Pupils have been writing instructions on how to make a volcano, linking English with topic work. In maths, they have been learning about quarters, and in science they explored different animal bones, including human bones.

8T4
Learning has included measuring in maths, swimming, and learning about Neil Armstrong. Pupils have been developing their spelling and phonics skills and enjoying dance club, breaktime activities, and continued swimming sessions.

It has been a busy and exciting time in the Trees Phase, with pupils showing enthusiasm, resilience, and pride in their learning across a wide range of subjects.