Children’s Mental Health Week

9th – 15th February

Children’s Mental Health Week is always an important date in our school calendar, but as a specialist SEN setting, supporting emotional wellbeing is not just something we focus on for one week — it sits at the very heart of everything we do.

Our school motto, Safe, Happy Learning Towards Independence, reflects our belief that children can only truly thrive academically when they feel emotionally secure. For many of our pupils, their educational journey begins with building trust, regulating emotions and developing the confidence to manage the world around them.

This week has provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the whole-school culture we have carefully built around mental health and wellbeing. Our approach is layered, therapeutic and centred around understanding the whole child.

We are incredibly proud of the support systems embedded within our school, including:

• ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) interventions, providing targeted emotional support.

• Our well-established school counsellor, Jo, offers a safe and therapeutic space for pupils.

• Our dedicated Wellbeing and Inclusion Hubs, supporting regulation and reflection throughout the day.

• A proactive School Council, giving pupils voice, ownership and empowerment.

Alongside this, we benefit from daily on-site Occupational Therapy (OT) interventions, supporting sensory regulation, motor development and emotional control. These interventions play a crucial role in helping pupils manage anxiety, build resilience and access learning successfully.

We also work closely with our Speech and Language Therapist (S&LT) , recognising that communication and emotional wellbeing are deeply connected. Supporting pupils to express themselves clearly, understand social communication and develop interaction skills significantly enhances their confidence and mental health.

In addition to in-school support, we collaborate closely with external professionals to ensure holistic care. This includes:

• Boxing intervention programmes, promoting discipline, emotional regulation and self-control.

• Art therapy, offering creative and safe avenues for self-expression.

• Strong partnership working with the school nursing team and CAMHS, ensuring coordinated medical and mental health support where needed.

Children’s Mental Health Week reminds us that mental wellbeing is not an add-on — it is foundational. By embedding therapeutic practice across the school day, from classroom strategies to specialist interventions, we ensure that every child is seen as a whole individual, not just a learner.

By prioritising emotional regulation, resilience and self-awareness, we are not only supporting our pupils to feel safe and happy today, but equipping them with the tools they need for lifelong independence.

We are incredibly proud of the compassionate, nurturing culture within our school and the way our pupils continue to grow in confidence, strength and self-belief.

Together, we continue to build a community where every child feels safe, happy and supported on their journey towards independence. For more information, see here.

 

Stage Stars Performance – Wednesday 25th March 2026 

6:30pm | Brierley Hill Civic Hall

We are incredibly excited to announce our upcoming and highly anticipated Stage Stars Performance, taking place on Wednesday 25th March 2026 at 6:30pm at Brierley Hill Civic Hall.

Our students have been working extremely hard in preparation for this special evening. From rehearsing lines and perfecting choreography to building confidence on stage, the dedication and enthusiasm shown has been wonderful to see. The excitement around school is building, and it is clear that our young performers are eagerly counting down the days!

Performing Arts plays a particularly powerful role in a specialist SEN setting. For many of our pupils, stepping onto a stage represents much more than a performance — it is about building confidence, developing communication skills, strengthening teamwork and celebrating individuality.

Through drama, music and movement, pupils are able to:

• Express emotions in a safe and creative way

• Develop social interaction and collaboration skills

• Improve speech, language and communication

• Build resilience and self-belief

• Experience success in a public and celebrated way

For some of our children, performing in front of an audience is a huge personal milestone. It reflects courage, perseverance and growth — all of which align beautifully with our school motto of Safe, Happy Learning Towards Independence.

We are so proud of every student involved and cannot wait to see them shine on stage. We look forward to welcoming families and celebrating what promises to be a fantastic evening of talent, creativity and joy.

Tickets are now available, please save the date!

 

 

This Week’s Class Heroes 

We are incredibly proud to celebrate this week’s Class Heroes — pupils who have demonstrated outstanding effort, resilience and positive attitudes towards their learning.

⭐ 7T3 = Jess 

⭐ 8T3 = Charlie 

⭐ 9R1 = Aiden & Oliver 

⭐ 9H1 = Riley 

At our school, celebrating success is an essential part of our culture. Recognition is not just about academic achievement — it is about effort, kindness, perseverance, improved attendance, positive behaviour and personal growth.

For our pupils, praise and positive reinforcement play a crucial role in building confidence and emotional stability. Many of our children thrive when their achievements are acknowledged, no matter how big or small. By recognising success, we:

• Build self-esteem and resilience

• Reinforce positive behaviour choices

• Encourage consistency and routine

• Strengthen motivation to engage in learning

• Promote a culture of kindness and encouragement

When children feel valued and recognised, it creates a sense of security and belonging — which directly supports both wellbeing and overall school progress.

We are extremely proud of all our Class Heroes this week. Keep shining and showing us what you can achieve!

 Well done to you all! 

 

 Free Half-Term Activities – Dudley Borough

This half-term, there are some fantastic free activities taking place across the Dudley borough to help keep children active, engaged and having fun.

Through Dudley Council’s Holiday Activity programmes, local Family Hubs and community venues are offering a range of sessions including:

• Sports and multi-skills activities

• Arts and crafts workshops

• Outdoor play and park events

• Library activities and storytelling sessions

• Youth sessions and wellbeing groups

Children Eating Free During Half Term (Dudley Area)

Several national restaurants and supermarkets traditionally run “Kids Eat Free” or “Kids Eat for £1” offers during school holidays. These usually apply with the purchase of an adult meal and may vary by location, so we advise checking directly with the venue before visiting.

Places that commonly offer half-term deals include:

• Asda Café – Kids eat for £1 (no adult spending required in many cases)

• Morrisons Café – Free kids’ meal with adult meal purchase

• Tesco Café – Free kids’ meal with adult purchase (Clubcard usually required)

• Sainsbury’s Café – Kids eat for £1 with an adult meal

• Brewers Fayre – Kids eat free with a paying adult

• Beefeater – Kids eat free with adult breakfast purchase

• Table Table – Kids eat free with adult breakfast

• Hungry Horse – Selected kids eat free deals during the holidays

 

Looking Ahead to Spring Term 2 

As we come to the end of this half-term, we would like to take a moment to thank all of our parents and carers for your continued support. Your partnership with us makes a real difference to the progress, wellbeing and success of our children.

We return to school on Monday 23rd February 2026, and we already have lots to look forward to next half-term! From more exciting Silent Discos and engaging parental engagement sessions, to the brighter evenings and lighter nights ahead, Spring Term 2 promises to be another positive and busy one.

A gentle reminder to support good school attendance: it is a parent/carer’s responsibility to contact the school every day of the child's absence. You can do this by calling the school office or leaving a message on the absence line. Clear and prompt communication helps us ensure the safety and wellbeing of all pupils.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back and continuing what has already been a successful year. Here’s to another productive and exciting Spring Term 2. Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable half-term break.