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Year 6 Champions for Neurodiversity

This week, a group of Year 6 students led an assembly and a series of presentations on neurodiversity for the whole school. While the project was a collaborative team effort, Annie and Asmin explained that their goal was to help their peers understand that brains, much like fingerprints or hair colour, are simply part of our individual differences.

The presentations highlighted the "outside the box" thinking and creativity that often accompany neurodiversity. The students spoke about the importance of recognising different perspectives and shared practical examples of what helps people succeed.

Standing up in front of the entire school is no small feat, but the presenters showed great poise and self-assurance. Their confidence certainly helped them manage the tricky questions from the audience - including a particularly interesting discussion on whether animals can be neurodiverse. It was a proud moment for the Year 6 team, who noted how attentive and respectful their peers were throughout the sessions. We are grateful to the whole group for their bravery and for encouraging such an inclusive spirit across the school.

Building Emotional Toolkits with The Purple Elephant Project

This week, our Key Stage 2 children welcomed a guest speaker from The Purple Elephant Project, a specialist children’s mental health charity based in Twickenham. The assembly focused on understanding anxiety - what it feels like in our bodies and, most importantly, the tools we can use to find our way back to feeling calm.

The Purple Elephant Project works across Richmond, Hounslow, and beyond, providing essential therapeutic support like Play and Art Therapy for children facing challenges such as anxiety, trauma, or low confidence. Their mission is to help children express feelings that are often difficult to put into words, using creative outlets to build resilience and self-esteem.

Following the assembly, several Year 4 Rashford children shared what they had learned about the physical nature of worries. Noah and Eunice both observed how anxiety can be a physical experience; Noah explained that worries can make your body feel 'heavy' and difficult to move, while Eunice noted that while some worries are small, others can feel very heavy to carry. Both agreed that the best way to feel 'lighter' is to share those thoughts with a trusted adult or a friend.

Sofia and Viki were particularly interested in the 'tool kit' of calming strategies shared during the session. Sofia highlighted that simple actions, such as giving someone a hug or practicing 'five-finger breathing', can help release that heavy feeling. Viki shared a creative technique called 'hot chocolate breathing', where you imagine holding a warm cup topped with marshmallows and cream. By breathing out gently to cool the drink without blowing the marshmallows off, you naturally slow your breath down, helping your body relax.

It was excellent to see our children engage so thoughtfully with these practical techniques. By learning to recognise the feeling of anxiety and practicing these tips, our children are building the emotional tools they need to support themselves and one another. A big thank you to The Purple Elephant Project for such an empowering and useful session.

We are pleased to announce that there will be more workshops from The Purple Elephant Project coming soon. These will include a session specifically for Year 5 and 6 students, as well as a dedicated workshop for parents. We are grateful to the project for providing our community with these empowering tools and look forward to continuing our work together.

You can find out more about the Purple Elephant Project by visiting their website.

Tennis Season Takes Off!

There is no surer sign of the summer term than the sound of tennis balls on the playground. Year 5 have dived straight into their tennis lessons, working hard on their coordination, agility, and sportsmanship. These photos capture the Lau team in action as they practice their footwork and court coverage. It has been a joy to see them enjoying the warmer weather while building their confidence in sport.

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