Embedded Files
Hello!
My name is Mrs Smith and I am the Class 15 teacher, Assistant Head and SENDCO.
My name is Ms Fenton - Non-Teaching SENDCO.
What is a SENDCO?
We are responsible for the operation of the SEND Policy and coordination of specific provisions made to support individual children with SEND. The staff team at Monkwood Primary work hard to monitor students’ progressand where it is felt that a child may need additional support, interventions are planned and put in place. As members of the SENDCO team, we also liaise with external agencies in order to create a team behind the child.
If you have any questions - please do not hestitate to contact us through the school office.
Mrs L Smith
Assistant Headteacher & SENDCO
esmith@monkwoodprimary.org
Ms B Fenton
Non-Teaching SENDCO
bfenton@monkwoodprimary.org
With Me in Mind
With Me in Mind
This half term, the With Me in Mind team has significantly enhanced our school's provision for student well-being by working directly alongside our staff. Their collaborative support has been instrumental in strengthening the care we offer to the children.
A major focus of this partnership has been the successful implementation of a range of Flower workshops within the school, providing creative and therapeutic outlets for our students. Furthermore, we have benefited greatly from the team delivering several focused workshops on critical topics for emotional health, including sessions dedicated to improving sleep hygiene and developing effective strategies for managing worries and anxiety. This targeted support ensures our staff is better equipped and our students receive comprehensive assistance for their mental well-being.
We are looking forward to welcoming Laura, Debbie and the team back in to Monkwood in the Spring term to deliver a colour monster workshop alongside a workshop on kindness.
hamish & milo
hamish & milo
This term, we were delighted to get our Hamish and Milo sessions up and running.
Hamish and Milo is an evidence-based wellbeing and social–emotional learning (SEMH) intervention designed to support children in understanding and managing their emotions.
Many of our pupils are already experiencing the positive impact of the programme. The intervention is delivered by our highly experienced practitioner, Mrs White, who is our Hamish and Milo Lead.
interventions
interventions
We are incredibly proud of the significant progress pupils are making across a wide range of successful interventions currently running at Monkwood.
These targeted sessions are crucial in providing tailored support where children need it most. Our interventions include the Sensory Circuit, which helps pupils regulate their senses and prepare for learning; specialised Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) interventions to boost communication skills; and focused groups designed to improve both fine motor skills (essential for writing) and gross motor skills (supporting balance and coordination).
The dedication shown by both the staff and the children has resulted in demonstrable breakthroughs, and we celebrate the fantastic steps forward and the increased confidence our pupils have achieved so far.
Student leadership
Student leadership
At our school, pupils have many opportunities to take part in student leadership, including the School Council, With Me in Mind Ambassador, Playground Leaders and Sports Leaders. These roles help children to develop important leadership skills, build confidence, and have a voice in shaping school life. We are proud to see our pupils take on these responsibilities and contribute positively to our school community.
english
english
We are delighted to share the ongoing development of our school library, which is transforming into a true hub of reading and activity! To maximise its use and foster a love of reading, we are now offering children the opportunity to visit the library throughout the school day. These sessions are expertly led by our dedicated student librarians from Year 5, and involve a range of engaging activities, from quiet reading, to simple, fun tasks designed to promote library skills and independent exploration.
We also were extremely lucky to host a Scholastic book fayre in November. This was extremely popular with both staff and pupils and raised over £900 commission for the school. The school librarians are very excited about purchasing some new books from the money raised.
maths
maths
We are maintaining an ongoing drive to push maths achievement forward across the school, focusing specifically on securing quick recall of timestable facts. A key component of this initiative is our hugely successful weekly TT Rockstars battle, which inspires healthy competition and commitment to practicing times tables. We are particularly proud of our wonderful Year 4 children who are currently leading the way, setting a brilliant example with their enthusiasm and dedication, and often topping the leaderboards. Keep being amazing everyone!
Re
Re
Pupils from across the school recently participated in Interfaith Week, engaging in activities designed to promote mutual understanding and respect. Through a variety of lessons, discussions, and creative projects, students had the opportunity to learn about the diverse faiths represented within our wider community and globally.
TRIPS
TRIPS
Our pupils have been on some wonderful trips this term.
Our Year 6 students enjoyed the essential life skills training at Crucial Crew and then immersed themselves in history by taking part in Leo's WWII Workshop right here in school.
Meanwhile, Year 2 explored the magnificent history of Conisbrough Castle, experiencing the structures they've studied firsthand.
Year 1 stepped back in time with a fascinating Victorian Workshop. The sheer enjoyment displayed by the children on these ventures was matched only by the depth of learning achieved.
CHRISTMAS CRAFTS & CHRISTMAS FAYRE 🎄
CHRISTMAS CRAFTS & CHRISTMAS FAYRE 🎄
We were thrilled with the overwhelming success of the recent Christmas Craft Workshops held across the school! These sessions allowed pupils to engage in fun, festive activities while showcasing the partnership between home and school. The fantastic attendance from parents was a clear demonstration of our shared commitment to creating memorable experiences for the children and supporting their learning journey.
Our annual Christmas Fayre was a resounding success this year, filled with festive cheer and a wonderful sense of community! It was absolutely lovely to welcome so many parents and external stall holders into the school, which made the event a resounding success. It is a perfect start to the festive period! A huge thank you to all the different companies who donated prizes for the grand raffle. We raised over £1400 which will be used to purchase new playground equipment.
COFFEE AND CATCH UP ☕
COFFEE AND CATCH UP ☕
We are pleased to highlight the success of our SEND Coffee and Catch-Up sessions, which provide a supportive and informal setting for parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities.
These sessions offer a valuable opportunity to connect and chat with other parents, sharing experiences and advice in a relaxed environment. Crucially, we facilitate access to external professional support, often hosting representatives from services such as SENDIASS or the NHS. These sessions allow parents to raise any specific concerns or questions they may have directly with experts, helping to address anxieties and strengthen the support network around the child.
Please look out for the date of our next session later in the year, and we encourage all interested parents to attend!
Staff training
Staff training
The staff at Monkwood have engaged in CPD - working closely with Michelle from Aspire. This collaboration focused specifically on enhancing the team's knowledge, understanding, and practical techniques for de-escalation. The goal was to equip Monkwood staff with a deeper grasp of the principles behind effective de-escalation, enabling staff to recognise escalating situations earlier and employ a wider range of strategies to calmly and effectively manage and resolve challenging behaviours.
In addition to this. several of our teaching assistants recently attended a training session at the Rockingham Professional Centre, focusing on understanding anxiety and implementing practical strategies. The training aimed to deepen the TAs' awareness of how anxiety manifests in students, the underlying causes, and the impact it can have on learning and behavior. By gaining insight into different anxiety profiles and triggers, the TAs are now equipped with a variety of evidence-based, practical techniques they can immediately apply in the classroom to support students.
send review meetings
send review meetings
This term, we have held our termly SEND review meetings to monitor and celebrate the progress of our pupils.
We continue to work closely with external agencies, including the Specialist Inclusion Team and the Educational Psychology Service, to ensure that all children receive the support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
staff praise and awards
staff praise and awards
We want to give a massive shout-out to Mrs. Rudrum for her incredibly deserved win at the recent WPT Awards! This recognition is a testament to the exceptional work she does every day as the backbone of our school office. Mrs. Rudrum's commitment and efficiency ensure the smooth running of all our administrative functions, making her an invaluable member of the Monkwood community. Her efforts are crucial in supporting our pupils, staff, and parents, and we are all immensely proud of her achievement.
To all staff members at Monkwood, we would like to say a huge thank you for your unwavering dedication to the pupils in our care. Every person plays a vital role in creating the nurturing, engaging, and safe environment that allows our children to thrive. Your commitment goes above and beyond, providing not only excellent education but also essential emotional and practical support. Thank you!
Ways to Support
Ways to Support
Here are some links and resources to help support children with SEND/SEMH.
Useful Links
The Worry Tree App- Worry Tree helps you to take control of your worries, transform your thoughts and feel better using CBT techniques and sensory practices.
Chill Panda - Something new I have found to support anxiety, worries, and calming strategies. May be a good one to support some of the children to develop strategies. Available on GooglePlay and AppStore.
Worry Monsters - these are recommended by psychologists and teachers to act as a 'waste bin' for fears, troubles and woes that children don't always talk about
who's who and what's what?
who's who and what's what?
Rotherham SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service
Autism Information and Advice Service - 01709 336404
You must have an Autism diagnosis, or have been accepted on to the Autism Pathway to attend the Autism training courses (not Teenlife - need diagnosis)
Chat n Chill Youth Club - 01709 559805 or email georgina@kimberworthpark.org
Tumbi/Elephants Instep Youth Club - Tumbi 8-12yrs and Elephants 13+ based at Dalton Youth Club once a month. For more information, please contact: claire.haddon@rotherham.gov.uk
Page updated
Report abuse