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Hello, everyone!
Another busy term at Sandhill with the children taking part in lots of activities and exciting learning, as well as lots of SEN provision and planning going on behind the scenes.
Plus, this term, we've been working hard to ensure a smooth transition to our Y6 students! We'll miss you and wish you all the best for the future.
Mrs E Leighton
Rawmarsh Sandhill SENDCo
eleighton@rawmarshsandhill.org
Ms B Fenton
Rawmarsh Sandhill Non-Teching SENDCo
bfenton@rawmarshsandhill.org
what's happening in school?
what's happening in school?
The X Factor
Recently Sandhill put on a Year 5 and Year 6 performance of The X Factor, parts were tailored to support the skills of our SEN pupils including an outstanding solo song and a comedy cameo performance.
With additional adult support to practice and learn lines with different approaches depending on the learning style that suits the individual best. Those children that felt performing was too overwhelming were given the opportunity to assist as effective stage hands, allowing them to showcase alternative but just as vital skills for the production.
Sports Day 🏃♀️🏃♂️
All of our Sandhill children enjoyed Sports Day this year, which was carefully planned so that barriers were removed to allow our SEN children to take part alongside their peers.
Children demonstrated their gross motor skills, team working skills and supported each other throughout the afternoon.
Equipment
Sandhill have purchased an array of different fidget toys that pupils have access to, allowing them to remain calm and regulated in their classroom so that they are able to engage with their learning.
A lot of our children benefit from multi-sensory learning techniques that make learning fun and interactive. For instance the use of various different shaped manipulatives in maths and recently the use of Bee-Bots in additional phonics learning.
Trips
Year 1 and Year 2 have been learning about the Victorian seaside so recently enjoyed a day trip to Cleethorpes to see the Victorian features that remain such as the train station, castle, promenade and pier as well as carrying out traditional Victorian activities with the children making some amazing sandcastles.
In order to prepare children for the day trip staff prepared social stories, pre-practiced the groups children would be in, had an early start to ensure that children were calm and ready for the day as well as taking additional adults along allowing groups to be smaller in size.
Life Skills
A group of Year 6 children have been undertaking a life skills course giving them extra support in the lead up to their transition to secondary school.
The topics covered included team work, empathy, diversity, belonging and managing money all of which are core skills for them to develop as they move forward to their next school.
Transition
Over the years Sandhill have developed strong links with the Special Education Need and Disabilities department at Rawmarsh Community School; recently, this has allowed us to arrange extra individual tranisitions during quieter times for our year 6 pupils who have anxities about the move to secondary school.
Through these extra visits they are able to break down the barriers they have about the move through having a clearer picture of what the differences between primary and secondary education are and they have the opportunity to meet the staff who will be supporting them to start building relationships.
The staff from both schools also meet for an extensive tranisition meeting to ensure that the needs of our children will be continued to be met after they leave Sandhill.
STAFF SUPPORT
STAFF SUPPORT
This term staff members have received further training on Passive Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Selective Mutism.
Miss Fenton has been attending a training course for Hamish and Milo which is a new intervention planned for school for Children's Social Emotional and Mental Health which will assist children in areas such as builiding self esteem, dealing with loss and managing anxiety amongst others.
We can really see the benefits in a small group where we have created our own sock poppets as a way to start converstations about feelings and emotions.
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 0-19 Service - 01709 423333
Sam Lord - School Inclusion Team, part of Rotherham's Inclusion Support Services
Lisa Nelson, Trainee Education Psychologist
With Me in Mind Rotherham - one of the nation Mental Health Support Teams based in Doncaster & Rotherham
Speech & Language Therapist
Traded School Service - Family Health Division - Therapy Admin office: 01709 423229/30
Rotherham SENDIASS stands for Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service
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