Headteacher's message by Mrs Harris
What a busy term it has been! From the Summer Cup in Grantham, to Year 5 taking part in maths competitions at Skegness Academy, to productions, to the end of year EYFS assembly - it has been a busy but magical term!
We are saying goodbye to some staff this year: Mrs O'Dare, Mrs Harness, Mr Hunter-Clarke, Mrs McEwan and Mrs Baxter. We wish them all the best in their future and know they will keep in touch.
We are very excited to have some new teachers join us in September. We will welcome Mr Legate to Year 4, Miss Russell to Year 1, Mr Flint as our new Vice Principal and teacher in Year 3, and we will welcome Mrs Sharp back from maternity leave!
I hope you all have a wonderful Summer, and I look forward to seeing you all on the 3rd September.
Spotlight on SEND
Supporting Children with SEND Through Transitions and the Summer Break
Change can be both exciting and daunting. For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), transitions often present unique challenges. As we draw closer to the end of another school year, both children and parents may feel a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. The transition from the structured school environment to the flexibility of summer break, and the prospect of returning to a new class or school in September, can be particularly unsettling for children with SEND.
Transitions can take many forms:
• Moving from one class to another within the same school
• Changing schools altogether
• Adjusting to new teachers or classmates
• Shifting from school routines to holiday time at home
For children with SEND, these changes may disrupt the stability and predictability that they crave. The excitement of holiday activities whilst may prove overwhelming. Some children might experience heightened anxiety, changes in behaviour, difficulties with sleep, or regression in skills they have mastered.
Preparation can make all the difference. As a school, we believe that working in partnership with families leads to the best outcomes for children with SEND during times of transition. Here are some practical strategies to support your child through changes and the summer break:
Communication
• Talk with your child about upcoming changes as early as possible and in a way that makes sense for them.
• Visual timetables: Use pictures or symbols to map out daily routines. This can be especially helpful for children who find written information challenging. Use the staff photo sheet provided by school to familiarise your child with their new teachers and any new members of the wider school community.
• Countdown calendars: Mark important dates when routines will change—such as the last day of school or the start of a summer activity—to prepare your child gradually.
• While summer often brings a more relaxed schedule, maintaining elements of your child’s usual routine can provide valuable structure. Try to keep consistent meal times, bedtimes, and waking times. If your child uses visual supports at school, consider using similar strategies at home.
Celebrate the positives
Help your child reflect on what they’ve accomplished this year. Making a scrapbook, drawing pictures, or simply talking about favourite moments can boost confidence and positivity about upcoming changes.
Prepare for Unstructured Time
Long stretches of unstructured time over the summer can be overwhelming. Plan in advance by creating a loose weekly timetable of home activities, day trips, or playdates with friends. Include your child in the planning process to give them a sense of control.
Supporting Emotional Wellbeing
Recognising Anxiety and Stress
Children with SEND may express anxiety differently. Look for signs such as:
• Changes in mood or behaviour
• Withdrawing from favourite activities
• Physical complaints (headaches, stomach aches)
• Sleep difficulties
Validate your child’s feelings. Let them know it’s normal to feel worried or unsettled about change. Reassure them that you will support them through it. Acknowledge your own feelings too. Reach out for support, organise play dates etc.
Promoting Resilience
Building resilience is about helping children develop coping skills. Practise calming techniques together, such as:
• Deep breathing exercises
• Counting to ten
• Listening to music
• Going for a walk
• Engaging in sensory play (e.g., playdough, water play)
Model positive coping strategies and remind your child of times they managed change successfully in the past.
Gradually, reintroduce routines in the final week of the summer break. Discuss the upcoming term, look at photos of the new teachers and revisit your visual timetable. If your child expresses worries, acknowledge them, devise strategies for managing these and remind them of the things they are looking forward to.
Transitions are a part of life, and with the right support, children with SEND can navigate these changes with increasing confidence and resilience. Remember that you know your child best—trust your instincts, celebrate their strengths, and don’t hesitate to reach out for support.
Useful Contacts
• SENDCo: Mrs Sarah Harmer sharmer@RichmondPrimary.co.uk
• Local SEND offer for support and ‘whats on’ information: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/send-local-offer
• National Autistic society: https://www.autism.org.uk/
• PDA society: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
• ADHD foundation: https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/
• British Dyslexia association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
Year 6 leavers!
Our Year 6 children have had an amazing year. They have worked extremely hard, and have received the highest SATs results Richmond has had in a few years - well done to them and the team!
We have had a lovely final week with them, making memories in many ways: ice cream, water fights, buffets and leaver's assemblies.
Thank you to the parents for organising an amazing prom for them - Mrs Green wrote a little note:
Year 6 strutted in like mini-celebrities, dressed to the nines in their best outfits and arrived in style – mobility scooters even made an appearance! In true prom fashion, the dance floor turned into a swirling blur of colour. Twerking made an uninvited but spirited appearance, to the amusement (and mild horror) of staff and parents. Let’s just say some dance moves will never be unseen. All of this was fuelled by an eye-watering number of Fruit Shoots—bottles vanished like magic—and a heroic amount of ice cream devoured. There were heartfelt moments, too. Friends laughed, hugged, and posed for countless photos, knowing they were closing a huge chapter of their lives. Parents blinked back tears, watching the children they’ve seen grow turn into confident young people ready for their next big adventure. What a way to say goodbye to primary school!