Dear parents and carers,
Welcome to our first BWI newsletter of this academic year. This newsletter is dedicated to sharing information related to supporting pupils and their families. At Abbots Farm Junior School, we are committed to the social, emotional and pastoral development of our pupils and understand the role of our school as a community support to our pupils and their families. Based on parental feedback, we understand that it is some of these areas – such as behaviour, pupil and family welfare and special educational needs that our families like to receive further information about.
In this newsletter, you will find information about review meetings for children with Special Educational Needs and further information about our Children and Families team. In order to make this newsletter as effective as possible, we would very much appreciate further feedback on what types of information or updates you would like to see included. If you have any suggestions please click the link to complete a form.
https://forms.office.com/e/ePJr7ckbde
from Mrs Watson-Tate :)
Special Educational Needs: Review Meetings
Thank you to all parents and carers who attended our termly SEN Review Meetings for pupils with Special Educational Needs. These termly meetings are an excellent opportunity to meet with your child's class teacher and celebrate the children's successes, review and update targets for the coming term as well as discuss any additional support in place within the classroom.
Mrs Watson-Tate (SENCO) is available in the school library during SEN Review Meetings and can answer any further questions you may have. This can include: requesting further learning assessments, requesting support from other services such as the Specialist Teacher Service and questions about transitions.
Updated pupil documents are available to access on the Edukey Provision Map. Parents of children with Special Educational Needs who are new to the school will be provided with log-in details for this service. Please email the senco email address if you have not received these details.
This year, we have added all relevant information onto a Pupil Passport: a one-page document that briefly details strengths and areas of need. This document includes termly targets, a list of adjustments/support that pupils need within the classroom as well as additional supports such as intervention groups. External services which support your child and access arrangements for tests are also included.
The meetings above are for children who have already been placed on our Special Needs Register. We use a variety of assessments and monitoring to identify children with Special Needs which includes parents' concerns. If you have concerns related to your children's learning and development, please contact your child's class teacher. Questions regarding Special Educational Needs can also be sent to the dedicated SENCo email address senco2421@welearn365.com
AFJS Children and Families Team
Mrs Smythe: Children and Families Lead
Sam Smythe is our Children and Families Lead. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise having worked in a variety of roles across schools, children's centres and family support work. Sam is a qualified counsellor and has a certificate in Play Therapy. We are extremely lucky that this means we are able to offer this therapeutic support within school. In addition to this, Sam has worked across a number of schools in Rugby offering guidance for pupils with behaviour that presents as challenging. At Abbots Farm, Sam continues to share her skills in this area with children, staff and families.
Sam is the point of contact in school for families who would like to explore pastoral support. Sam can be reached by calling the school office from Tuesday to Friday or emailing the pastoral email address pastoral2421@welearn365.com at anytime.
Miss Wood: Den Lead
Miss Wood delivers direct pastoral work with children in small groups and in one to one sessions. This includes group work for support around areas including worries, friendships and emotional literacy. Miss Wood has also received training through the Dog Mentor programme so that she and Chase can expand the support available to our pupils. In addition to pastoral support, Miss Wood also delivers interventions detailed in EHCPs such as Sensory Circuits and Preparation for Adulthood.
Healthy Body and Mind - Support for all of our Farmers Families
This newsletter is the place to find links and signposting to a range of support that families can access. This will include ongoing services – such as the Family Information Service – as well as those that are most relevant to the time of year or newly released.
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) to provide young people who are in full-time education (Reception to Year 11) and eligible for benefits-related free school meals with access to enriching activities and meals, for free, during the three main school holidays - Winter, Spring and Summer. Follow the see if you are eligible for a HAF code and view the activities available over the Christmas break.
Action for Children have some helpful guidance on their website for supporting children who may find the festive period can be overwhelming such as autistic children and children with ADHD, sensory issues or anxiety.
Warwickshire's Children and Families Team are hosting a number of workshops for parents about a range of topics such as sleep and understanding behaviour, all free of charge - click here to see if there is anything may be useful for you https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/warwickshire-parenting-support-71623337213
SearchOut Warwickshire is here to help you find and access organisations, services and events that are local to you - things that will help you stay active, healthy, happy, and well. They also provide further information about services and support available from local organisations and groups for families with children and young people aged 0 to 25, who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.
If you or your child are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can contact the Rise Crisis Team by calling 08081 966796 and selecting 'option 2' at any time of the day or night. Please note that it is an advice-only service overnight from 8pm to 8am. In an emergency call 999.
The Family Information Service phone line is a freephone number to enable anyone to contact them for support. You can call them on 0800 408 1558 with anything - even if they can't help, they may be able to point you in the direction of someone who can!
Credits:
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