Welcome to our sixth edition of our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) newsletter. I hope that you have had success in keeping those new years resolutions and that you have the opportunity to spend time with family over half term next week. As the final week of this half term draws to a close, we are thinking once again about mental health and well being with a focus on 'Your Voice Matters'. Section 12 of the united nations conventions on the rights of the child. Children at Stockwell and Jessop who are part of the Brixton Learning collaborative will lead assemblies across the schools and meet later in the year with all schools in this part of the borough at a Wellbeing ambassadors conference. The wellbeing ambassadors at Bonneville will be leading a similar focus later in the term.

Best wishes

Kathryn Congdon

One of the ways we ensure that children know their voice matters, is through the many opportunities that all children have to have responsibilities and to be celebrated in our values assemblies across the federation. We enable all children to be in this space by providing ear defenders for those children who are more comfortable with them and thinking strategically about the seating and timing of the assemblies. As mentioned in a previous newsletter we empower our children to recognise the emotions that they are feeling and provide techniques to support moving through our feelings through the use of zones of regulation. There are times when all children are emotionally dysregulated and reminding them of the breathing techniques that they learn at school may enable them to better express themselves to ensure they know their voice matters.

Executive SENCo

Could your child be eligible for a Liberty card? The Liberty card holder is often entitled to discounts at various attractions both Lambeth and nationwide and by registering you will also be on the mailing list to ensure you are the first to know about opportunities especially designed for children and young people who have a disability or special educational needs. Click the link below for more details.

We are continuing to learn new Makaton signs each week, these are the ones we have learnt this week and will be learning the week after half term.

Last week Year 4 at Jessop, met the author Camilla Chester at the Stepping Into Stories Literacy Festival. Camilla was reading her new book 'Call Me Lion'. The story is of 10 year old Leo, a dancer with selective mutism and his friendship with Richa, the girl who comes to live next door.

This story really struck a chord with Huda and this is Huda having her copy of the story signed by Camilla Chester.

The first point of contact should always be your child's class teacher, please always discuss your concerns with them before contacting a member of the inclusion team. The teachers and support staff who work with your children really value the relationships they have with their classes and are in the strongest position to speak to you about how your child is getting on at school.