Deputy Headteachers Update
'Fairness is not giving everyone the same thing. It is giving each person what they need to succeed'
Since joining The Schools of Woolton Hill in January I have been working alongside Mrs Callow to further develop the provision we have in our schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
This has included dedicating time to train our brilliant Teaching Assistant team further to ensure that the additional support we offer children with SEND is always effective. Many of our children in the Juniors have been working especially hard to secure their phonic knowledge to support their reading and spelling. We have also restarted Sensory Circuits groups at both schools and are using the Mighty Writer programme and NESSY to develop Literacy schools for some children. We have been delighted to see the progress children are making.
We have also been pleased to welcome outside agency support back to the schools and gain the valuable perspectives of our Speech and Language therapist, the team at Primary Behaviour Support and also Outreach staff from Norman Gate special school.
These might be useful places to access further support:
Hampshire Educational Psychology helpline https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/educationalpsychology
Hampshire CAMHS https://hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/
Parenting Special Children https://www.parentingspecialchildren.co.uk/support-we-offer/trauma-and-attachment-service-tas/
School Nursing support https://what0-18.nhs.uk/solent/school-nursing
I look forward to working with you to further improve the support we offer for children with SEND. Remember, if you have any concerns about your child’s learning or development and want to access more support for your child or family please do not hesitate to speak to your child’s class teacher or make an appointment with me directly.
Have a lovely weekend.
Kathryn Knapp
Federation Deputy Headteacher & SENDCo
Celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee
To mark this special occasion the School Council members recently held a meeting to decide how to best celebrate and the following was agreed.
Our day of celebration will take place on Friday 27th May.
Non-uniform day - with the theme of red, white and blue
Afternoon learning activities will have a Jubilee theme
Jubilee cake sale after school of homemade cakes (baked by the children at home please)
The School Council unanimously agreed that all money raised from the sale of cakes will be donated to the Ukrainian Appeal. We hope everyone enjoys this memorable time. The School Council
Learning Support Vacancies
We currently have opportunities to join the team at Woolton Hill junior School. Click on this link to find out more.
Wrap Around Care
I am delighted to be able to offer families with children at St Thomas', places at the brand new Breakfast Club at the Junior school. These sessions will start from 7.30am and children will be safely walked to the Infants for the start of school. In addition to the continuing, existing, 'St Thomas After School Club', we will also be offering a Holiday club, starting from Monday 25th July, at the Junior School. Please click on this link to find out more information and to book a place.
For this provision to succeed the clubs need to be used. To help promote the provision and to help parents find out more Casa will be running FREE taster sessions for children where parents can bring their children along and find out more about the clubs. These sessions will take place between 3.30pm and 4.30pm on:
Thursday 16th June
Thursday 23rd June and
Thursday 7th July.
You are welcome to come along if you are interested in either the breakfast or holiday sessions. Click here to register your interest. They promise to be a lot of fun!
Governing Body
The Governing Body have a vacancy for a Clerk. This is a paid role and you can find out more by clicking here.