School Blog

We are looking forward to seeing those booked onto the mindfulness and movement session next week (Thursday 20th 9.20am). 

Please remember to return slips or email the office to let us now you're attending. 

The session will include some of the mindfulness strategies we are using in school, some gentle movement and yoga following a story to make it fun for little ones. As well as a lovely bonding experience you and your child will learn well-being tools that they can use anytime, anywhere! 

The session is open to adults and their children. It is perfect for walking toddlers, pre schoolers and those in nursery. 

Hope to see you there. 

Mrs Toll 

Good morning and welcome to a new week! 

Some parents have discussed concerns with class teachers about their children finding it difficult to self-regulate at the end of the school day, displaying ‘explosive‘ behaviours when being collected or arriving home. These behaviours can often be caused by sensory issues and educational psychologists recommend trying the following: 

• Give your child a chewy or crunchy snack as soon as you see them. Both of these types of foods give sensory input that can help aid emotional regulation. 
• Give your child a drink in a sports bottle – the sucking action also aids regulation. 
• Do something unexpected on the way home. Maybe see if you can all hop to the car or part of the walk home?  The unexpected action can help to trick the brain and the movement gives sensory input. 

We hope that this helps and look forward to seeing lots of children hopping to the gates snacking on crunchy carrots with beaming smiles on their faces! 

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you. 

Come and enjoy this free class based around meditation and yoga that is fun for you and your toddler! 

Practise strategies your children are using in school and enjoy the fun and relaxing session with your little one. 

No experience necessary, just wear comfy clothing and bring your toddler if you have one.

When: Thursday 20^th October 2022 9:20-9:50

Where: Fairlands Lower building hall 

Spaces are first come first served and a letter is being sent out this week with how to confirm your place.

Hope to see you there

Mrs Toll

We have just heard about a fantastic opportunity! Add-Vance are holding an online introductory workshop for parents and carers of children with a diagnosis (or suspected diagnosis) of ADHD or Autism. This introductory workshop is taking place on Thursday 6^th October from 7pm until 830pm. It is free to join and its aims are: 

• To understand the link between emotions and behaviour 
• To identify strategies to support emotional regulation 
• To know where to get more help. 

This sounds like a great way to find out more and support your child at home when they are overwhelmed and dysregulated. 

Book your free place by clicking on the following link https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/local-offer/courses-and-activities-in-hertfordshire/things-to-do/find-courses-and-things-to-do-new/d18936ec-bf03-4ca3-bdca-99c119f28fae 

Are you the parent/career of a child who is on the Autistic Spectrum, or who has ADHD, or they are being assessed for either condition? If so, then Angels will be a great support for you and your family.

Angels is a local charity and offers support, professional advice, resources, holiday club information, training and meetings both face-to-face and via Zoom. All you need to do is be a member by completing an application form on their website. Membership is free of charge but they do ask members to make a £1 donation at support group sessions if they are able.

By sharing ideas and experiences with other parents you are supporting your child and your family while helping others at the same time. Their website is full of useful information and definitely worth a visit.

Each term, they publish a full programme of meetings which involve specific themes and guest speakers alongside parent support groups. This term’s programme is attached but remember that you need to sign up for a free membership first. If you have any difficulty signing up for a membership, feel free to stop by the school office and we can help you complete the online form.

https://angelssupportgroup.org.uk/

We are working together to make Fairlands a ‘mindful’ school. We know that in order to learn and grow we need a calm and safe environment so we are creating habits that will build our independence and help us focus on our learning. 

Every class has their own 'Calm corner' or area for pupils to access when they feel they need time to reflect or regulate how they are feeling.  Teachers will be focusing on developing emotional literacy so pupils can understand and express how they feel.

All pupils are learning mindful tools that they can access at any time, in school and at home! These tools include mindful breathing, ‘tapping’ and using positive affirmations.  

Why not ask your child if they can show you how we ‘tap’.   

We want to turn these new strategies into lifelong habits, so we are encouraging pupils to use them at home as well. Perhaps at bedtime or when they first wake up. These tools can help pupils to regulate their nervous system and help to ease some anxiety or just positively impact their mood!  

We will be sharing more of our tips and tools along the way.  

Mindfulness is for everyone so why not ask your child to show you how your family can be mindful too?

If you have any queries on concerns regarding your pupils well-being do get in touch.

Mrs Toll and Miss Pollen

Welcome to the new school year! I hope you have all had a successful week back and getting back into a routine was not too tricky. I'm sure most of your children were exhausted by the end of Friday - us adults at school most certainly were!

I have taken on a new role of Assistant Head - SENDCo this year and am really looking forward to working with many of you to support your children as they journey through our fantastic school. Attached is a screenshot of a slide some of you may remember from the 'New To' presentations at the end of last year. It contains brief information about SEND at Fairlands. This year, we will be blogging on a wide variety of SEND topics and using it to signpost you to support groups and websites.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.