Dear Parents and Carers,
What a great week the children have had in school. In the investigators hub it has been lovely to see pupils (and the class staff!) immersed in role play including some dressing up as pirates and using our new playground boat themed climbing equipment and slide as a ‘pirate’ ship! Children across the school have made progress in their independence in using the toilets independently or walking into school from their buses with less support. Others have worked hard to develop their social skills. One pupil sat with his whole class for the first time for a ‘what’s in the box?’ session and another played really nicely with his friends with the sensory tray. Another sat at the table to eat their snack whilst another ate a pea and a bit of a French bean for the first time whilst one pupil increased the amount they eat substantially. Children have been working on their communication skills and one pupil was able to sustain a really complex conversation with me showing that they had developed their understanding of other people’s emotions too. Another pupil developed her interaction skills with adults in intensive interaction sessions. Another pressed the ‘hello’ switch with support. In maths a number of pupils have developed their counting skills and enjoyed using sea creatures to help them with this. Other pupils have increased their engagement and focus; one pupil watching a balloon fly around the room really carefully in a music and movement lesson. Pupils have been developing their physical skills too; one pupil has been doing some great grasping whilst some have been whizzing round the playground using their walkers when playing with their friends. In literacy skills pupils have been working hard on their fine motor skill development to improve their handwriting and others have been working hard on developing their phonics knowledge. Two pupils retold the story ‘we’re going on a treasure hunt’ really well.
World Mental Health Day is on Monday 10 October 2022 with the theme Making Mental Health & Wellbeing for All a Global Priority. World Mental Health Day is about increasing awareness and valuing, promoting and protecting mental health and ensuring that everyone can access the mental health care they need. Stigma around some mental health issues such as anxiety and depression have improved, however stigma, discrimination, lack of support still exists for many mental health illnesses. There is some really helpful information, advice and guidance at Rethink Mental Illness
The Covid pandemic has created a global crisis for mental health, fueling short and long term stresses and undermining the mental health of millions. Added to this, many are feeling extra pressure from the cost-of-living crisis and housing issues. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, it’s really important to talk to someone, maybe family or a trusted friend. Other sources of help are also available and ready to listen;
Chat to West Sussex Mind.
Call the Sussex Mental Healthline free anytime on 0800 0309 500.
Text ‘Sussex’ to 85258 for a free, confidential chat.
Call Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Contact Preventing Suicide in Sussex for advice on spotting the signs and where to get immediate local help.
Discover what works for you with Every Mind Matters.
Your Mind Matters has details of services and resources available for children and young people.
Attendance Focus
We all appreciate how important school attendance is and each week we award the class from each hub with the best attendance a certificate. The class also get to take care of the attendance teddy for a week. For last week, the classes with the best attendance were;
- Explorers hub – Zebra class
- Investigators hub – Gecko class
- Engineers hub – Crocodile class
- Most improved attendance – Peacock class
Warm Space Hub
Our local Parish in partnership with Mothers Union are excited to be launching a Warm Space Hub on a Tuesday from 4pm – 8.30pm starting on Tuesday 18 October 2022. It will run weekly though until 28 March during term time and will tie in with the clocks going back in October and forward in March! Much has been said about the fuel crisis and energy costs that families will face as the weather gets colder and we move into winter. Financial hardship is very real for many as the cost-of-living soars and it is with this in mind that the Warm Space Hub wants to reach out to families that maybe feeling the ‘pinch.’
It will be based out of the Old Palace, Glebe Road, Worthing, BN14 7PF and will be open to families with children aged 0 to age 10/11 (year 6). Children will be given a free hot meal and a drink and parents will be offered tea/coffee, soup and bread (free). It will also offer children and families the opportunity to socialise. There will not be internet access but there will be activities to keep children entertained and there will be a TV and DVD! This is not a child care provision, and children must be accompanied by an adult but it somewhere warm and safe that families can access once a week.
There is no cost and families do not have to commit to going every week. The venue is able to hold a considerable number of people, however, it would be really helpful if you could indicate whether this is something you may like to avail yourself of as this will enable the Warm Space Hub to plan. Please let Kaarina know if you are interested either by email (kdougherty@palatineschool.org), phone or in person; if you are interested, it would help to know how many adults and how many children from your family would potentially attend and whether you would do this weekly or occasionally.
Have a lovely weekend.
Very best wishes,
Catriona