91首发

Disability does not define you鈥�indeed!

Hi everyone,

Phew! A super blog today, full of all sorts, as we come to the end of the half term. There are some trips, mega-STARS, therapy pieces, World Book Day, a great article in Physical development, updates on various things both serious and light-hearted, two lots of Makaton and so much more, including the fantastic message above! It鈥檚 the longest ever! Please check out the Random Acts of Kindness too

We have had our residential trip to Keswick this week too, but they aren鈥檛 even back yet as I鈥檓 writing this, so we can hear about that after half term! It鈥檚 a great thing to have such a trip

It鈥檚 been a lovely week in school, and I hope you have a lovely week at home. When the children get back, it will hopefully be a little warmer and lighter (!!!) and we can get out a bit more, and start to think about the spring and onwards! Please do check out Eileen and Lizzie鈥檚 blogs today as well, and the rest of the school and company鈥檚 website

Thanks for all your support, have a lovely half term, and we鈥檒l see you again soon. All the best from all of us!

John S

馃槉 from John & the PHS Team 馃槉

We have 3 Super-Steering Groups which deliver our Key Drivers through our curriculum. The Key Drivers are Communication, Wellbeing and Independence. The Groups are Literacy, Physical Development and Personal Development

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Literacy

Becky, our Literacy Lead, leads a team that improve all aspects of literacy, including this year a lot of handwriting and oracy (it鈥檚 OK, she鈥檒l be going into explain all of that) as well as reading, phonics, books and all sorts!

WORLD BOOK DAY!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully you’ll have received a letter this week detailing our plans for World Book Day this year, and the very important 拢1 Book Token. Don’t worry if you haven’t had one sent home yet, just get in touch with the office or your class team and they’ll be able to sort it out! There are some fantastic options for the 拢1 books this year, so it’s well worth a look to see what’s available:听 and remember that if those titles don’t appeal to your child or young person, they can still spend the voucher to get 拢1 off a book of their choosing.

World Book Day is celebrated on Thursday 6th听March (the week after half term),听and we will be celebrating our shared love of reading throughout the week. As part of the theme of 鈥楻ead your way鈥�, we would like to invite students and staff to attend school on Thursday 6th听March in their cozy clothes or pyjamas, and bring a favourite book in to school to share with their class. 鈥楻ead Your Way鈥� encourages everyone to let go of reading pressures and expectations, and empowers children and young people to have fun discovering reading on their own terms.

Whilst dressing in cosy clothes or pyjamas is optional, after careful consideration we are not including fancy dress as part of our celebrations this year. We understand that costumes have been a large part of World Book Day in the past however we wish to avoid placing financial pressure on families and instead ensure we are all focusing on making reading as enjoyable and inclusive as possible

In addition to cosy clothes/pyjamas on Thursday 6th听March, throughout the week students will also have the opportunity to

• Attend online author/ illustrator events
• Design a paper plate with a chosen book character for display in school
• Complete book and reading themed activities in class
• Design their own ‘National Book Token’ to enter a national competition

For anyone who wants to get kickstarted with World Book Day celebrations at home they’ve created a Half Term Wellbeing Reading challenge which may be worth a look:听

Happy Reading & Happy Half Term!听

Physical Development

Everything that is fabulous in the world of Physical Development! This includes physio, hydro, MOVE, PE, HI, VI, a lot of OT and all sorts of key areas for us, including all of the Outdoor Learning, John Muir Award and many other aspects. Steph oversees this and will ensure that an aspect is shared in the blog each week

Combining Physical Health and Wellbeing

Here鈥檚 Ash, one of our physios who is going to share some information about the benefits of her transdisciplinary walking group that has been attended by some of Terry鈥檚 class

This term in our transdisciplinary session, some students from lower school have been engaging in a physiotherapy-led walking group each week, around the local area of Killingworth. 听Walking is a听low-impact activity听with a whole host of benefits for physical development including:

• Supporting Growth and Bone Development:听As walking is a weight-bearing activity it helps develop strong bone density and reducing bone related issues as we grow. Strong bones can support muscle strength by providing a stable structure for muscles to pull against. Walking also improves joint flexibility reducing any stiffness, and help in the prevention of joint pain, especially in the ankles, knees and hips
• Muscle Strength:听Walking engages larger muscles groups, especially in the core, hips and legs allowing children to further develop their muscle strength, improve posture and increase overall muscle endurance
• Balance:听Walking over different terrains improves balance, which is essential as children grow and become more coordinated. It can also help children become more aware of their body movements (proprioception). The听multisensory integration (sight, sound, proprioception and touch) helps children improve their ability to navigate different environments more efficiently (such as a busy corridor or lunch hall), reducing risk of injury from loss of balance
• Co-ordination:听Walking involves alternating movements of the arms and legs, which improves the coordination between the left and right sides of the body. This bilateral movement helps improve overall body coordination
• Increased Cardiovascular Health and Healthy Lifestyle: Walking further develops and strengthens the heart and lung capacity, improving children鈥檚 circulation and overall endurance.听In addition,听walking regularly helps to maintain healthy weight and promote a healthy metabolism, reducing children’s risk of long-term or chronic illness later in life
• Walking also has additional benefits of developing children鈥檚 social skills, communication skills and can be a great way for relieving stress, helping to manage anxiety and improve their overall mental wellbeing!!
• The students have really been enjoying getting to spend time outdoors within nature in the local area, engaging in scavenger hunts and even taking photos of local wildlife at the lake! Look at these fab pictures!

Personal Development

One of the best things about the school and one of the most important for our pupils, PD covers PSHE, Wellbeing, Careers, Social Moral Spiritual & Cultural, Online Safety, Behaviour and similar areas. Jo pulls it all together. Let鈥檚 see what Jo and the team have in store for us this week! The inspectors really loved all of the PD we do!

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WITH JO!

AND TRYING NEW THINGS!!!

PART OF SMSC

Throughout the week, our students have been busy spreading cheer in creative and meaningful ways. They made jars filled with ideas for random acts of kindness, inspiring them to take one thoughtful action each day. Some helped their friends choose and order their meals, while others tidied the library and picked up litter around the school, making our environment a cleaner, more welcoming place. It鈥檚 incredible to see the ripple effect of these small acts鈥攐ne smile leads to another; one good deed inspires the next. It鈥檚 proof that kindness is truly contagious!

Random Acts of Kindness Week isn鈥檛 just about helping others; it鈥檚 also about nurturing our own well-being. Studies have shown that being kind releases feel-good hormones, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of connection and belonging. At our school, we believe that when we uplift others, we uplift ourselves too. This week has been a heartwarming reminder that kindness is everywhere, and it all starts with us. Let’s keep the spirit of kindness alive, not just this week, but every day!

At 91首发 School. Random Acts of Kindness Week is a celebration of compassion, generosity, and the joy of helping others. It鈥檚 a week dedicated to the idea that small, thoughtful actions can make a big difference in someone鈥檚 day. Whether it鈥檚 smiling at someone in the hallway, holding the door open, or simply saying 鈥榟ello鈥� and asking how they鈥檙e doing, these little gestures remind us of the power of kindness. By taking the time to show we care, we not only brighten someone else鈥檚 day but also bring happiness to ourselves.

This week, 3RC has been spreading kindness throughout the school! The class set a goal to complete 20 acts of kindness for teachers, staff and friends. Alongside these thoughtful gestures, students engaged in a meaningful discussion about the importance of kindness and how it impacts others.

To reflect their efforts, 3RC created a kindness display, brainstorming different ways to be kind and recording their own acts of kindness. These reflections were then written down and added to the display, serving as a reminder of the power of small, thoughtful actions. Well done, 3RC, for making a difference!

Bucket of Kindness 鈥� awesome!

Trying New Things

As part of our personal development journey on the Engagement Pathway, we are always encouraging our students to try new things, especially as they approach young adulthood.听 This term, the P16 students have been trying lots of new things both in school and at home, such as working in different areas of school, meeting new people and peers, venturing out in the wider community, trying overnight stays at respite for the first time and even going on residential.听Having access to new experiences widens and enriches our lives and gives opportunities to form new preferences. It also requires a level of courage and resilience 鈥� learning to cope with the unknown and unfamiliar can be daunting and needs a high level of confidence and the willingness to have a go. Next half term, we鈥檙e going to be trying even more new things 鈥� watch this space!

Wellbeing

Here are Andy and the Wellbeing Team about what鈥檚 happening this year in their brilliant Connect Challenge series! Go Andy!

This week, our school celebrated Random Acts of Kindness for the Connect Challenge, and the results have been inspiring. Our pupils have shone through their thoughtful actions which have helped to grow our caring community.

A huge shout out goes to Taim, who showed exceptional kindness to his friends this week, ensuring everyone felt included and supported. Aurora also made a difference by taking the initiative to litter pick in the play area, helping to keep our school environment clean and enjoyable for all.

In PSHE, Thomas surprised many by offering soothing massages to his friends, a simple but effective way to show care and relieve stress 鈥� well done Thomas! And Frankie took the kindness challenge to heart by not only completing the whole Random Acts of Kindness activity sheet but also delighting her peers and staff with sweet treats and heartfelt cards. Take a look at her delicious waffle! Yum!

Finally, it was lovely to see the display outside Rahme鈥檚 classroom. The children worked hard to describe the many ways we can spread kindness through our school 鈥� please go and take a look if you鈥檙e walking through lower school.

These acts of kindness, big and small, remind us of the importance of looking out for one another. Keep up the fantastic work, everyone and have a lovely break!

Stay connected!

PE Update of the Week with Nathan!

Let鈥檚 hear what鈥檚 been happening in PE!

In the PE Engagement Pathway KS5 class, we finished off the term with a fun super bowl game – they thoroughly enjoyed the experience

Also…

Throughout PE in the upper school we have been encouraging students to continue to improve and understand the importance of using the TREDS Teamwork-Respect-Enjoyment-Discipline -Sportsmanship

At the end of each term we have decided to create a Certificate of Achievement Award to the stand-out student. This term all students have generally improved in all 5 areas – but the student who just shined is鈥�

Jaden鈥檚 Certificate!

Well done to all, you have done a great job to improve and continue to progress so as a result they get to enjoy sports and time at the school馃槉

Behaviour for Learning (BfL)

Let鈥檚 hear from Aylisha about all the exciting work this team are doing

This week in school was the last session of training for our Learning Support Assistants in Behaviour for Learning (BfL)

Staff training is imperative and here are a few examples as to why:

• Ensures student safety
• Promotes a positive school culture
• Enhances professional development
• Helps staff to stay up to date on the latest trends, techniques and changes that might occur within guidance.听

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Our Behaviour for Leaning team remains on hand and continues to support staff and students here in school daily.听We have carried out a lot of training in relation to the use of language.听We use a behaviour scale as our听鈥榗ommon language鈥�听for when behaviour incidents are recorded on our main recording system CPOMS.

When describing the form (or shape) of physical behaviour it is called Topography.听 Topography enables the reader to picture what the behaviour looks like.听 When describing a physical behaviour, or giving a topographical description, we need to consider three elements.听 Objectiveness, Clarity and Completeness also described as Operational Definitions of Behaviour.

We have completed a lot of training with all our staff around our recording of behaviour incidents which is important for clarity.听The training around Behaviour for Learning though remains on going like many other areas across the school.

As ever, if you have any questions or you wish to know more about behaviour here in school, feel free to contact the Behaviour for Learning Team direct

Trip of the Week – with Beth!

2HL and 3BE went to Riverside Bowling in Sunderland on Tuesday. We had a great time! We received medals and certificates from the organisers, Smile Through Sport, so we had an award ceremony on Wednesday

Therapy Star of the Week! Love Therapy Star of the Week 鈥� especially when it鈥檚 Rosie!!!

Lizzie has been working with Rosie on mindful movement this term. This is what Lizzie is saying about Rosie

Rosie has worked so hard in mindful movement this term. She consistently tries her best and is a great role model to her peers.

Rosie has shared a great warm up game and was able to explain the rules very clearly to her peers and other adults

Early Years 鈥� The Ducklings!

Let鈥檚 get the latest update from what鈥檚 been happening down in the fabulous Early Years

Lovely week in Early Years and the final week of exploring colour

Very productive outdoor learning session: we made rainbow sticks and we dressed the trees with colourful streamers. Most of us had a go on the swing with lots of lovely giggles of enjoyments

Our maths focus this week was number recognition – we enjoyed the number songs and writing numbers on the mat. We visited the Expedia room where we watched Mr Tumbles nursery rhymes and danced with the colourful pom-poms. Keziah was very proud of herself, matching the animals鈥� bodies to their heads (summed up in her photo) 鈥淭a-da鈥�!

We are all ready to recharge next week before our next term, where you are invited to 鈥渃ome outside with us鈥�

UNICEF Award update with Rebecca

We were recently awarded the Bronze level of this, and Rebecca and others are already working on the next level. We particularly like it because it puts the voice of the child at its centre. Let鈥檚 hear what鈥檚 been happening

This week we are focussing upon Article 6 of the UN Rights of the Child which states that:听

I have the right to live and grow as a person

For this to happen we must ensure that:

Children have the right to life.

Governments should make sure that children develop and grow healthily and should protect them from things which could hurt them.

A right to develop

This Article also says that children and young people should be able to grow up in conditions that don鈥檛 impact negatively on their physical and mental wellbeing.

It says the government should do as much as they can to make sure children and young people can live in these conditions in order that they can develop.

The right to survive and develop is a general principle

The right to survive and develop听is one of the four general principles of the UNCRC, which underpin how it should be interpreted and put into practice.

The four principles are:

• The right to survive and develop听(Article 6)

As always if you would like more information on the UNICEF Rights Respecting School Award, please go to:

Transdisciplinary Session of the Week!

Beth A has been working with Josh LB and Robyn T on this poster in the听Transdisciplinary Therapy Group. Looks great, well done, guys! Let鈥檚 see what they鈥檝e done and hear from Robyn and Josh

In our therapy group in upper school we have been learning about neurodiversity and people that communicate differently and we have researched people who have achieved a lot of things!听 Here is a poster that we have made to show this. Robyn came up with the title for our poster

From John & the Team here at PHS

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Our Key Drivers

Communication, Wellbeing, Independence