Durrington C of E VC Junior School

Support and information for families and parents

of pupils with SEND, additional needs and/or mental health difficulties

Please scroll down the page to find any information that may be useful to you and your family.  The most current posts are to be found at the top of this page.   

Term 6 2023 

Welcome back following generally a very sunny half term holiday!  The summer term can be very busy, creating excitement for some and apprehension for others as we start to prepare for the new academic year.  At school we will do our best to support the pupils' transition, however if you would like a top tip for one simple yet effective exercise to do at home when a child may feel some level of apprehension, have a go at this...

On a large piece of paper, divided in two, write the tiles at the top, What is different? What is the same? Then with the child list things they know will be the same eg same playgrounds, same school values, same collective worship, same exercise books, same lunches and some things that will be different eg classroom, teacher.  Often the 'same' list becomes very long and the 'different' list is shorter.  This exercise can become a conversation, if questions are unable to be answered, always make a list of those a the bottom of the page, and share that collectively you will both aim to find out the answer before we break up in July. 

Please continue to use this site this term to support you and your child's needs. I will post new and relevant materials linked with SEND, additional needs, mental health and SEND Wiltshire support materials. Again, I encourage you to scroll down to the bottom of the page again as there are a number of materials from last year which continue to be useful. 

As usual if you have any queries or questions about SEND at Durrington CE Junior School which can't be answered from reading our website, Facebook page or by reading our SEND Information Report, please don't hesitate to contact me at school Monday to Wednesday. 

Mrs Jessica de Vries

SENDCo and Senior Mental Health Lead

Please remember the county Local Offer website when looking for Wiltshire SEND information too.

Education (primary) - Local Offer (wiltshire.gov.uk)

EHCP (primary) - Local Offer (wiltshire.gov.uk)

SEND Newsletter:

SEND newsletter - Local Offer (wiltshire.gov.uk)

Also don't forget the WPCC (Wiltshire Parent Carer Council)

 www.wiltshireparentcarercouncil.co.uk/en/Home_Page

Places2Be Mental Health Awareness Week, May 2023

Places2Be are focusing on anxiety next week as part of their Mental Health Awareness Week. 

Please use the resources below for more information.

Place2Be: Parenting Smart: My child is anxious

https://place2be.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=60399de5aba8683371fb112c3&id=a8f345d0b6&e=2588b78e8e

If your child seems anxious – for instance, they’re not their usual self - take time to understand what’s going on. Take a look at our free tips for parents and carers.

6 ways to cope if you’re feeling anxious | Place2Be

https://place2be.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=60399de5aba8683371fb112c3&id=7e1181dd20&e=2588b78e8e

Place2Be’s Principal Educational Psychologist, Dr Julia Clements, shares some tips on how children and young people (and even adults) can cope in moments of feeling anxious. 

When to be worried about worrying: typical versus clinical anxiety | Place2Be

https://place2be.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=60399de5aba8683371fb112c3&id=4e0b776a0e&e=2588b78e8e

Isaac Winterburn, Jenny Saxton and Professor Tamsin Ford of the University of Cambridge explore the line at which typical experiences of worry cross over into clinical levels of anxiety.

Neurodiversity Week

Our children at Durrington CE Junior School are starting to use the term and become more familiar with the language and its meaning. Please check out the resources and become more familiar yourself. 

"People vary in the way that their brains
take in, process, and respond to information..."  (The British Psychological Society)

Someone who is 'neurodivergent' may learn, think or behave differently
than what is considered "typical" (also known as 'neurotypical').
Misunderstanding can lead to children feeling isolated,
excluded from their peers, and frustrated.

(EN-UK VER.) Neurodiversity Week Pack 2023 (website-nessycdn.com)

Place2Be is a great site for support to 'improve children's mental health'.  We support the organisation and make use of its many resources. This is a resource I came across that may be of help to parents, please take a look. 

Place2Be: Parenting Smart: Articles

Dyslexia Awareness 

British Dyslexia Association (bdadyslexia.org.uk)

Dyslexia - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Mical (2020) | OFFICIAL FILM | Dyslexia Film - YouTube

Understanding Dyslexia Home Edition FREE for Dyslexia Awareness Month | Nessy – British English

Please encourage children to visit this page and watch the video if you feel your child needs support with their feelings and thoughts at present. 

Thoughts and feelings getting you down? When to seek help - BBC Bitesize

https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/

Many free resources can be found on the ELSA Support Website.  In schools an ELSA is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. ELSAs support children with their social skills, emotions, bereavement, anger management and self-esteem by using social stories, therapeutic stories and counselling skills. 

https://www.sibs.org.uk/about-sibs/sibs-services/

Sibs is the only UK charity for children and adults who are growing up with or have grown up with a disabled brother or sister. We provide information, support and training on sibling issues for adult siblings, young siblings, parents and professionals.