24 Star, Thursday, July 26, 2018 HSH-EO1-S2 YOUR EDUCATION NEWS Tailored PE lessons helping students with special needs to thrive

CHILDREN with special problems. We have pupils packing up. It’s about Kara Coley has seen the Children with special educational needs and disabilities educational needs and who are wheelchair users inclusion and this way they impact the addition of a PE (SEND) are enjoying a full physical education programme in disabilities (SEND) are and others with dwarfism; so have access to the facilities apprentice has had at the enjoying a full physical the class is full of a wide and help they need.” primary school. education programme in range of children with As a result of this work, She said: “Some of these Cooks Spinney Primary pupil I work with has grown Harlow. varying needs.” Burnt Mill Sports Leaders children would often sit out Academy, PE lessons were in confidence massively. He Pupils from the town’s A carousel of activities is have been called upon to of PE; they were too shy to not an option in the past. struggles with instigating BMAT primary schools – set out and the sessions are, supervise at county events, take part or did not want to But, his one to one friendships, but here he is Cooks Spinney, Freshwaters to a degree, led by the pupils such as boccia and join in. Since we have had teaching assistant, Tracy quite relaxed and is asking to and Little Parndon –who and what they want to swimming events for BMAT specialists in school, Taylor, is working with the join in without being with historically may have sat out tackle. students with SEND. they have been bringing the PE specialists to ensure he me the whole time. He of PE lessons are now Over time, changes are Mr Dawes said: “We are pupils out of themselves. gets active and takes part. doesn’t do that at school, but thriving in their own tailored being noticed in attitude, picking up a reputation for The lessons are more She said: “At first, he hated I’m hoping this is going to sessions. confidence, behaviour and working with students with modern, so they’ll play Just PE. Now, he wears ear encourage him to do it now. Those with physical ability, which is having a SEND and so these Dance on the games console, defenders and we come in “As soon as we get to disabilities as well as pupils positive knock-on effect in opportunities are starting to for example. These are for ten minutes at a time and Burnt Mill, he’s off. It’s with developmental delays other areas of the pupils’ come our way. It is giving activities they know and are then have a break. Every giving them that freedom to and conditions such as lives. The sessions are our Sports Leaders a career comfortable with, but they week, I get his PE kit out, but be independent, but with the autism and ADHD take part equipping young SEND pathway. One of our PE are still getting active. It is he isn’t comfortable with knowledge we are here. He is in weekly classes with learners with the skills to apprentices was a Sports integrating them and making getting changed into it. now confident enough to specialist sport teachers at take part inclusively in Leader at Burnt Mill and is the connection between Three weeks ago, I managed play with other children; it partner school, Burnt Mill school once their confidence now working towards a home and school.” to get him to put his shorts has been wonderful to see Academy. Phil Dawes, BMAT has been built through sport. degree and teacher training. Mrs Coley works one to on. This group is great; it’s that. director of PE and sport, has Mr Dawes, who has had We are showing students one with a Year 5 pupil with amazing. It’s helping him “The PE sessions have also a team of PE apprentices training with his team on there is a pathway into autism. She said: “In lessons, with his social skills and helped with his motor skills working within the teaching children with careers in PE and sport that he finds it hard to be a part being in a new environment and balance; it has all come primaries, as well as students SEND, said: “One pupil with our leaders can move into. of a class and having a whole with people he doesn’t along since these sessions.” from Burnt Mill who are autism took three weeks to “It is also breaking down lesson on one thing. At the know. It’s such a major step Jamie Pickett’s mum trained as Sport Leaders to step inside the sports hall; he barriers. When I was Burnt Mill sessions, there are for him. He has come on in Kirsten said: “The extra PE assist with the sessions. waited outside with his younger, schools were not so lots of small activities going leaps and bounds.” sessions at Burnt Mill have He said: “All pupils with teaching assistant until he inclusive, but our students on and he can move on and For pupils from Little helped my son so much. Due special educational needs became more comfortable know how to work together; try something different. Parndon Primary Academy, to autism and dyspraxia, my and disabilities from our with the environment. On it’s lovely to see them “He is a big success story the PE sessions are helping son struggled with running, primaries are invited to the third week, he came in support each other.” for us. When he joined us 18 to build social skills. jumping, throwing and come and take part in PE for 15 minutes and now he is Year 11 Sports Leader months ago, he didn’t One to one teaching general gross motor skills. lessons at Burnt Mill. While starting to take part in the Kieran Biles has a new understand the structure of assistant Jodie Richards said Since doing the extra PE some take part in PE in their activities. We have to go with ambition since taking on his school and would run pupils from the school take sessions, his gross motor own schools, this gives them the pupils a little bit. It can’t role: “I’ve wanted to be a PE around. Now, he sits in part in mainstream PE skills have improved access to more facilities at be three minutes on one teacher ever since these lessons, reads, writes and lessons, but are learning immensely and he has found the secondary school. activity and then move on. sessions. I am learning how takes part. In PE, he used to wider skills at Burnt Mill. a love for basketball, which “Some of the pupils who We have visual aids on the to help people and teaching just wander off. Now, he She said: “This is an he is incredibly good at. take part have physical wall, so children do know them new skills.” looks forward to coming to opportunity for our pupils to “We are both so grateful difficulties, while others have what we are doing when, Freshwaters Primary Burnt Mill.” interact with other children for the help he has received emotional or behavioural such as snack time or Academy teaching assistant For one Year 3 pupil from on their own. The Year 4 and continues to receive.” Nursery’s day of family fun helps Home-Start UK

KIDDI Caru’s Harlow day stay cool. Manager, said: “We all had a nursery hosted a day of fun Home-Start helps parents fantastic time at our fun day on Saturday, July 7 in aid of all over the UK to build and it was lovely to see so Home-Start UK, raising more better lives for their children. many families enjoying than £500. The organisation has themselves. There was a huge range of volunteers based at nearly “A big thank you to fun and games for families to 300 projects nationwide, who everyone who came along enjoy, including face provide support and and helped us raise so much painting, traditional games, friendship to more than money for Home-Start UK.” arts and crafts activities, 32,000 families every year. For further information mini trampolines courtesy of The money that Kiddi Caru about Kiddi Caru please visit ((bounce)) and a mobile has raised as a company the website at paint-your-own ceramic since 2014 has enabled www.kiddicaru.com, like studio from Painted Home-Start to train more them on Facebook - The fun day at Kiddi Caru’s Peppermint. There was also volunteers and therefore www.facebook.com/ Harlow day nursery a barbecue for visitors and help more families in need. Kiddicaru - or call them on ice cream stall to help them Louise Farrow, Nursery 01279 626111. HSH-EO1-S2 Star, Thursday, July 26, 2018 25

Youngsters who don’t usually take to the stage get their chance to rock

MORE than 100 students productions. We have had pulled together a West End- people who usually form quality production of School part of the band coming of Rock. forward to sing, for example. Singers, dancers, actors We gave students an and technical teams from opportunity to say where , in they wanted to feature. We Harlow, were trained to have given students who professional standard to put have not had an opportunity on the full-length show. before, the chance to The Year 7 to 11 perform. We’ve seen students spent students who hundreds of hours EMAIL YOUR don’t take drama rehearsing their NEWS TO US AT put themselves individual parts in COMMUNITY forward to get groups, before involved; those coming together @HERTSESSEX who have never for full rehearsals NEWS.CO.UK shown an interest ahead of the before have recent opening night. become showstoppers! Students from fellow “As it was School of Rock, BMAT schools Cooks members of the two bands Spinney Primary Academy, had to not only be in Harlow, and Forest Hall musicians, but performers, School, in Stansted, enjoyed too, on stage and off. an exclusive performance “We have high before the public were expectations of our young invited in to watch. people and they always rise Director Ben Eva said: to the challenge. They aspire “The great thing about this to be on the West End stage show is that it was not the and we coach them to usual faces we see coming ensure they are ready for forward to take part in that.” More than 100 students pulled together a West End-quality production of School of Rock Careers in engineering or astronomy may well STEM from new school

THE first cohort of students operates like the workplace – set to attend a specialist with traditional school STEM school have had a uniform replaced with office taste of their unique future. wear and detentions The group of 50 students swapped for HR meetings who will join Year 10 of the with the head to discuss new BMAT STEM Academy conduct. from September took part in Enrichment lessons will an induction day. form the last hour of every The school, in Harlow, is day, up to 4pm, to help to working closely with local develop students’ personal Students spent some of the day sampling lessons in computer employer partners to carve skills and attributes, as science, engineering, astronomy, 3D design and science. out a curriculum which will outlined by employers. help to fill the major skills Lisa Tooley, head of gap in the area. school, said: “Each half-term, Students looking to pursue students will be given targets Students took part in a The rest of the day was with a good level of pay and , in careers in the areas of to meet which are bespoke team challenge to get to spent sampling lessons in opportunities to travel the Harlow, the opportunity to science, technology, to them. They will cover know their new classmates computer science, world.” be the person he wants to be engineering and maths attendance, progress and and their surroundings, engineering, astronomy, 3D It was this range of is what made him choose the (STEM) have been attracted enrichment. Students will hunting around the building design and science. subjects which attracted school. He said: “I like how to the school as it offers the meet with the Senior for answers to questions Engineering teacher David Courtney Loft to the school. they teach here; we are being latest technology, high-end Leadership Team each half- about the school’s sponsor – Ramsey said: “Engineering is She joins from Mark Hall encouraged to be facilities and expertise in term to review those targets BMAT –key members of staff one of the subjects not Academy, in Harlow, and independent and that is how those industries. and to make sure they are on and procedures. available in many schools said: “My mum read about you learn best. I am looking New subjects students at track, producing a file of Teams were then give a because of a lack of this school in the newspaper forward to 3D design and the school will be able to evidence, just like they £100 budget and access to a resources and expertise. We and thought it had the range engineering; they are more study include GCSEs in would be expected to do in shop of items from rulers are very lucky to have both of subjects I was interested the subjects I will be engineering, astronomy, the workplace. and cello tape to glue and and to be able to teach these in. Here, I can take subjects interested in studying. statistics, computer science “The more they achieve, sticks and challenged to challenging courses. There is such as computer science “When this school opened, and 3D design. the higher the band of build a tower which stood a national shortage of and biology and I’m excited my parents could see how With securing skilled jobs rewards they will receive, one metre tall and could engineers and so anyone about that.” excited I became for the new for its young people the such as trips and internship withstand the weight of a with these qualifications will For Thomas Caruso, opportunity. I am excited to ultimate aim, the school opportunities.” pack of jelly sweets. be able to walk into a job moving across from get started.”