Meadow High School Parent Portal - Weekly Bulletin - Issue 8

Dear Families

Thank you for all your well-wishes, it is extremely good to be back at school!

Whilst walking the school and visiting classes this week, I have been pleased to hear and observe some excellent speaking, listening and communication. One class was reviewing a book, another was discussing the newsround article they watched, a group of pupils at breaktime invited me to join their conversation about diversity and asked some very searching questions about the use of language. I have joined different tables each day at lunchtime, where I have been included in, or observed, the conversations amongst our pupils. The reason I share this with you is because we are continuously striving to improve pupils' social communication skills and thought these were some excellent examples.

In addition to all of this, we know that there will be times when your child's communication decreases or changes. Here are 5 tips from DR. ANISA-REE MOSES Educational & Child Psychologist and Director of Learning & Wellbeing Psychology:

Understand how hard school can be for some children. Dr Anisa-Ree Moses says that children can feel emotional, physical and mental exhaustion at the end of the school day. They have been trying to manage a mix of things like learning, social expectations, their own growing social awareness and all the feedback they’re getting from teachers and peers.“When they come out of that environment a pressure valve is released. If kids feel safe to express themselves, they will do so!” The transition from school to home can also be challenging for some children: “Some kids may have difficulty separating from their parents. It’s a relief when they see them, because their parent or carer represents a level of safety, but they’re frustrated at the same time – the child wants them but is finding connection difficult at that moment.” Dr Moses adds that it can be particularly difficult for neurodiverse children who are coping with sensory sensitivities and the effort of containing a lot of emotions. When they come out of school they often can’t hold it all in any longer.
Let them have decompression time. Dr Moses suggests having a think about what your child needs when they come out of school. “Do they need to go and run around the school playground a few times and let go for a bit before they walk home? Do they need movement or do they need a healthy snack? Or quiet time alone with no music or no chatting on the way home in the car or bus?” It will be different for different kids, but Dr Moses suggests trying to be quiet on the walk or ride home. Connect with your child. You could say ‘I’m so happy to see you, I’m glad we get to go home together, it made me happy coming out of school this way’. Being calm and using supportive words is important for your children.” She adds: “Include some downtime rather than moving straight on to homework or out to a club, so that your child can decompress. They might enjoy their clubs but still feel anxious, so build in downtime first and make their routine clear, visual and written down if they need that. You can also ask them what will help, for example, drawing, reading a book or even just relaxing for a bit. Do it with them and help them to see they can do things to support themselves.”
Listen to them and help them feel heard. “Be understanding of their emotions - help them feel listened to if they want to talk about what’s gone on, or be angry.” "You could say ‘I can see you’re shouting. I can see you want to be really loud, maybe let’s go to the park on the way home’. Validate how they feel rather than try and control it. If they are impolite in the moment, come back to that later – talking at that moment won’t help.”
Dr Moses says the after-school ‘meltdown’ is an expression of emotion that often comes out physically. As parents you can recognise and label it, so your child can see it for what it is. “For example, ‘I can see you are kicking the bin, I can see you’re clenched and red, I can hear you’re shouting and that’s making me think you’re angry, so I want to help you. However, here’s not the safest place to do that, let’s go to the park, etc.’"

With older children, Dr Moses says it’s often more about them not wanting to talk or engage in any discussion about school. She adds: “Questions like ‘how was your day?’ will get a grunt or ‘it’s fine’. Think about what you are trying to find out. Can you remember an assignment they had or what they were going to be talking about with their friends? And connect by saying ‘I’m happy to see you and hope you’ve had a good day’ until they feel ready to come and have a conversation. Then offer yourself as being there, offer yourself as someone who wants to help and is interested in what’s going on."

"Help them feel listened to and respected and make a genuine connection.”
Ask for help if you think your child needs it. Dr Moses says your child might also be upset when they come out of school if there were any difficulties that day that weren’t addressed, or there’s something unresolved that’s happened. If your child’s behaviour after school changes or is different to what’s usual for them, try and find out if there are things happening during the school day that are affecting them. “Think about whether you need a home-school communication book, so that you know whether what’s been happening in school could trigger what happens at home. Information from school can help parents know how to approach a situation and whether there’s something that needs resolving.”
Build in time for connection. Connection is a great way for your child to know they’re loved and that you’re there for them, no matter what. It could be snuggling up in bed, reading a book together, playing a quick game, or just having a chat. Dr Moses suggests thinking about what your morning routine is like: “Is there anything you can build in there that can help them feel connected to you? I know this can be hard, I know how frustrating and annoying school runs can be! Let them know you’re looking forward to seeing them later, just for who they are, not for what they’ve achieved.” She adds: “If your child is finding separation difficult, can you give them a note or something of yours to have in school? For some children, knowing that Mum or Dad is a phone call away and it won’t be withheld from them helps them more."

If you would like to read the full article and advice from Dr Moses, please use this link. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z863cxs

May I wish you all a very good weekend and I hope that these tips may be of help to some of you!

Mrs J Rigby
Headteacher

Contact - Supported Living For People With Learning Disabilities and Autism

Please join us for the upcoming online learning session ‘Supported living for people with learning disabilities and autism’ taking place on Thursday 9^th November starting at 10am via Zoom.

Please email parent.participation@contact.org.uk ASAP if you would like to make us aware of any accessibility issues, so that we can assist your access to the session.

This session will be presented by Steve Harris from Progress Housing Group and is aimed at aimed at people who are looking to make long term plans who are currently in, or approaching transition into adult services

Supported living for people with learning disabilities and autism The session is aimed at people who are looking to make long term plans who are currently in, or approaching transition into adult services. This session will be presented by Steve Harris from Progress Housing Group and will cover:

How supported living works for people who want choice and control over where they live and how they are supported.
The transition period and options for young people and families including residential care and supported living.
How housing, care and support works together
Specialist organisations and services they can offer.
LA and NHS responsibilities, funding housing and support and how this links with housing and support provision

The aim of the event is to provide family carers who support a relative with a learning disability with the information they need to plan ahead for their relatives and to get a better understanding of the housing and support options, their good and not so good points, and how they can be funded and managed.

About the presenter – Steve Harris has worked with a range of organisations supporting people with learning disabilities, including a care and support role in a local authority children’s respite service and managerial roles in various residential care and supported living services. An understanding that housing was a vital element in ensuring good quality social care led to housing and support development roles, co-coordinating policy and improving joint working between local authority commissioning and housing association provision. He was then involved in developing and implementing the Supporting People programme for Leeds City Council before taking a role in social care commissioning. Steve worked with Housing Options, a charitable national membership organisation providing housing and social care advice to families, local authorities and professionals, developing innovative housing solutions, taking on consultancy projects and working with government departments on national policy development. He was involved in developing Housing Options into the Housing and Support Alliance and then Learning Disability England. Steve joined RWP, a specialist supported housing registered provider in 2016.

To register for the session please see the booking details below;

When: Thursday November 9, 2023 10:00 AM London

Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMof-CsqDMrGdXGPGxeTGsn4oOBeRAXXAiy

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please note if you are unable to attend on the day, a recording of the webinar session along with relevant documents will be available shortly after the webinar on our Resource Pages.

Kindest regards
Parent carer participation
Contact

Reminder

Friday 10 November 2023 is ANNUAL REVIEW DAY (for some pupils)

School is CLOSED to all pupils

Options Beyond Meadow

Coffee Morning for Parents of Pupils in Sixth Form (including Pathway 1)

Tuesday 7th November 2023: 9:00am – 11:00am

Lost Property

Friends of Meadow Quiz Night

This Week There Have Been Halloween Events and Activities In School

In Art, Class JR have been making Autumn and Halloween prints.

Meadow High School Hello Youtube Channel – New Stories now available to enjoy !

German School from Hannover visits MHS/London!

Calendar / Letters Home / Lunches

Upcoming Events

Useful Information

Letters Home

School Lunches

Monday 6 November - Friday 10 November 2023

Week 3 - NEW MENU - AUTUMN / WINTER 2023 menu below:

Keeping Pupils Safe Online

News & Events In The Community

Job Vacancies

All Meadow High School job vacancies are advertised on the Crinklerecruitment.com website. Applications must be made via the crinklerecruitment.com website.

School Telephone: 01895 443310

Reporting Pupil Absence: attendance@meadowhighschool.org

Email: meadow@meadowhighschool.org

School Website: www.meadowhighschool.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeadowHighSch

Instagram: follow@meadhowhighschool.org

Youtube: meadowhighschoolhello

Friday 10 November 2023 is
ANNUAL REVIEW DAY (for some pupils)

Coffee Morning for
Parents of Pupils in Sixth Form
(including Pathway 1)

In Art, Class JR have been making
Autumn and Halloween prints.

Meadow High School Hello Youtube Channel
– New Stories now available to enjoy !

German School from Hannover
visits MHS/London!

Week 3
- NEW MENU -
AUTUMN / WINTER 2023 menu below:

All Meadow High School job vacancies are advertised on the Crinklerecruitment.com website.
Applications must be made via the crinklerecruitment.com website.