Dear Parents, Carers and Families,
It has been another thoughtful and purposeful week here at Whitehill Primary, with a strong focus on ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive.
This week I have been working closely with our SENCO and a number of external professionals to review the provision and progress of our pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). I am delighted to share that it has been incredibly encouraging to see the positive progress many of our pupils have made so far this year. These reviews are an important part of ensuring that our support remains responsive and effective. They also led to some very constructive discussions about how we can continue to strengthen our provision moving forward, particularly for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
As part of our ongoing commitment to developing our therapeutic offer, we were also pleased to welcome advisors from The Dog Mentor Programme to the school this week—accompanied by their beautiful chocolate Labradors. Their visit allowed us to explore how therapeutic dog programmes can support pupils’ wellbeing, confidence and emotional regulation. It was a purposeful visit, and we are excited to consider how this approach might enhance the support we provide.
I would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the parents and carers who
attended yesterday’s Autism Workshop. It was a very positive and engaging session that sparked lots of meaningful conversation about how we can best support children who are neurodivergent. Opportunities to share ideas, experiences and strategies are incredibly valuable, and we look forward to hosting further workshops in the future. If you were unable to attend this time, please don’t worry—there will be more opportunities to take part.
Our Student Council also met this week to review the outcomes of the most recent class debates held across the school. The result of these discussions was unanimous: pupils have expressed a strong interest in holding a “Break the Rules Day” to raise money for Cancer Research UK. We are incredibly proud of the children’s desire to support such an important cause. More information will be shared soon, so please watch this space!
Finally, I am delighted to share some wonderful news from Year 6. One of our
pupils has been awarded third place in the Oracy Cup, an annual speaking and listening competition developed through a partnership between Equalitas and the Charlton Athletic Community Trust. Hundreds of entries were submitted from schools across the region, making this a fantastic achievement. As part of the competition, winning schools will take part in a range of exciting Charlton Athletic experiences, including a matchday commentary opportunity, a press conference experience and a Charlton TV production day.
We are incredibly proud that one of our Year 6 pupils achieved third place—an outstanding accomplishment and a testament to the confidence, communication skills and hard work our pupils demonstrate. Well done!
As always, thank you for your continued support. It is through our strong partnership with families that we are able to create such a positive and nurturing environment for our children.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.
Angela Carpenter
Headteacher
Safeguarding for Parents
Attendance
Key Dates
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