Rachel Tomlinson FRSA #ubuntu
@BarrowfordHead
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Head teacher at Barrowford School - an @Ashoka Changemaker School. She/Her Personal views expressed.
Barrowford, Lancashire
Joined July 2011
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Pinned Tweet
Thread:
The Punishment of Rewards.
As many of you know, Barrowford Primary School is reward and sanction free.
There are many and varied reasons for this.
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This morning, these two boys brought their prayer mats and asked to do their Zuhr Namaz at school. Just so incredibly respectful and respected by our whole community who ensured that we were quiet to enable the boys to have the right mindset (niyyah) to pray.
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Announcement 8pm. SLT meeting 8:30. Systems in place and kicking in 8:45pm. Full staff 9:00pm. Parents 9:45pm. Letters and forms out by 10:30pm. Bed 1am. Up 5:30am - today to populate rotas and registers. Our staff are ace. We got this! Will be happening in schools everywhere!
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A little chap has transferred to our school yesterday after suffering some serious adversity. He ran to his mum at home time and said, ‘Mum, thank you for finding me this school!’ And that’s why I love my job and our school. Right there. ❤️💙💚🧡🌈
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To the young man who just approached
@bps_teacher
and me in the services at Norton Canes!
We are just on our way home with 47 Year 6 children after 3 jam-packed days in London.
While that gives us huge amounts of pleasure, it also gives huge amounts of stress and exhaustion. 1
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We have a little chap in EYFS. He came to us on a managed move. He’s making so much progress. He had a hug with his TA today. He said, ‘At my old school, nobody loved me!’
I could weep.
All our children deserve to feel loved.
Please love them - they know.
❤️🧡💙💚🌈
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We are hoping that more and more children feel able to freely show their faith and join them. I love that our school is a safe place for everyone to be themselves!
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️🧡💚💙🌈
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So today, one of our teachers forgot to upload a document the children needed for their learning. He apologised in the group chat after he remembered to put it up. One of the little girls immediately reassured him and wrote, 'no need to say sorry, mistakes happen'.
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I hope sometimes our pupils and ex-pupils will pay it back to other teachers like you did today.
I’ll remember you for a long time!
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️💚💙🧡🌈
7/7
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From this week, all of our children have a screen free Wednesday afternoon each week. This will give our families time to get some fresh air, bake, play games or just chill out. And the same for our staff.
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️🧡💙💚🌈
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We have a new Y4 child. He has experienced permanent exclusion. Today was his 6th full day with us. It’s been a bit up and down if I’m honest. But this aft, he made buns and I had first choice! We will get there with love. And an amazing team.
#learntolovelovetolearn
❤️💚🧡💙🌈
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Thread:
Over half term I was contacted about a Year 6 boy who had been permanently excluded in January.
He had only started at the school in November. Had spent some time in ‘respite’ but was ‘sent back’ to school after a fortnight as the provision couldn’t do anything for him.
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Yesterday evening at our Leavers’ Assembly, every child got a pencil case filled with equipment they will need for high school, their Leavers’ book and a compass to remind them that they know how to find the right way!
Today they’ll do a colour run to finish their time with us.
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Several weeks ago, pupil access requested a place for a little girl who had just arrived in the country with her parents.
Six years old, thought to be profoundly deaf - never had an audiology appointment, can’t yet get an audiology appointment because…
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So - while teaching is hard, especially at the moment - never ever forget the difference we make. To individuals. To parents. To our whole communities. And to each other.
Never forget what a privilege and honour it is every day.
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
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Having had some time to reflect upon the heartbreaking news of a headteacher colleague taking her own life linked to an inspection outcome and lots of people being open about their experiences, I feel like I need to share my own.
It’s a long thread!
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A number of things happened in quick succession (30 mins-ish) this morning at school which I want to share.
First, a phone call from a 93 year old neighbour who wants to make a donation for the children at Christmas. She ‘has found herself in a position to help‘ and wants to.
1/9
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So the husband did a lateral flow test tonight. And then developed ALL the symptoms until it showed a negative result and they all disappeared.
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Unusual times. Trying to look after our staff - a pair of blue-light glasses for them all to mitigate some of the strain of looking at screens all day!
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️💚🧡💙🌈
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I know it's long - if you stuck it through to the end: thank you!
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
End
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@rumena_aktar
Do you know, I am humbled by that thanks. The boys’ mums also have thanked me alongside others like yourself. In truth, I have done nothing to deserve it. This should just be an accepted norm. People practising their faith. Whoever. Whenever. However.
I hope that too. ❤️
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The privilege of working in a school to see that up close and personal is immense and I am always grateful for it.
I also can’t wait to be able to sign. I love my job!
As my friend,
@elly_chapple
says -
#FlipTheNarrative
.
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️🧡💙💚🌈🎉🫶
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…she wanted to join the rest of the year group. She snuggled up to the teacher and made lots of eye contact and smiles with the children. She didn’t want to leave.
Children are remarkable. Staff in schools are remarkable. Humans are remarkable.
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You told us how amazing you think teachers are, what a brilliant job we do and how respectable our profession is.
You said that when you were younger, you never really thought about it and you were saying it to us now on behalf of our chn because they might not realise.
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Hi. I’m a primary school head. My interests are inclusion, especially when it comes to behaviour, and curriculum - and loads of other general edu stuff. Am a bit twitter-shy but love connecting with folk. Have a great Tuesday ❤️💚💙🧡🌈
#TinyVoiceTuesdayUnites
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This afternoon was magical. Our whole school felt it.
For the first time in well over 15 months, our whole school community came together.
The joy on the faces of our children as they saw staff they love and miss seeing, their friends in other year groups, our new...
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You didn’t know us. You had no reason to come and give us such lovely feedback.
But.
It meant more than you could ever know or have predicted. I might have cried a little bit. Karl definitely sat up straighter.
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And now we are looking for a banger of a car that he can fix up with the help of other kids with different interests and skill sets. Can anyone help?
#BestJobInTheWorld
#AmazingTeam
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️
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Our new rules of engagement and entry to Barrowford School by order of Laura Nuttall!
Thanks
@shitscaredmum
- we love it and we will be proud to tell everyone who asks about them about Laura and the marvellous Nuttall family.
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
🧡💙❤️💚🌈🎉
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I'm heartbroken to share the news that we lost our beautiful Laura in the early hours of this morning.
She was fierce & tenacious to the end & it was truly the honour of my life to be her mum.
We are devastated at the thought of life without our girl, she was a force of nature💔
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Today one of very little ones who has experienced significant trauma and adversity and is almost non-verbal invited me into his personal safe space (tent)! Can’t put into words the sense of joy that brought. And that’s why I love my job!
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️💚🧡💙🌈
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Last week, the mum of one of our Y4 children died.
I read this book to the rest of the year group today and it really supported our discussion about how he might be feeling and how we could all help.
Thank you
@JohnDougherty8
and
@TDIllustration
- it’s beautiful.
❤️💙🧡💚🌈
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If you are a school leader or work in a school, reach out if things are hard or even if they aren’t. You aren’t alone. You are important. You are more than your job.
END
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Imagine your Y6 child has experienced permanent exclusion. You’ve had lots of negative feedback about them. They start their new school today. Their class teacher sends you this email after their first day:
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My beautiful daughter started singing lessons 8 years ago.
Today she got her grade 8 result. A resounding 93% and a distinction.
So bloody delighted for her.
Here’s a snippet:
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Thank you to your teachers who obviously gave you a great experience - as so many teachers give so many children!
You reminded us why what we do is so important and valuable and why we exhaust ourselves regularly.
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And the result is a regulated, happy child. And regulated, happy staff. Who cry! Because it means so much.
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
🧡❤️💚💙🌈
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Here’s a beauty of a song from my beauty of a daughter.
It really made me smile, hope it does the same for you!
@itsmaysworld_
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And that’s why I love working at our school with the amazing people I work with and for. And that’s why our kids and parents feel so valued and loved. And why they thrive.
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
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Whilst getting up for school after half term might be incredibly difficult for us as professionals, one of the things that drives me is knowing that some of our children will have spent the entire half term looking forward to this morning because school is their safe place. ❤️
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From tomorrow, I’ll be the Executive Headteacher at a second school in addition to Barrowford.
I’m excited to be able to share good practice, spread the love and learn from others!
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️💚🧡💙🌈🎉
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And what we know is that the vast majority of our staff would also undertake this without complaint. Aren’t our kids lucky!? And he went home planning the next steps and knowing he belongs and is welcomed and valued. Possibly for the first time ever.
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Last lockdown, I did virtual (optional) 1-1 meetings with all staff every few weeks just to catch up and give them some space and time with me. They really valued the time. I’ve just booked them all a time again in the next couple of weeks. Big investment of time but worth it.
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THREAD:
Zero Tolerance But Full Inclusion:
When I show prospective parents, carers and visitors around our school, I am always really clear with them that we have an unusual (for schools) approach to managing behaviour.
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Hi all
I am sure you will have seen in the news that the National Education Union are taking strike action on Wednesday 5th July and Friday 7th Friday.
School will be CLOSED to ALL children on both days.
The Year 6 London trip will not be affected.
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And then spent all afternoon out there too. Even when he came in ‘for a break’ and watched her through the window because it was cold! 😂 Here she is. With a smile on her face that you can’t see. And that it why I love my job and the team I am privileged to lead.
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It’s the small things that are the big things.
My husband makes me a brew every morning and then one in my travel cup
to take with me.
On the days, I’m not at work and he leaves before I get up, he makes me a brew in my travel cup so it’s there when I wake up.
❤️❤️❤️
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Last year, a parent made me this very bespoke hat!
I love it - lots of different details on it.
I was very excited to get it back out this morning and rock it in the playground!
#learntolovelovetolearn
❤️💚💙🧡🌈🎉🎅🎄
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Just an incredible young woman from an incredible family. ❤️
Today Laura makes her final contribution to the fight against
#glioblastoma
by donating her brain to medical research
Laura was passionate about improving treatment so that other families don’t go through the same pain as us
#BeMoreLaura
@ICR_London
@BrainTumourOrg
@ourbrainbank
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I post a bedtime story on our school Facebook page every evening. Completely out of my comfort zone. However a little Y2 chap came to me today and said:
Thankyou for our bedtime stories. They’re good. You’re a good reader.
Confidence boosted.
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️🧡💙💚🌈
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We provide a Zoom space for parents each week. They bring a brew and themselves. No agenda. No judgement. Just a place to share and be and talk. It really helps.
I wondered if any school leaders would want to have a similar space at the moment. Would anyone be up for that?
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And here it is framed. I’m quite happy with how that looks.
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Oh my goodness! I’m usually a Twitter lurker. More active on Facebook. Tonight I posted a thread about an example of the amazing work we do at school and my notifications have exploded. What a lovely evening. I didn’t need my faith in humanity restoring but it has been affirmed.
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Just cried a little bit. (*a lot)
Good happy tears.
A lovely comment from a parent on our school Facebook page.
About a little chap who has set his clothes out ready for his first ever school trip tomorrow.
He’s in Year 3!
And that, folks, is why we do it!
❤️🧡💚💙🌈
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Exciting day. Welcoming ALL our children back! And new shoes that I’ve been saving for the occasion!
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
#irregularchoice
#icshoes
#DrSeuss
❤️💙🧡💚🌈🥿
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I’ve just had a member of our SLT come to my office and cry.
About an EYFS child.
This little chap is fairly new to us and we have had to really think hard about the provision we are putting in place.
He has been so overstimulated and distressed and…
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Our lovely Ellie left us last night after 18 years of ‘very-good-girling’.
Very sad day in our house.
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Getting my girl settled and sorted in her room today with mixed feelings!
Very exciting and very emotional in equal measure. But her room is cosy and her room-mate is lovely.
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I’ve just signed and returned a book contract to a publisher!!!
I’m about halfway through! Being about 97% braver!
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️💚🧡💙🌈
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Almost complete. Just waiting for more thread to do the last few stitches on the top bubble.
#LockdownProject
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The Nuttall Family are just a phenomenon.
I was so privileged to be able to celebrate the wonderful life and legacy of the incredible Laura Nuttall this evening.
I vow to
#BeMoreLaura
but also
#BeMoreNicolaMarkAndGracie
Thank you for having us
@shitscaredmum
❤️💚🧡💙🌈🎉
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Please support our teaching unions in their bid to ensure a positive future for our schools and children.
Yours
Rach x
10/10
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After dithering about it for YEARS, worried I was too old, too headteachery, too scared, finally had a nose piercing today! Happy Christmas to me! 🎅🎄
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Today, EVERY child in school went home with an Easter egg.
We had almost 200 donated by parents. And then Mel Turner managed to persuade local shops to donate the rest.
We are so grateful and so proud to be part of such a generous community.
Thank you to everyone who donated.
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All our Year 6 children have come home with this letter today to think about before National Curriculum Tests next week.
#learntolovelovetolearn
♥💙💚🧡🌈
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...they just needed someone whose opinion they valued to know about it and share that brilliant feeling in the moment. So that’s what we do. All day, every day. Online and offline. It’s personal.
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So - we’ve been married 22 years today! Happy anniversary to my unusual, grumpy, nurturing, shouty, loving, energetic and generally fab husband!
#NotChangedABit
🤣❤️
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Happy Monday.
All of our teachers are very happy with their surprise new book for their classroom. It is so wonderful, all of our children should be able to see it, read it, look at it and think about its messages. One for each class base. Thanks for the beauty
@charliemackesy
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We have worked with our Teacher of the Deaf and got lots of advice from her. Same with our Speech and Language Therapist. We’ve invested in resources. Planned who will work with her and when.
Everyone in school is going to learn BSL alongside her; her parents too.
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And done!!!
This is for my lovely husband; it’s his favourite hymn and we sang it at our wedding, 24 years ago on Monday!
❤️❤️
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@dramalel
My feeling is that if we can get him to realise that he has worth and also be able to relate to people then he has won. We only have until July with him. But we will do our very best and he has already changed over the two days. ❤️
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Last week, one of our children came to me to show me that he could do a Rubik’s cube in less than a minute. With one hand.
He is so proud of it. And it’s given him hero status in class - and amongst the staff!!
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Over the last week, he has been going into the EYFS for 15 mins or so at a time. Today - by choice - he spent the whole day in there, engaging and learning.
And that’s why I love my job and our school.
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
❤️🧡💚💙🌈
2/2
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When you approached us, our hearts sank. We knew that 47 children all getting a McDonalds and being excited about it was frustrating. And they were loud too!
And we were eating!
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I love talking to the children in our school who flexi-school. They get up to all sorts of exciting things on the days that they learn outside of school; swimming, kayaking, meeting other home educating families, baking, horse-riding, ice-skating, walking, visiting museums
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Oh my goodness. There has been such an amazing reaction from my thread about rewards. I’m a bit (lot) humbled. Thank you. I’m trying to follow everybody back but at the moment it won’t let me. ❤️💚💙🧡🌈
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Hi all
I know some of you will be thinking about end of year gifts for the staff at school.
First, I want to make it clear that this is unnecessary and that there is no level of expectation at all for parents/children to buy gifts.
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You had no way of knowing that!
I think you were with a group of peers yourself - about 19 years old, maybe younger.
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My moment of the day was one of our Year 4 children, who has been gifted a Kindle Fire, hugging it all day. She said to our AHT, ‘I can’t believe this has actually happened!’
#ChangingLives
#LearnToLoveLoveToLearn
💚🧡💙❤️🌈
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And it’s finished!! Just waiting for the frame to arrive tomorrow and then it’s ready. A gift for our much-loved parish priest who retires on Sunday. 😢❤️
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Fist bumps to all education staff making school a positive, warm and loving experience for children and families this week. Again. Much love. ❤️💙💚🧡🌈
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We know it has been a LOOOONG time coming but what a way to welcome in the new term.
We are proud to be part of the Barrowford Primary School Community - we are as GOOD as GOOD can be!
#learntolovelovetolearn
❤️🧡💚💙🌈
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Today she came into school for the first time. She came with her mum and grandma for support. We introduced her to a small group and she played alongside for a while using play dough, joined the group to make some plastic sculptures and then demonstrated that…
5/7
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One of our little ones is having a tough time trusting us at the moment and sometimes co-regulation is hard. It’s exhausting. And feels incessant.
Today we reshared his life story and reminded ourselves why it was so important to carry on with all that we are doing.
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Life isn’t a pinterest board – it is far more gritty and complex and colourful and unpredictable and exciting than that!
We need to unite and not divide our communities right now. And, actually, always.
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Our premises manager takes children fishing every Friday.
Today he took three new anglers.
One of them is an elective mute. He’s in Year 6. I’ve barely heard him speak.
Today, he had to shush so he didn’t disturb the fish.
Amazing!
And that folks, is why we do it.
🧡❤️💚💙
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the family are waiting to be registered with a GP, never attended a school, no language at all save for one or two family-designed signs.
We’ve been working on her transition since. We’ve done a few home visits, introducing new faces and personalities.
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The accountability school staff and leadership are subjected to is disproportionate and the stakes are too high. The impact is too great. It is a massive part of the crisis in education recruitment.
There is a better way.
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He loves engines. He’s a mechanic. He found a shed on school premises that is a bit unloved and this became his workshop. He spent the afternoon designing how he was going to fix it up. He arrived on Friday morning with his toolbox.
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We are using Widgits with BSL to introduce signs alongside other resources. The interveners have been taking some selected Widgits to the house to start giving her some essential signs. She picking them up so quickly.
4/7
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She has been learning signs since September.
This morning, she showed us about 25 very diverse signs from pictures on flash cards. And was SO proud of herself.
Astounding.
And is at the start of being able to communicate and make herself understood.
7/9
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During COVID, one of things we did was that I ‘booked’ catch up calls with all the staff team every few weeks.
Half an hour with me , their agenda, their choice whether it happened or not.
We’ve continued to do it - it has to be evenings now and just once term.
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11 months after the inadequate judgement, we got a very decidedly good judgement (just a couple of weeks before my 40th birthday!)!
We were never inadequate.
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Meet our staff:
My name is Rachel Tomlinson.
My job in school is headteacher – a role that is an honour and a privilege.
I love working at Barrowford School because the community is incredible and teaches me so much every day.
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THREAD:
In February, I slipped on some ice and fell heavily onto my arm.
Nothing broken, fortunately, but very badly bruised and very painful.
For a few days, I was very focused on my arm.
I was really aware of what it was doing and what it was preventing me doing.
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And then independently picked up his pencil and wrote his name, a T and an I for ice-cream. And drew a picture. Of him sharing an ice-cream with Mr T. And then told us all about it.
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