Latest News

Holmes New Home!

After half term, Holmes will have transitioned into their lovely new classroom which includes all round chalk board on the wall to encourage creativity and emergent writing. There is also a sensory and life skills corner with different textures to support sensory needs as well as an opportunity for students to learn to tie their shoelaces, zip and unzip and buckle and unbuckle.

Also in the room you can find a home and shopping corner to support development of life skills, sensory play equipment, additional resources to enhance the curriculum, musical instruments and a construction train set. All of which will encourage exploratory play to develop the use of language, inquisitively, awe and wonder!

PRICE Training at Serenity

We are pleased to share that due to our schools growth, 8 staff members were selected to complete the 5 Day PRICE (Protecting Rights In a Caring Environment) training to become trainers.
We are devoted to cultivating a positive atmosphere where both staff and students are treated with respect, appreciation, and encouragement. This training help to equip our teams with the necessary skills to manage behaviour in a caring and efficient way, ensuring the safety and rights of every student.

Please see below an extract from out autumn 2 Newsletter (full version available online)

Darwin (Key Stage 2 – Semi-Formal)  

Dear Parents and Carers, A Magical Half-Term Adventure! As we wrap up this exciting half term, we would like to share some of the amazing experiences and learning adventures your children have enjoyed. The Lost and Found Adventure (Literacy) Our story began with Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers. We met a lonely penguin and a brave little boy who taught us about friendship, bravery, and overcoming loneliness. Together, we sailed across icy oceans and visited the South Pole, where penguins waddled and played. But the adventure didn’t stop there!

We linked our adventure to Geography, where we learnt why it stays frozen in the Arctic and how climate change is affecting this unique environment. We discovered how the ice is melting and how this impacts animals like polar bears and narwhals and more also our own home here in the UK. A fascinating start to our mini-project on Arctic Animals.

As part of this project, the children turned into researchers and presenters for a special Show and Tell session. Each child explored how climate change affects Arctic animals, from polar bears struggling to find ice for hunting to narwhals navigating changing waters. It was amazing to see their hard work come to life as they proudly showcased their findings to the class. Their presentations were filled with facts, drawings, and a sense of wonder—it was a moment of learning, teamwork, and confidence.

Secret Science Detectives

Next, we put on our detective hats and became science investigators! We discovered why matter has different forms—solids, liquids, and gases— and how temperature changes everything. Ice melted, water boiled, and the classroom buzzed with excitement as we conducted experiments like real scientists. Our detective work even helped us understand why the Arctic stays frozen (for now!) and how we can take care of our beautiful planet.

The Land of Numbers (Numeracy) …. From there, we journeyed to the magical Land of Multiplication, Division, Measurement, and Decimals. With our imaginations soaring, we guessed the measurements of the school, the classroom, and even some everyday objects. Numbers turned into puzzles, and decimals became “floating numbers” that made us giggle as we solved sums.Whether adding “big numbers” or conquering tricky challenges, the children proved they were true Number Explorers!

Creative Adventures in DT

Creativity bloomed in the land of Art and DT! Armed with brushes and colourful paints, the children created beautiful masterpieces that brightened our classroom. In DT, they explored magical mechanisms like levers, sliders, and wheels to create moving parts for traditional tales like Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood. Their creativity knew no bounds!

The Great Swimming Escape!! … Every Friday, the children packed their swimming kits and raced off to the pool. Like little fish, they splashed, swam, and laughed, always reluctant to leave the water when time was up. Fridays quickly became the highlight of the week, and what an amazing job they all did in improving their swimming skills!

Blossoming Friendship

As the children worked, played, and learned together, something beautiful began to happen: friendships blossomed. New bonds were formed, laughter filled the room, and teamwork became the heart of our classroom.

Whether helping each other solve a tricky problem, cheering on a friend in swimming, or sharing ideas in Art and DT, the children showed kindness, support, and a growing sense of community.

 

A Festive Finale …. As our journey drew to a close, we celebrated with a sprinkle of festive magic. The children decorated the Christmas tree in the atrium, transforming it into a twinkling masterpiece. They also got creative making colourful Christmas cards to spread joy and cheer. The room was filled with smiles, laughter, and holiday spirit—what a wonderful way to end the term!

And so… Our half-term story may be ending, but the memories we’ve made will last a lifetime. Thank you, parents and carers, for being part of our adventure. Your support has made this journey truly special.

From all of us here, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Here’s to more magical adventures next term.

Warm wishes,

Ms Esther Ikwuagwu (Class Teacher)

VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS (READING/PHONICS & HOMEWORK)

 
Dear Parents/Carers, 
 
Please find attached a letter outlining our Virtual Workshops which we will be holding in December, so we can introduce you to and share information about our new homework programme on My Child at School (MCAS).  This incorporates phonics, reading and Maths for our semi formal pupils and project-based learning for our nurture pupils. 
The aim of the workshops are for school and home to support your child with the new homework timetable. 

PRICE Training at Serenity

 
We’re proud to share that our dedicated PRICE trainers have successfully completed another round of PRICE (Protecting Rights In a Caring Environment) training for our new staff. 
 
This vital training equips our team with compassionate and effective behaviour management skills, ensuring that we can support every pupil’s rights and safety. At Serenity School, we are committed to creating a nurturing environment where both staff and pupils feel valued, respected, and empowered. 
 
A huge thank you to our trainers for their commitment and expertise!

TEEP Training at Serenity!

Our Teaching and Learning Leads across our schools recently completed an intensive three-day training in the Teacher Effectiveness Enhancement Programme (TEEP), a research-based model that aligns closely with our vision of fostering inclusion, independence, and self-worth for both students and staff. This training led by the remarkable Andy Williams of SSAT UK, marks the first step in our journey to becoming a fully-fledged TEEP school.
 
The TEEP model is centred on creating inclusive and dynamic learning environments, designed to empower each individual within our school community. Through this training, our leaders explored impactful strategies that will help us nurture self-worth in students and staff, foster a greater sense of independence in learning, and promote a collaborative culture that values every voice.
 
In the coming months, Serenity Schools will work to embed the TEEP framework across all classrooms. With our senior leaders guiding the way, we are committed to making TEEP a central part of our educational culture, building a school community where inclusion, independence, and self-worth are at the heart of everything we do

Information for September Starters

We are very much looking forward to welcoming our students in September.

We will be contacting parents/carers before the end of the academic year about an open day where you will be able to tour the school site, meet the Headteacher, members of the SLT and some of the teachers. We will also be holding a uniform collection day for students at the start of September which will be another opportunity for parents/carer’s and the students to meet staff and get to see the school building ahead of their first day

Work is currently being done to get the school looking Serenity ready.