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I was recently very fortunate to hear from a man who had been brought into the UK illegally as a  9 year old child - Hussein Abdi Kahin had lost his dad during a civil war and then became separated from his Mum, and so he had been put to work with a family in the UK. Essentially, he had been forced into child labour. He had to look after the children of a family that he didn't know. As we hear so often, he didn't realise that the way he was being treated was not what other children were facing.  

Eventually, at around the age of 12, he was allowed to start school. During this time, his PE teacher noted that he had a talent for running, and he worked with Hussein to develop this ability. Slowly, Hussein began to realise that his life outside of school was not the same as other children and one day he plucked up the courage to speak to his PE teacher about it: explaining how he had come to be in the UK and that he wasn't really a refugee in the way that his 'controllers' had explained to the school.

His PE teacher took the time to listen and then, with the support of the school, gave Hussein the support that he needed with the situation that he had found himself in. At the same time, the PE teacher continued to work with him on the running track. 

That small act of kindness led to Hussein winning a double Olympic Gold at the UK Olympics in 2012 - in the 10,000m and 5000m. It was the first time that a British Athlete had won gold in the 10,000m- at the time of winning you may have known Hussein as Mo Farrah - the name he had been given all those years ago when he was trafficked into the country.

After telling us this story, it made me think how important just one person can be to another: in this case, Mo's PE teacher - he became a 'safe' adult to Mo - through a common interest in athletics and sport and through this they built a secure relationship in which Mo felt he could open up to him.

At this time of the year, it feels important to have people we feel safe with and can trust, sometimes it doesn't happen quickly, but every child deserves to have someone who will look out for them  - don't leave that to other people - make sure that it is you.

And, when that happens then children can go on to achieve great things, not everyone will go on to win an Olympic medal, but that success can be measured in many different ways. 

This term, we took a stand against bullying by celebrating Anti-Bullying Week!  Thanks to the talented Bubble Theatre Company, our students enjoyed an interactive workshop that brought the classic tale of Cinderella to life, teaching valuable lessons about kindness and empathy.  Staff and students also took part in an Odd Sock Day to celebrate uniqueness and spark important conversations about bullying. In class, we embraced open discussions about being kind and how to support one another. 

This term we have also enjoyed lots of Christmas festivities. One of the highlights was our Reception Christmas Nativity. All the children worked hard practising songs and dance moves (which were excellent!). Their performance was heart warming to watch. 

We look forward to next term as we have a special visit planned from M&M Theatrical Productions who will be bringing the story of Jack and the Giant Beanstalk to our school! Every year, these pantomimes are a huge hit with our children. 

Liam Cox

Headteacher

Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs During Christmas

Practical Tips for a Calm and Enjoyable Christmas

1. Maintain a Predictable Routine
   While some changes are inevitable, keeping certain elements of your child’s routine intact—such as meal and bedtime schedules—can provide a sense of stability. Use visual timetables or social stories to help your child understand what to expect.
2. Plan Sensory-Friendly Activities
   Create a quiet space where your child can retreat if they feel overwhelmed. Engage in low-sensory activities, such as decorating with non-flashing lights or listening to calming Christmas music.
3. Involve Your Child in Preparations
   Giving your child a role in festive preparations, like choosing decorations or wrapping presents, can provide a sense of control and reduce anxiety.
4. Communicate with Family and Friends
   Explain your child’s needs to relatives ahead of gatherings. Set expectations about noise levels, dietary requirements, or preferred ways of interaction.
5. Pre-Prepare for Gift Giving
   Unwrapping presents can be exciting but also stressful. Allow your child to open gifts at their own pace or even spread the activity over several days. Consider sensory-friendly toys or familiar items as gifts.
6. Focus on What Matters
   Remember that your Christmas doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Focus on what brings joy and comfort to your family, whether it’s baking together, watching a favourite movie, or simply enjoying quiet moments.

Embracing Flexibility

Every child with SEN is unique, and what works for one might not work for another. The key is to be flexible, patient, and responsive to your child’s cues. With thoughtful adjustments, Christmas can be a time of connection and joy for the whole family.

For more tips and resources, visit organisations such as the National Autistic Society or SEND Gateway.

Follow us on social media for more action..

Year 2 pupils led the Christmas production of Simply The Nativity and what a fantastic job they all did of learning and remembering all their lines and songs!

They had 3 performances overall; 1 for the junior school Year 3 children, 1 afternoon performance and then back in the evening for another performance! 

All of the children spoke their lines loudly, clearly and confidently! 

We had cups of teas and coffees, mince pies, followed by a fabulous performance by both Reception and Year 1. 

There was some funky dancing making everyone smile and lots of confident smiling faces beaming down as they sang their lines perfectly!

They even managed to get some grown-ups joining in with some of the classic carols! 

The carols round the tree service was followed by Richard and Tina from Dolce serving up a taster session of their fabulous all-day breakfast, for the grown-ups to try!

The Reception and Year 1 children also supported year 2 in their performance as well, so they have really had a busy time learning so many new songs and actions along with performing 3 days on the trot!

Now for the smallest of our school family, Poppies pre-school class performed their first Christmas performance for their grown-ups!

We are so, so proud of how confidently and clearly they sang their songs and said their lines. For a lot of children, this is the first time they have ever done anything like this, so to see how well they performed really blew us away! 

We are so proud of everyone at St James this term, including all the amazing members of staff who have put in so much effort to make these performances happen and come together for families to enjoy!

Sarah O'Shea

Headteacher 

Could you, or someone you know, be a school governor? 

INMAT has eleven academies for primary aged children within the trust. Part of the management of our schools involves volunteers who become school governors, helping to oversee strategic matters within the leadership team. 

We are currently recruiting governors for some of our academies and would love to hear from you if you are interested in finding out more.  We have a particular need for volunteers at one of our Northampton schools. 

It may be that you can’t commit to school governance right now, but you may know someone else who would be a good fit.  If so, please ask them to contact us! 

How do I find out more? 

Please email governance@inmat.org.uk or email our Lead Trust Governance Professional on carole.kirby@inmat.org.uk. Carole, or her Deputy, Maria, can answer any questions and will be happy to have an informal chat if you’d like to explore governance opportunities. 

Are you thinking of becoming a teacher?

• Do you have a passion for teaching?
• Do you want to complete training at a school local to you?
• Do you have a degree?

We're looking for candidates for our school-based teacher training course which is going live in September 2025.

For further information about the SCITT course, click the lines below.

Northamptonshire Teaching School Hub - Upcoming events

Get school experience

Funding: initial teacher training (ITT)

Register your interest in the SCITT course

Get in touch for more information and details on how you can apply by sending an email to - comms@inmat.org.uk

You can also follow us on social media to keep posted on any teacher training events we are due to hold.