Dear all,

Wednesday was Autism Awareness Day. For those of you for whom this is an area that is new to you, then visit WORLD AUTISM DAY and you will find information about Autism and the impact it has on a person's behaviour; both the barriers and the positives.

Sometimes the positives can be forgotten, and it is worth remembering that Albert Einstein was diagnosed as having Autistic Spectrum Disorder and yet he became a great force in the world of science. Closer to our time, both Susan Boyle and Bill Gates were also diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and both have been hugely successful within the music and IT industry.

Currently, 1 in 59 children will be diagnosed with ASD and it is vital that we have school staff, children and communities fully educated to support and work with children (and adults) who have an ASD. On the visits around our schools, I am always pleased to see our children being really supported, aided, and taught by having their particular needs met within their school.

The government is currently looking into SEND provision across England and is trying to work out what the best way is to support children with SEND and from what I see across our schools we are well placed, with the right support from the Local Authority or National support, to enable our SEND children to thrive in our settings. Also, this work should not be done in isolation, and schools need to work with each other to ensure that knowledge and good practice is shared. 

And to that end I am really pleased that our SENDCOs had the opportunity to visit Greenfields Specialist School for Communication in Northampton as this provided an opportunity to see and share ideas. In May, Ashby Fields Primary will be hosting teachers from across the country, as part of the PIXL network, as they open their school up to show how they use adaptive teaching and work with SEND children. 

We currently have some staff being trained to support with dyslexia and speech and language and in time they will be able to support all the schools across the Trust.

Sometimes we can hear the big headlines and think that everything is going wrong, when in fact there are many people working really hard to ensure that it doesn't go wrong.

So, this is a celebration of those children and staff who put their all in day in and day out, despite the barriers they may face.

Have a lovely break and enjoy the lighter evenings.

Simon Blight

School Improvement Lead, INMAT

Life at Wollaston Primary School has been busy over the last few weeks. We are all now looking forward to our Easter break. One of the highlights of our term was a very special visit from former Britain’s Got Talent winner Ashleigh Butler and her dog Sully. Ashleigh came to visit as part of our World Book Day celebrations, and she enjoyed sharing stories with the children as well as entertaining us with Sully’s amazing dancing skills. Ashleigh spoke to us about the importance of working hard and believing in yourself to fulfil your dreams, which was a valuable lesson for all of our children.

The children dazzled us as always with their amazing costumes on World Book Day, celebrating their favourite book characters and authors. We were so impressed with the thought that had gone into the costumes, and we thank a lot of the parents who helped put them together.

Year 3 and 4 visited Chester House as part of their history topic on Anglo Saxons. They had a fun-filled day learning about archaeology and different artefacts. The weather was not great, but this did not put them off, and they had a great time regardless.

As we enter the summer term, we look forward to a range of events. This includes our Year 6 residential to Wales, which is always a highlight, and a magical trip to Harry Potter World. Of course, we will be wishing success to all of our Year 6 children when completing their SATS tests.

From everyone at Wollaston Primary School, happy Easter to you all.

Supporting Every Child to Thrive

Welcome to Our SEND Update!
At INMAT, we are committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of their needs, receives the support and opportunities they deserve. This term has been full of fantastic progress, collaboration, and new initiatives to further enhance our SEND provision across our schools.

Spotlight on Inclusion
As a Trust, we have placed a strong focus on inclusion this term, ensuring that every child feels valued, supported, and is able to thrive within their school environment. Our schools have introduced new sensory-friendly spaces, created quiet zones for pupils who need a calming environment, and implemented inclusive classroom strategies to better support diverse learning needs. Our commitment to inclusion remains at the heart of everything we do, and we are proud of the progress made so far.

Training & Development
SENDCos across the Trust have engaged in specialist SEND training this term, covering areas such as Communication and Language and specialist training on SEND Law and Funding. This ensures our SENDCos are equipped with the latest strategies to support the learners in their schools, effectively.

Success Stories
We love celebrating achievements! This term, we’ve seen incredible progress from many of our SEND pupils, whether through communication breakthroughs, confidence in social interactions, or academic achievements. Well done to all!

Looking Ahead
Next term, we will be introducing additional speech and language staff training to further support our children with Speech, Language and Communication needs across our Trust schools.

This term at Ashby Fields, has been filled with exciting experiences, learning opportunities, and wonderful memories for both our children and staff.

One of the highlights was the arrival of some very special visitors – the lambs! The children were thrilled to meet and learn about them up close, sparking curiosity and wonder as they asked thoughtful questions about how they are cared for. Another much-anticipated event was the arrival of our fluffy chicks, bringing joy to the classrooms as the children watched them hatch and grow.

This term, we also introduced fencing lessons for all children, giving them a chance to try something new, build confidence, and develop agility and focus. The excitement continued with a visit from the Northampton Saints rugby team, who inspired our young athletes and encouraged everyone to give rugby a try. Their enthusiasm and energy left a lasting impression, and we may have some future rugby stars in the making!

As part of our Easter celebrations, Year 2 visited the church to learn about the Easter story. This provided a meaningful opportunity for reflection and understanding, deepening their knowledge of this important tradition.

We also marked World Book Day in style! The staff gave the children a fantastic surprise by all dressing up as Where’s Wally?, creating a sea of red and white stripes across the school. The day was filled with reading activities, book-themed fun, and a love for storytelling.

Earlier this term, we had the pleasure of welcoming RT Hon Stuart Andrew to Ashby Fields. He toured the school, met with staff, and had insightful conversations with our Pupil Ambassadors. It was a fantastic opportunity for our children to share their experiences and discuss school life!

To round off the term, we welcomed families into school for Grandparent Afternoon, a heartwarming event where grandparents shared stories from their childhoods. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to connect with the past, ask questions, and gain a deeper appreciation for different generations' experiences.

This term has been a fantastic blend of learning, adventure, and community spirit. We look forward to even more exciting moments next term!

St James Infant & Pre-School invited their grown ups to help them create their Easter bonnets at school. They showcased them to the rest of the school at the end of term Easter parade. 

The members of Wollaston Primary School's junior leadership team working with our EYFS children and supporting them with role play.

Ashby Fields Primary School had some very special spring visitors. All the children got the chance to visit and pet the lambs.

The Abbey Primary School's Rocksteady band gave an incredible and inspiring performance to the rest of the school in their music assembly. 

Falconer's Hill Infant School arrived to school to find 9 fluffy chicks had hatched. The chicks were moved from the incubator to the brooder box & children had the opportunity to have a hold, if they wished.

Year 3 at Kingsley Primary School enjoyed a day trip to St Albans to see the beautiful objects from the Roman City of Verulamium, featuring superb mosaics and recreated Roman rooms, giving the pupils an opportunity to discover the life and times of a major Roman city.

Year 5 at Kettering Park Junior Academy enjoyed a day in ancient Greece.

Kettering Park Infant Academy enjoyed dressing up for World Book Day. 

Hall Meadow Primary School celebrated Mother’s Day with an afternoon tea. They were entertained with delightful singing from Reception and Year 1 and also from Years 4 and 5. Years 2 and 3 performed a choral reading of a poem about mothers. 

Little Harrowden Primary School Year 5 children had a great time learning new skills and overcoming challenges on their residential trip to Manor Adventure this term. They enjoyed kayaking, archery, grass sledging and bushcraft activities just to name a few. 

COULD YOU BE OUR NEXT GOVERNOR?

We are currently recruiting governors across some of our academies and would love to hear from you if you are interested in finding out more, or maybe you know someone else who might be interested?

We have a particular need for volunteers at schools in Northampton, Kettering and Wollaston, although other schools may also have a vacancy.

What does it involve?

Our school boards (called local academy committees, or LACs) hold about 4 or 5 meetings a year during term time in the evening.  You will be involved in visiting school between meetings to discuss and monitor school priority matters and key areas of focus, like special needs or safeguarding, for example.

Who can apply?

All are welcome to apply.  You must be over 18.  You may live, or work, locally to one of our schools or you may have an interest in education and in improving the local educational landscape.  You may want to upskill yourself or gain experience for your CV. You do not need any education experience. We are looking for people who have a little time to volunteer, an interest in education and their local community and who can work as part of a team.  We can teach you what you need to know about governance.

What support is on offer?

Our governors have access to the NGA (National Governance Association).  The NGA offers good quality resources to help you in your role and we also subscribe to the NGA E-Learning modules for school governors.  You will receive support and guidance from a strong governance team and will be invited to trust-wide events such as our trust day.

How do I find out more?

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.