In May 2022 a Trainee Maths Teacher from Greenwich University was placed at Edith Kay School for a day.  All the staff were very happy to welcome him to the school.  This is the feedback he gave us:

 “A member of the Senior Team introduced me to the staff when I arrived and gave me a tour of the School. Even though it is a small School, the atmosphere is pleasant and the students are happy. There is an air of positivity and I felt welcomed. 

The Head Teacher, Karen, is originally from Ireland as I mentioned and we conversed in Irish (Gaelic)!

Classroom sizes are small, and there are only 2-3 students max per class. Students receive a lot of one-to-one support. 

I observed lessons in Science, Art and Maths. I also went to the small park across from the school with the Art Teacher and a Student. The Art Teacher said something to me that I will always remember. He said that “SEN is all about relationships”. This resonated with me, and I think it is quite profound. It showed clearly in the school that there is a great relationship between the staff and students. 

At the end of the day, I was invited to partake in the Staff Briefing, which was a very nice touch by Karen and made me feel even more welcome. The staff are so precise with their understanding of the student’s needs and how to cater for them. It was very impressive to see this, and made me realise how I need to learn a lot more about SEN. Karen led the Meeting, and it was inspiring to hear and see. The staff know exactly what the students are experiencing, and there is a collaborative effort in addressing any concerns, especially with the Exams coming up. 

I will definitely be keeping in touch with Karen, and I was invited to attend the school at any time in the future also. Overall, a lovely day and I learnt a lot about handling SEN students, their needs and behaviours.”