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Walk for Peace! Walk for Olivia!

We hope you can join us in supporting two very important causes this April.

The aim is to walk the coastal path of Wales – 1680 miles collectively!

Please sign up to our Strava Challenge – Instructions are detailed below.

Any questions, please comment at the bottom of this post.

To find out more about Olivia Finches Fight, please click on the link below!

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/olivia-finch-fight?utm_term=en8gyGyKe

To sign up to our Strava club, please click the link below!

https://www.strava.com/clubs/saintjosephsinfants

Challenge begins Friday April 1st. Good luck!

An End to Physical Punishment in Wales

Dear Parents and Carers,

The law in Wales has changed for the better. It is no longer acceptable for a child to be reprimanded using physical punishment. Please see information below from Welsh Government.

Professional Endorsement films

The Welsh Government has created three new endorsement films with three professionals who work with children. These professionals, a Paediatrician, a Child Psychologist and a Headteacher share why they support the law change and reasons as to why physical punishment has negative effects on children.

You can find these films on the word document on the asset bank –

English word document: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8260.html

Welsh word document: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8261.html

Download the word document and then scroll down to page 2 and click the link to the film you wish to access. This will take you to vimeo where you can download the film in different format sizes.  

Minority community leaflets

The Welsh Government has translated the parent factsheet into 12 other languages please find them here:

Arabic: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8539.html

Bengali: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8538.html

Dari: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8541.html

French: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8542.html

Gujarati: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8543.html

Nepali: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8544.html

Portuguese: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8546.html

Polish: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8545.html

Punjabi: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8547.html

Romanian: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8548.html

Simplified Chinese: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8540.html

Urdu: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8549.html

Minority community animations

The Welsh Government has created a short animation with the core campaign message in 12 other languages:

Arabic French Portuguese Romanian 
Bengali Gujarati Polish Simplified Chinese 
DariNepaliPunjabi Urdu 

These animations can be found on the word document on the asset bank –

English word document: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8260.html

Welsh word document: https://wales.assetbank-server.com/assetbank-wales/images/assetbox/ce40e904-b1b3-4ca8-b0f6-98f9e78cd2ad/asset8261.html

Download the word document and then scroll down to page 2 and click the link to the animation you wish to access. This will take you to vimeo where you can download the film in different format sizes.

Photography sessions with Jack Moyse!

Year 2 have been lucky enough to enjoy photography sessions with expert, local Mumbles photographer Mr Jack Moyse!

We began by taking portrait images of each other using a camera on a tripod and then explored using healthy and unhealthy foods for some still-life shots!

We enjoyed learning about and using the different equipment that Jack had brought.

We look forward to working with Jack regularly and creating a Cynefin project during after school clubs!

Diolch Mr Moyse!

Tiny Toes Ballet

Free Classes

We are very excited and proud to be part of Neath Port Talbot Council Child Development Funding Programme of Activities.

NPT Council has created this programme to bring opportunities to children under 5 and their families who have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic. And we at Tiny Toes Ballet are so very happy to be offering free sessions throughout March to those children from 6 months to 5 years in Port Talbot, Alltwen, Skewen and Longford.

We hope to bring the fun and magic of tiny toes ballet along with the social interaction of our classes for the children and parents, that have lacked just that throughout the pandemic.

Bookings are open NOW for our March session in the NPT district.

https://www.tinytoesballet.co.uk/swansea

Philosophy for Children, making space to develop children’s thinking

Reception P4C

Koala makes the Right Choice – Raising awareness that choices result in consequences, which can be positive or negative.

After listening carefully to the story we discussed the differences between:-

‘Good Choices’ and ‘Bad Choices.’ We drew pictures and placed them in the appropriate hoop.

Rainbow Fish – Exploring ethics, specifically friendships and sharing.

Question for philosophy enquiry: Do you think Rainbow Fish should have shared his scales? Following our discussion we evaluated our lesson using happy/sad faces.

  • Did you enjoy philosophy today?
  • Were you happy to speak within the group today ?
  • Did you listen well today?
  • Did you do a lot of thinking?


 

Reception/Year 1 P4C

 Question for philosophy enquiry: Would you rather stay at home or come to school?

The children made their first choice when the question was posed, they sat either side of the ‘concept line’ according to their choice.  After listening to their friends reasons for their choice, the vote changed and many children decided that they too would like to change their mind!  In P4C it’s fine to change your mind.
                                                                                                                                 

                                                                           First Vote                                                                                                                                      


Second Vote

Monkey needs to Listen – exploring issues of listening properly to instructions and paying attention.

Before the story was read the children played ‘Simon Says.’  This  game highlighted the importance of listening carefully.

           Question for philosophy enquiry: Has there been a time when you haven’t listened to an adult, what were the consequences?

 

 

‘Simon Says’

                                                                                                                                                      

   After the enquiry the children played:-                                                                                                                                      

                                                                 ‘Chinese Whispers’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                               

                        

Year 1 P4C

Turtle comes out of her shell – A story about why sometimes people feel uncomfortable in certain situations, and how we can try to find ways to  overcome shyness and anxiety.                           

Question for philosophy enquiry: Have you ever felt shy like Turtle in the story?

During our enquiry we discussed ways of overcoming anxiety and shyness.  In the story Miss Bird the teacher suggested taking a deep breath.  The children practised a mindful exercise called ‘Hot Chocolate.’  They cooled their imaginary hot chocolate while focussing on breathing and relaxing and realised that they can help to control their feelings of shyness and anxiety.

 

 

Lion’s in a Flap – A book about feeling worried.  Children have an opportunity to explore what makes people feel worried and how to use coping mechanisms.

Questions for philosophy enquiry :-

Have you ever felt worried?

How does it make you feel?

Can you think of a way to overcome these physical features of anxiety?                                                         

 

   

Year 2 P4C

Croc Needs to Wait – This book gives children the opportunity to explore the idea of being patient and the importance of taking the time to do things carefully.

Question for philosophy enquiry:-

Why is it important to work cooperatively?

Have you ever worked with a friend, how did it go?

Following the enquiry the children were set into pairs with friends they don’t normally work with.   They were  given a giraffe to colour.  It was necessary to share the two crayons that they were provided with to complete the task.

 

The children evaluated their learning, they decided that:-

They liked working with different friends.

It was fun.

It was exciting.

It was good.

It was a pleasure.

Some children said that they would love to do it again!

 

 

Rhino Learns to be Polite – This story gives children the opportunity to explore the importance of having good manners and being polite and considerate towards others.

Question for philosophy enquiry: What makes good manners?

 

 

 

The children made lots of suggestions:-

No interrupting when someone is speaking.

Remember to say please and thank you.

No yawning when someone is speaking.

They were given the opportunity to agree/disagree with their peers, and to state their reasons why?

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding Mental Health – FREE Solihull parenting courses, for parents, carers, grandparents.

 

BRAND NEW!! Online course ‘Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing’ from the Solihull Approach (NHS).

Access for free:

Did you know Public Health Wales have PRE-PAID for every parent and carer in Wales to access a course for parents/carers (access now for life-long access)? FREE (with access code: SWSOL or NWSOL at: www.inourplace.co.uk) for residents in our area. There are courses for parents, carers and grandparents about children from bump to 19+ years.

How do I access for free? Go to www.inourplace.co.uk and register, and then please use SWSOL if you live in South and Mid Wales and NWSOL if you live in North Wales to get free access to all the online courses (funded for residents): or

If, like many parents, you have already used this code, log into your account here and this course will be ready in your dashboard to start whenever you are ready.

Can I tell my family and friends?

Absolutely! Share the news with family members and other families in the area so that they too can take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

How long is it?

‘Understanding your child’s mental health and wellbeing’ itself is in 2 parts (2 modules long in total):

1. Take Part 1….

2. …then take ‘Understanding your child’ OR ‘Understanding your child with additional needs’ (11 modules each taking 10-15 minutes to complete, benefitting from time to digest in between)….

3. …then take Part 2.

If you like this… …you might like the other courses ‘Understanding your teenager’s brain’ (short course) or ‘Understanding your child’s feelings’ (taster course) , or other courses in the series. www.inourplace.co.uk