March 20th 2025
Sharing and celebrating individuality: Annalisa Mullaney, Head of Learning Support
This week has marked Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a global initiative dedicated to challenging misconceptions about neurological differences and celebrating the unique strengths of neurodivergent individuals.
In line with these values, the Learning Support Department has been particularly busy over the past few weeks. Aimee Laming, Hollie Drummond, and I have facilitated two ADHD and Autism Peer Support breakfasts and one lunch for our pupils with formal diagnoses. These sessions have been filled with camaraderie and laughter, providing a platform for pupils to share and celebrate their individuality. Together, we explored the idea of energy management and discussed the activities that 'drain' and 'recharge' our batteries. The pupils' suggestions were truly remarkable, ranging from cooking and playing music to painting, reading, and even flying planes!
On Wednesday, we held a Super Siblings event for the siblings of our neurodivergent pupils. The children engaged in open and honest discussions about the joys and challenges of living in a neurodiverse household, sharing their understanding of their siblings' diagnoses and how they offer support. We touched on the idea of self care and encouraged these pupils to consider how they can look after themselves as well as others. It was a pleasure to witness such insightful and empathetic young people.
Finally, after the Easter break, we look forward to welcoming all interested families to our next Neurodiversity Support Network event. This will be taking place on Tuesday 29th April 2024 in the Pre-Prep Hall. We look forward to welcoming Katie Fielding, an Occupational Therapist who will be leading a talk on all things sensory processing. We look forward to seeing you there.
