Author: Mrs Taylor

‘I can make the most of an unwelcome change’ is the new SEAL statement for this week.  Unwelcome changes can happen at any time and it is important for the children to have the ability to make the most of these changes.  This may be through developing a suitable response to this change, turning the situation into something positive, understanding and managing feelings associated with this type of change and seeking support from others.

‘I can change my behaviour for the better’ is our ‘Changes’ SEAL statement for this week. 

As stated in our Positive Relationships policy:

It is the responsibility of pupils to make good choices at all times and with all adults and pupils in school. This will lead to pupils behaving well and building up and maintaining good relationships. Pupils should follow three simple rules to avoid bad choices:

• follow instructions
• use positive language (including body language)
• keep hands, feet and objects to themselves

Therefore a change in behaviour can be made by making positive choices rather than negative choices.  

Working together for good behaviour in schools is a helpful document for parents.

‘I can get better at my learning‘ is the SEAL statement for this week.  In some instances, ‘changes‘ may relate to a change in a child’s learning behaviour.  By focussing on and improving learning skills such as listening, concentration and communication, this in turn can help the child to get better at their learning.

Our final SEAL theme for this year is ‘Changes’ and this week we will be focussing on, ‘I can cope with an unexpected change.’

This SEAL theme tackles the issue of change and aims to equip children with an understanding of different types of change, positive and negative, and common responses to change. The key ideas and concepts behind this theme are:

• Change can be uncomfortable, because it can threaten our basic needs to feel safe and to belong
• Change can also be stimulating and welcome
• Both adults and children can experience a range of powerful and conflicting emotions as a result of change – for example, excitement, anxiety, uncertainty, loss, anger, resentment
• Worries about change can be made worse by uncertainty, lack of information, or misinformation and lack of support from others
• People’s responses to and ability to cope with change are very variable, and might be influenced by individual temperament, previous experience of change, and the nature of the change – chosen or imposed, expected or unexpected, within our control or out of our control

Some children may welcome most forms of change and dislike routine and predictability.  Other children may find even small changes very difficult.

Within school, children, who are coping with or have undergone significant change, are supported in a variety of ways:

• Our positive ethos within school
• Support systems, from staff and peers, for children who have undergone change or who maybe new to the school
• SEAL and circle time sessions where children feel safe to talk about their feelings
• Class SEAL boxes for children to record any concerns
• Preparing children wherever possible for planned changes for example, a change of class teacher, Key Stage or even school

It’s ‘My Community Week’!  This week our statement reflects this: ‘I can make a positive contribution in my community.’

Over this week the children will be learning:

• what is meant by ‘community’
• what communities we belong to
• we are all part of a ‘world community’

Following our encouraging SATs week for Year 6, some of our other classes are completing assessments this week and ‘I can feel proud of others‘ is the new Relationships SEAL statement.  Recognising and acknowledging the achievements and efforts of others forms part of our work on relationships.