Together For Mandeville

07/05/2026

💚 Gratitude: Focusing on the Good 💚

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re encouraging everyone to take a moment to pause and appreciate the positives around us — no matter how small.

Practising gratitude can help boost wellbeing, strengthen connections, and create a more supportive community for us all. 🌿

✨ Notice the positive
✨ Express appreciation
✨ Strengthen connections

A kind word, a thank you, or simply reflecting on what went well today can make a real difference.

Small moments of gratitude can have a big impact — let’s focus on the good, together. 💚

21/04/2026

💙 Autism Acceptance Month 💙

This month, we are proud to recognise and celebrate Autism Acceptance Month.

At Mandeville, we value every child for who they are. Autism is part of the rich diversity of how people think, communicate and experience the world — and that diversity makes our community stronger 🌈

Throughout the month, we will be:
✨ Raising awareness and deepening understanding of autism
✨ Celebrating the strengths and achievements of our autistic pupils
✨ Promoting acceptance, inclusion and belonging for all

We believe every child deserves to feel understood, supported and valued. By embracing differences and listening to autistic voices, we can create a more inclusive world for everyone 💙

Let’s move beyond awareness and focus on acceptance — this month and every day.

17/04/2026

Today we held the first AGM of our newly established charity.

We are incredibly proud of what our trustees and volunteers have achieved in just nine months. What began as an idea has quickly developed into a charity with a clear purpose, strong foundations, and an ambitious plan for the future.

One of the most important lessons over the past nine months has been the value of clear vision and strong organisation. A shared vision gives people confidence in where they are going; careful organisation turns that vision into action. We have worked hard to establish robust governance, clear priorities, and a realistic strategic plan, ensuring that every decision contributes to our long-term purpose.

At the same time, we have been building a culture of commitment, trust and shared responsibility. New organisations are not built by one person. They grow when people feel valued, understand the purpose, and believe that their contribution matters. We have been continually inspired by the willingness of our trustees and volunteers to give their time, expertise and energy, often well beyond what could reasonably be expected.

Together we have already begun supporting projects in learning resources, assistive technology, enrichment opportunities, and improvements to the school environment. More importantly, we have created the foundations for a charity that can continue to make a lasting difference for pupils, families, and staff.

A particular thank you to Alix, one of our trustees, for the enormous amount of work involved in putting together our strategic plan. It has given us a clear direction, helped turn our ambitions into practical priorities, and provided a strong foundation for the next stage of our journey.

The AGM was an opportunity not only to reflect on what has been achieved so far, but also to look ahead. With a strong culture, a committed team, and a clear vision for 2026, we are excited about what we can achieve together in the years ahead.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey.

23/03/2026

It was a privilege to welcome to Mandeville School for a fantastic performance of Treasure Island. The production brought energy, imagination, and joy to our pupils, creating a truly memorable experience for all.

We are especially grateful to for making this opportunity possible. Their continued support helps ensure that our pupils can access enriching cultural experiences that broaden horizons and spark curiosity.

Moments like this remind us of the importance of creativity and inclusion in education, particularly for children with complex learning needs.

23/03/2026

🌈 Neurodiversity Week 2026 🌈

This week Together For Mandeville are proud to celebrate the uniqueness of every child and the many different ways we think, learn and experience the world.

Neurodiversity reminds us that there is no single “right” way to be. Every mind brings strengths, creativity and new perspectives to our community 💙

We are proud to:

✨ Celebrate our neurodivergent pupils

✨ Raise awareness and understanding

✨ Promote inclusion, kindness and acceptance

Together, we continue to support a school and community where every child feels valued, supported and empowered to thrive.

Let’s celebrate differences and champion inclusion — not just this week, but every day.

20/03/2026

We are on the mission to find our Mandeville children in .

18/03/2026

Huge Thanks to Harrow School Pupils!

We are incredibly grateful to the pupils from .school who have raised a wonderful £2,000 for Together for Mandeville. Their fundraising took place during Long Ducker, the annual whole school charity event that brings together pupils, staff, families, and the wider Hill community to raise money for a range of charitable causes.

The money they have raised will be used to purchase outdoor learning equipment for the woodland area at our Satellite Provision. This support will help us create even richer learning and exploration opportunities for our pupils with additional learning needs.

We would also like to thank Shaftesbury Enterprise, the charitable and partnership arm of Harrow School, for making this collaboration possible. Their work connects Harrow pupils with local organisations and encourages meaningful volunteering across the community.

Harrow pupils volunteer regularly at Mandeville School, offering their time and enthusiasm to support a range of learning activities. Their kindness and commitment make a genuine difference to our school community.

Thank you so much for your generosity and for your continued support of Mandeville.

14/03/2026

Working alongside Speech and Language Therapy with pupils with severe learning difficulties, particularly those who are non verbal and neurodivergent, often looks very different from traditional expectations of communication intervention.

The focus is not always on spoken language. Progress may be seen in joint attention, engagement, making choices, turn taking, or the development of functional communication through gesture, symbols, or AAC. Small developmental steps represent significant progress.

Sessions are typically highly structured, visually supported, and matched carefully to pupils’ cognitive, sensory, and communication profiles. Close collaboration between therapists, teachers, and support staff is essential to ensure communication strategies are embedded consistently throughout the school day.

Effective communication support is not only about developing speech, but about ensuring every pupil has a meaningful way to express themselves.

10/03/2026

Last week we celebrated World Book Day and it was wonderful to see staff and students dressing up as their favourite book characters. Around the school, different reading activities were taking place in many corners, creating a lively and inspiring atmosphere for everyone.

We were also delighted to welcome Singing Hands, who spent the day with us leading singing and signing in Makaton. Their sessions brought joy, enthusiasm, and rich learning experiences to our students, parents, and staff.

We were also pleased to have our Fire Poet, Philip Wells, with us to deliver interactive poetry sessions, inspiring creativity and imagination across the school. Altogether, the day helped further develop our shared love of stories, communication, and inclusive learning.

07/03/2026

Supporting children with complex learning difficulties and severe autism requires extraordinary commitment from the adults around them.

Teachers, therapists, support staff, and leaders bring patience, expertise, and emotional resilience to their work every day. For us as a charity that works alongside Mandeville School, staff wellbeing is therefore not a secondary issue. It is fundamental to effective teaching and learning.

A recent resource from Education Support on ways schools can show appreciation for staff prompted an important reflection. The most meaningful forms of appreciation are often embedded in everyday culture.

- Listening carefully to staff voice.
- Acting on feedback.
- Creating environments where colleagues feel safe to speak openly.
- Supporting line managers to lead with empathy.
- Recognising when someone may be struggling and responding early.

In specialist settings, where staff support pupils with complex needs, this culture matters enormously.

When staff feel valued and supported, the impact is felt not only among colleagues but also in the quality of care, teaching and learning experienced by the children they serve.

💙 Happy Employee Appreciation Day! Today is a chance to show genuine appreciation for the staff working hard every day for their students and colleagues.

We’ve put together a short guide with 5 practical ways organisations can show appreciation in ways that genuinely support staff wellbeing.

📥 Read the guide: https://ow.ly/nYWm50YpB7v