Latest news at Ashmount School......

• Ashmount students achieve their Bronze Arts Award

  Thu 02 Feb 2023

  We are delighted to announce that 7 of our Key Stage 4 students have achieved their Bronze Arts Award.

   

  The students worked with an artist Stuart Reid to produce a 10-minute play "The Mystery of the Robbery in the Museum of Mystery" which was performed at the Attenborough Arts Centre in Leicester.

   

  The students were then given the opportunity to practice their miming skills before being supported to teach them to our Key Stage 2 pupils.

   

  Our Art Awards Coordinator Clare Soulsby said, ‘This is a fantastic achievement and we are so proud of them.’

   

  We were delighted to receive the following feedback from our Arts Award examiner: "These seven young people have had a very rich experience developing themselves as young theatre makers. The journey is well evidenced in their portfolios and, reading their feedback, they have not only learnt a great deal, but also, they have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They have developed their knowledge of performance, their own creativity and their communication skills. Excellent work, well done!"

• Ashmount School Christmas Tree Festival

  Fri 09 Dec 2022

  Every year, we invite all of our classes to celebrate Christmas by creating or decorating their own Christmas tree.

   

  Students and staff have enjoyed being given the opportunity to take a tour of the school to see all of our students' wonderful designs.

   

  We hope you enjoy looking through the photos too!

  

• Ashmount named as winners at the Charnwood Sports Awards 2022!

  Tue 06 Dec 2022

  We are delighted to announce that Ashmount has been named winners of the 'Let's Get Moving School Sports' Award in this year's Charnwood Sports Awards.

   

  The award is for primary, secondary and special schools that have achieved and can demonstrate increasing participation in sport and physical activity and creating opportunities for all across the school to be active. Nominees were required to demonstrate that they engage with community sport and create strong links with local clubs.

   

  This year has seen children and young people at Ashmount engage in even more recreational and competitive sports events and physical activities than ever before.

   

  Yoga

  The school has arranged for a yoga specialist to come into school to work with individuals and small groups of children on their well-being, regulating their emotions in addition to strengthening their core strength. The yoga sessions have also encouraged children to relax and self-regulate.

   

  10 staff ambassadors were chosen to attend a Yoga & Wellbeing for Children With Special Needs Training course. The allocated staff received trained to support children in school with their well-being and physical skills through yoga, massage and breath control. Children from across the school have benefitted from the support of a yoga timetable delivered by a trained yoga instructor.

   

  Swimming

  All of our teachers received a swimming accreditation based on the Fundamentals of swimming which provided them with a valuable insight into the teaching of swimming and enabled them support the children to progress through the accredited swimming badges. Swimming training was provided by Swim England for all of the teachers across school to provide quality swimming resources to support the teaching of lessons in school.

   

  Clubs

  Pupils have been given access to a range of lunchtime clubs to promote children’s physical activity outside their PE lessons. External providers have been commissioned to lead a weekly sport club based on the competitions in the special school calendar and the interests of the children. Children have a voice and can choose sports that interest them and so promoting more physical exercise.

   

  External providers were commissioned to lead a weekly dance club based on various types of dance that suit the interests of the children. A focus group promoted physical exercise for girls as well as offering an additional dance club for mixed ability boys and girls to encourage them to be more physically active in school.

   

  Bikeability

  The school became the first to develop a programme of ‘Bikeability’ and ‘Balance Bikeability’ for over 70 children to learn to ride a bike, understand cycling proficiency and bike maintenance. Where appropriate, students were taught to ride a bicycle/balance bike safely in order to improve their fitness and independence. Professional trainers provided the children with suitable equipment and advised the school on adaptions that can be made for students with SEN. Children who struggle with team sports and playing traditional sports were able to develop a skill which will enable them to keep fit beyond the school day. Children capable of learning road safety on a bicycle were able to complete a course to enable them to safely ride on the road.

   

  An increasing number of students have engaged in an expanding range of physical activities in school and out of hours, including boccia, kurling, Aqua Splash, gymnastics, Sportability, MATP, Sports hall athletics and outdoor athletics.

   

  Young coaches

  Older students are given the opportunity to support at the younger children’s festivals. They are able to volunteer to help with formal station activities, equipment distribution and leading warm up activities.

   

  Riding

  The school has continued to maintain close links with the Riding for the Disabled Association. Our students were the first in the country to begin riding again as Covid restrictions were reduced, and every week approximately 6 secondary aged students ride at the local stables, resulting in many students taking up the activity outside of school. 

   

  Sports Days

  All of our students were encouraged to take part in our Primary and Secondary aged Sports Days in the summer, watched by the largest numbers of family members that the school has every experienced.

   

  Platinum Sports Mark Winners

  Pupils have consistently achieved the highest standards of personal progress in school sport for several years, resulting in the school being awarded the Platinum Sports Mark in 2021/22. 

   

  (Pictured, from left to right, are Teacher Richard Green, Teacher and PE Subject Leader Aimee Merison, Assistant Headteacher Claire Malpas and Headteacher David Deacon collecting our award at the celebration event.

  

• Loughborough Santa Fun Run

  Mon 05 Dec 2022

  Thanks to everyone who was able to support this year’s Loughborough Santa Fun Run, which started in the Market Place on Sunday 4^th December at 11am. It was great to see so many pupils and staff and their families supporting the event again by walking or running the route, cheering on those taking part, or making a donation to one of the many very worthwhile causes.

   

  Over the years, the event has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities as thousands of Santas have raced through the town each December. Having organised the event for the past 17 years, the Rotary Club has now passed on the reins to Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.

  
  Peter Griffin, from Loughborough Rotary Club, said: “This event has become a favourite in the town and a fantastic amount of money has been raised for an array of charities. 
  
  “It has been a pleasure to host it over so many years but it is now time to take a step back into a supporting role.

  
  We are delighted that Rainbows, a valued local charity, is taking over. We would like to give out a big thank you to all of YOU and the businesses and organisations who have supported this event over the years, helping to make it such a success.” 
  
  Claire Hoggan, Rainbows Event Organiser, said: “We are delighted to be the new organisers for this event, something that has been so wonderfully organised by the rotary club for so many years.” 

• Ashmount Support Assistant receives ‘Stars in our Schools’ award!

  Mon 28 Nov 2022

  Every year UNISON holds an annual national celebration day for school support staff.

   

  This year, from 21^st to 25^th November, UNISON East Midlands celebrated the contributions that school support staff across our region make by holding their ‘Stars in our Schools’: ‘Hidden Hero’ Awards.

   

  The awards are organised to say thank you to those who have gone above and beyond in making our schools a safe and happy place for children to learn.

   

  We were delighted to hear that one of our classroom support assistants, Eva Prettenhofer, had been nominated for an award by several members of staff.

   

  Eva received a surprise visit from UNISON representatives on Wednesday 23^rd November 2022 who presented her with a shiny award, framed certificate and a £50 voucher in our Primary Department assembly.  

   

  Here’s what some of Eva’s colleagues said about her:

   

  “I am nominating Eva as not only are the pupils at the heart of everything she does, so are her colleagues. She is constantly looking for new ways and resources to engage our students and help them make the most of their learning, making it a fun experience at the same time. Eva is a ray of positivity to all in school. Eva’s presence really lifts your spirits! She is constantly checking in on her colleagues as well as our pupils.’  

   

  ‘Eva is an amazing person with a massive personality. She always gives 110% and way above what is asked of her. She always comes to work with the biggest smile and enthusiasm. She is all for the children and making each day special for them. She is a pleasure to work with. She never stops and is so eager to please. Her smile and laugh are contagious, she just brightens up your day.’

• Children in Need 2022

  Mon 21 Nov 2022

  Thank you to everyone who supported our Children in Need Day on Friday 18th November 2022. 

   

  Staff and students were invited to attend school in non-uniform for the day and to donate their loose change to create two giant Pudsey Bear displays, and our Sixth Form students hosted a cake sale from our Common Room.  

   

  We are pleased to announce that we raised over £300 in total. 

   

   

   

• Remembrance Day

  Mon 14 Nov 2022

  Thank you to everyone who supported our sale of poppies for the Royal British Legion this year. 

   

  Our students have been selling poppies across school to visitors, staff, pupils and their families. 

   

  Students have been learning all about Remembrance Day, and observed two minutes silence on Friday 11th November 2022. They have produced some incredible art work which has been displayed around the school. 

• Ashmount School Shortlisted for Charnwood Sports Awards 2022

  Sat 12 Nov 2022

  We are pleased to announce that our school has been shortlisted as one of the finalists for the 'Let's Get Moving Schools' Award in this year's Charnwood Sports Awards. 

   

  This award is for primary, secondary or special schools that have achieved and can demonstrate increasing participation in sport and physical activity and creating opportunities for all across the school to be active. Nominees must show that they have engaged with community sport and created strong links with local clubs.

   

  The winners of the award will be announced at a celebration event and awards evening being held in December. 

• Ashmount students ride for HRH Princess Anne

  Mon 24 Oct 2022

  We were delighted to receive an invitation for our students to ride for Her Royal Highness Princess Anne at Meadow School of Riding on Thursday 20^th October 2022.

   

  The Ashmount Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Group, which was set up in 1982 for the benefit of the pupils at Ashmount School, continues to run on a weekly basis. The group is run by a highly committed team of volunteers under the supervision of the Lead Coach Dawn Whitmore-Kirby.

   

  Our Chair of Governors Jean Lewis, Headteacher David Deacon and RDA Coordinator Sandra Connell were invited to meet with HRH Princess Anne, before viewing riding demonstrations from the Ashmount, Wenlo and Ruddington RDA groups.      

  

• Thank you for supporting our Macmillan Coffee Morning

  Fri 30 Sep 2022

  Thank you to everyone who supported today's coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support by sending in biscuits and cakes, and for everyone who was able to make a donation. 

   

  Our Key Stage 4 students really enjoyed selling cakes, biscuits and drinks to staff, students and visitors.