Sue Rayment
We thought you might like to take a peek behind the curtain at the Foundation to see who is working to make Education for All children everywhere a reality at the moment.
Our team members have each written a short blog to introduce themselves and give you an insight into the experience they bring to the Foundation.
Sue Rayment
In “normal times” I work in a nurture classroom within a mainstream school. This class allows some of the most vulnerable children to access daily school life. Our class follows a highly structured day using a visual timetable. In this class we are “learning to learn”; this means developing the skills required to be a successful learner in a mainstream class. We focus on learning to understand and regulate our emotions, on how to deal with anxiety and the unknown and strategies to deal with frustration and anger and attachment disorders. One of our favourite books is The Colour Monster, by Anna LLenas, which is a great way to introduce how to recognise our emotions to very young children.
Learning resilience is key; we learn to complete tasks and to feel successful. Our tasks are usually very sensory and involve creative and art activities. The children learn to listen to instructions and follow simple steps to achieve success. Our pupils are very young (aged between 4 and 6) so activities can last anywhere from five to ten minutes.
They are not ready to fully access maths and English lessons but they are learning to stick with a task and eventually this will be translated into learning in class. Even learning to make a sandwich can prove frustrating as spreading butter is no mean feat when you are only five. We give them strategies to cope with frustration such as ways in which they can ask for help. Success is rewarded with praise and sharing their success with their families who visit the class on a regular basis to join us for toast and juice.
Suddenly, with very little notice, the security provided by this nurturing classroom environment has been withdrawn. Everyone is struggling to cope with life under COVID19, but for the children with special needs the challenges are immense.
As a school we are already sending out regular work and activity ideas to support families. In addition to this, we are phoning the families of the most vulnerable pupils on a regular basis. This means I can support families on an individual basis with some parents happy with a weekly check in and some parents benefitting from a daily chat and advice and strategies to cope at home. Some of the pupils just need to hear their teacher’s voice to know that I am still here and that I have not just disappeared from their lives and to know that their classroom and teachers and friends are all waiting for them.
Some of our non -verbal pupils have benefitted from specially designed social stories to help them to understand what is happening. For instance, one child is so angry and confused because he cannot see his grandmother whom he is used to seeing on a daily basis. He cannot express his feelings in words or writing but as a school we can help mum to support his emotional needs at home. I am sending a weekly letter to my pupils with an activity that they can all complete. If their parents can they are photographing their work and e mailing it to me. I can then share the photos with all of them to reinforce a sense of security and optimism. I also send separate daily activities to support the children’s individual needs.
As any special needs child knows, we all need to adapt in difficult times but it can be done.
Steve Sinnott Foundation • July 31, 2020
The 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Competition Online Awards Ceremony took place on 30 September 2026 and was attended by over 70 participants, including young people, teachers, the Competition Judges and UNESCO Commission representatives. The ethos of the Competition was ‘ to recognise, value and celebrate the efforts of all young people who entered the Competition, and their contribution towards helping UNESCO realise many of its key objectives, especially with regard to sustainability and climate challenges’. 2026 is the second year that UNESCO UK has undertaken the Seeds of Hope for a Better Future Competition. The Competition featured 50 projects, involving 13 countries across six continents, and representing 67 educational institutions from all sectors (early years, primary, secondary and tertiary). Significantly, this was more than double the participation in the 2025 Competition, with thousands of young people taking part in, or being impacted . Eight winners from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Slovenia received Gold Certificates and shared the £5000 prize pot. Seven Kenyan Teacher Training College projects were also collectively recognised for projects that strongly support the sustainability and climate change objectives of UNESCO through ongoing work of local, regional, national and international importance, and received the 2026 UNESCO UK ASPnet Seeds of Hope Legacy Award .
A moment to be proud of and a reminder of why young people’s voices matter. Today, artwork created by students from UNESCO ASPnet UK schools on the theme of peace was presented to Pope Leo XIV at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, alongside artwork from young people in other countries. What an amazing opportunity for our students to have their creativity, ideas and hopes represented on an international stage. For me, this is what UNESCO ASPnet is about: creating opportunities for young people to connect across cultures, express themselves creatively, learn from one another and imagine a better future together. The power of young people’s creativity: their voices being part of an international conversation about education, peace, culture and our shared future. UNESCO’s programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit specifically focused on education, artistic creation, AI, information integrity and peace. The work was part of a mural that brings together 80 original creations marking UNESCO’s 80th anniversary, produced as part of the "International Youth for Peace" competition organized by France TV and UNESCO.
Most of us want to leave the world a little better than we found it. Whether that's through the people we love, the values we pass on, or the causes we care about, we all hope our legacy will make a difference. One of the simplest ways to do that is by writing a will. This autumn, we are proud to be taking part in the Change Starts with a Will campaign, allowing our supporters to write or update their will free of charge through our trusted partner, Octopus Legacy. Why writing a will matters Writing a will isn't just about deciding who inherits your possessions. It's about making sure your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for the people you care about. Having a will means you can: Protect the people you love. Make important decisions about your estate. Reduce uncertainty for your family. Leave a lasting gift to a cause that reflects your values. Many people put off writing a will, believing it's something to think about later in life. In reality, it's one of the most important documents you'll ever create. A legacy that supports education Steve Sinnott dedicated his life to championing education as a fundamental human right. His belief was simple but powerful: every child deserves the opportunity to learn, and every teacher deserves the support they need to inspire future generations. Today, we continue that mission by working with partners across the world to improve access to quality education, strengthen teaching and support communities where education can change lives. When you choose to leave a gift in your will to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, you're helping ensure that this work can continue for years to come. After taking care of family and friends, even a small gift could help provide learning opportunities, strengthen education systems and create brighter futures for generations to come. A gift that lasts beyond a lifetime Legacy gifts play an important role in helping charities plan for the future. Your support could help us continue investing in sustainable education projects, supporting teachers and ensuring more children have access to the education they deserve. It's a powerful way to ensure your values live on long into the future. Write your will for free As part of our Autumn 2026 campaign, we're offering supporters the opportunity to write or update their will free of charge through Octopus Legacy. There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Steve Sinnott Foundation, but we hope you'll consider remembering us after you've taken care of those closest to you. Together, we can continue Steve Sinnott's vision of a world where education changes lives. Find out more If you've been thinking about writing your will, there's never been a better time. Our free will service is available until 31 October 2026 , making it easy to protect the people you love while considering the lasting impact your legacy could have on education worldwide. https://octopuslegacy.com/online-will?channel=partner Change starts with a will. And together, we can help create a future where education is accessible to everyone.
