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Suddenly, with very little notice, the security provided by this nurturing classroom environment has been withdrawn.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
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.
Seeds of Hope are everywhere! “I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I arrived at Stage at the Lake…” But it was special to meet all of the Calderdale team in person, who had brought this four-day event together so successfully. Sometimes an event stays with you long after the final performance has finished. My visit to Stage at the Lake at the beautiful Shibden Hall in Calderdale was one of those occasions. As UNESCO ASPnet UK Coordinator, I was delighted to be invited as a guest, but what I experienced was much more than simply attending an event. Here, in the grounds of a house steeped in history, the past, present and future seemed to meet. The English Chamber Orchestra filled the setting with music, Northern Ballet brought movement and storytelling to life, and throughout there was a wonderful sense of creativity, community and possibility. And then there were the parklets; a unique gardening festival at Shibden Park celebrating community, creativity and the power of nature to bring people together. At its heart was a specially commissioned trail of ten micro show gardens, designed and built by community groups from across Calderdale. It was wonderful to see spaces where ideas, conversations and creativity were flourishing and connecting through Seeds of Hope. I cannot wait to see them transported to their ‘forever homes’. Standing there, I found myself thinking about what we mean when we talk about education, culture and hope.
2025 During the annual fomasyon for Alfa monitors, Antoliyis Pye gave an extensive presentation on how best to introduce and develop basic math concepts in literacy classes. The response to his insight and enthusiasm led to our decision to create our own math book for Alfa participants. In Haiti and around the world, illiterate market women and peasant farmers develop their own techniques for calculating and recording numbers. However, in providing literacy for the development of our people, we must also introduce the world of conventional numeracy. These skills lead to logical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to interpret and make informed decisions on numerical evidence. For a year we worked together to draft the contents of our Alfa Liv Kalkil, seek illustrations, create layout, and finally take our product to the local printer. Funds were provided for 350 copies, enough for each Alfa participant at each of our sites at the present level of attendance. 2026 Our next step was to fully engage each Alfa monitor in the process for introduction and use of Liv Kalkil in Alfa classes. Our two day fomasyon for 2026 was dedicated to ensuring that each member of our team was familiar with the book and comfortable in implementing the concepts with Alfa participants. The sessions were a great success. Every monitor was extremely pleased with this new tool which will allow them and their classes to work together in the world of mathematics. Liv Kalkil is now in service for every participant throughout Alfa, from Limonade itself out to sites in the hills and along the river. It is with some excitement that the monitors and participants are beginning to use our very own, home-grown, math book. In the same way that we already had Goute Sel*, Lekti Netale*, Ti Koze Sou Istwa Peyi Dayiti*, we are proud to have this math book which advances our shared work for the development of our people. We are profoundly grateful to all those who have encouraged and supported us in developing this book. We want to thank our dedicated team of monitors, the Alfa support team in Columbus, Ann Beatty and the Steve Sinnott Foundation, and the many others who contribute to our literacy programme. Chancy Jak (Alfa Co-ordinator) Antoliyis Pye (senior monitor) *Goute Sel: Taste of Salt (base text for Alfa literacy classes) *Lekti Netale (reading comprehension) *Ti Koze Sou Istwa Peyi Dayiti (stories from Haitian history; Alfa second level)
