The Teacher in You
Evadne Bygrave
hosted our recent webinar offering support to parents struggling to home school in what we hope will be one of the last lockdowns that will involve children being kept out of school.
The current pandemic has caused major disruptions to the lives of each and every one of us, not just in the UK, but all over the world. But one of the main casualties of this pandemic is children losing out on education and the increasing pressures imposed on parents to be teachers, often whilst holding down another full time job.
This webinar was created, to empower parents by raising their confidence to enable them to support their children through home schooling. Parents have a natural ability to teach and the key objective was to give parents a safe space to explore and develop this instinctive skill.
To get everyone started on this line of thought, Evadne carried out an exercise with attendees to get them thinking about what things they had already taught their children. This helped raised their awareness of how they had already been teaching their children, in a wide variety of ways already, and drawing attention to the creative ways we teach without even realising it.
Parents then had a chance to talk in smaller breakout rooms about the challenges they had and the ways they had already overcome many of the problems along the way. This gave them a chance to share experiences and fill in the gaps they still had.
Some of the ideas that came out of the discussions were:
Routine is key, everyone agreed on this.
Everyone has different experiences of on-line learning. Some people are working, some people are available all day. Some schools have a daily on-line timetable, other schools don’t.
Home schooling this time round is a little easier than the first time. Parents and schools are more prepared, and have better solutions, such as ‘Live Lessons’.
Social media, gaming time and device management is harder than ever as this is children’s only social connection with their peers and the outside world.
Creative ideas for tackling the curriculum, you know your child best so use you sense of humour when things get tough – for example, interview your phone and write a newspaper article or story about it; create a comprehension based on their favourite film.
Hayley Nicholas then shared her moving story on the challenges of accessing support for SEN children and how parents might get round these challenges and access the support their children desperately need, in order to access education. All local authorities have an obligation to provide information about how you can access SEN information in your area. Here is an example from Hertfordshire below.
Accessing SEN support links:
One of the themes that came out of the discussion was children’s mental health, and the support available to parents and their children. We have shared some links below.
Children’s mental health links:
Schools in Mind is a free network for school staff and allied professionals which shares practical, academic and clinical expertise regarding the wellbeing and mental health issues that affect schools.
This is for you if you volunteer, work or are studying to work with infants, children, teenagers or adults. MindEd has e-learning applicable across the health, social care, education, criminal justice and community settings. It is aimed at anyone from beginner through to specialist.
Wiltshire Early Mental Health Service, run by Barnardo’s. This website has lots of practical tips and advice about supporting children and young people’s mental health focusing on a range of different subjects.
Information about the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Angelique Vassel founder of Walk With Me gave a short presentation on the work her organisation is doing to rebuild and strengthen family relationships using a non-violent resistant approach.
You can find out more about Angelique Vassel and her work at:
and email her at info@walkwithmeuk.co.uk
You may also find some of these links useful:
We hope you find this summary useful, if you would like to know about other webinars that will help during these times please have a look here:
The Steve Sinnott Foundation • February 9, 2021
In our continued commitment to ensuring quality and inclusive education for every child, we’ve taken our advocacy to a new level by empowering the next generation to lead the conversation. In partnership with The Gambia Teachers Union, we recently convened the Foundation’s Young Ambassadors for a vibrant day of engagement dedicated to promoting the right to education for all. The event brought together passionate students from selected senior secondary schools across Region One, including St. John’s School for the Deaf, to explore what it truly means to make education inclusive, equitable, and accessible to every learner.
The Steve Sinnott Foundation is proud to celebrate the inspirational winners of the 2025 Seeds of Hope for a Better Future competition, a global initiative supported by UNESCO that brings together creativity, community, and a shared commitment to peace and sustainability. This unique project invited schools across the world from nursery and primary through to secondary and high school to explore the values of peace, cultural understanding, and care for the planet. In the face of climate change, young people were asked to tell their stories through art, performance, and digital creativity, highlighting how small seeds of action can grow into powerful movements for hope. The results have been extraordinary. Schools in France, the UK, Gambia, Haiti, and Kenya have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, with projects ranging from community gardens and sculptures to dance performances and illustrated stories. Each winner has shown how young voices and imagination can nurture peace and sustainability in ways that inspire us all. The full Awards Ceremony can be watched linked here: S eeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025 Highlights from the Winners Oak View Primary and Nursery School (UK) created Faces of Feeling, a collection of joyful sculptures already exhibited in a local gallery. Judges praised their work as supporting the wellbeing of others and embodying the idea of children as true “Seeds of Hope.” St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School (Gambia) painted Campaign for a Sustainable Banjul , reflecting real-world climate action in their city. The judges described it as “a most deserving and robust winner.” In France , the Jardin d'Enfants des Nations Unies (United Nations Nursery School) won hearts with Wind of Peace , where 5-6 year olds combined drawings, paintings, and tree planting to champion reforestation. Lyng Hall Secondary School, Coventry (UK) collaborated with Henley Green Primary and the UK Literacy Association to produce The Heart Shaped Hole – an innovative and metaphorical take on Seeds of Hope. Earlsdon Primary School, Coventry (UK) impressed with Primary Plot , a project that included gardening with the visually impaired, reflecting inclusivity and sustainability. A remarkable cross-collaboration between 21 schools across West Yorkshire, Essex, and Tower Hamlets (UK) resulted in Lights, Camera, Score , an ambitious combination of animation, music, and storytelling. CIMA Community School of Hope, Haiti shared Konbit - a video of dance and solidarity, inspiring villages to work together for peace and dignity. Daraja Academy, Kenya presented an ambitious and optimistic project integrating sustainability into everyday school life. Celebrating Creativity and Peace This year’s competition was judged by an impressive panel of artists, writers, and cultural leaders including Sir Antony Gormley, Edmund de Waal, Dame Liz Forgan, Hugh Quarshie, and Rathna Ramanathan. Their collective expertise highlighted the quality and depth of the entries, each of which showed how art can be a powerful tool for global understanding and change. The Seeds of Hope initiative is part of UNESCO UK’s Arts and Culture for Peace programme, first launched in 2022. It has grown from earlier collaborations such as the Coventry Young Ambassadors’ Islands of Peace Japanese Garden , opened in 2021 a living reminder that seeds planted in communities can continue to flourish. Highlights from the ceremony can be found here at this playlist Looking Ahead As Ann Beatty, UNESCO ASPnet UK National Coordinator , shared: “The quality of entries was extraordinary. We are delighted at the response to this amazing initiative in collaboration with our international partners.” And in the words of judge Jannette Cheong : “Young people around the world understand well the value of peace and tolerant relationships between cultures. Their creativity is an inspiration to all of us.” At The Steve Sinnott Foundation, we believe that education is the seed from which hope grows. The Seeds of Hope competition is a shining example of how young people through creativity, compassion, and collaboration are already shaping a more peaceful and sustainable future. You can access the full online awards presentation here: Seeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025
The journey to strengthen the well-being and success of learners in The Gambia continues with a renewed commitment to guidance and counselling in schools. By August 14th 2025, we have successfully trained 140 educators across 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 & 𝟒 under our Guidance & Counselling Programme. A programme designed to equip educators with the skills to support students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Region 3 Teachers Complete Level 2 Training On Wednesday, 6th August, thirty teachers from Region 3 (North Bank Region) began a three-day Level 2 Guidance and Counselling training at the Christian Council in Kanifing. This programme built on their earlier Level 1 training in Farafenni, with a focus on deepening their capacity to serve as school-based counsellors. The training concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony, recognising the teachers’ commitment and marking an important step in their professional development. These certificates symbolize more than an achievement; they represent each teacher’s readiness to provide psychosocial support, guidance, and mentorship to learners across their schools.
