M4 visit Cromford Mills
Children in M4 recently visited Cromford Mills in Derbyshire to understand the role of Sir Richard Arkwright during the Industrial Revolution.
They enjoyed having a go at ‘carding’ and spinning thread from raw cotton. They also listened to a worker, describing her life in Cromford.
By the end of the experience, they were all grateful that they didn’t live around 250 years ago as they would have completed five years work by now at the age of twelve! School seems a far better option!
M4 Master Chefs
After a year of honing their skills on a Monday morning in the kitchen, students in M4 have today waited on their parents and carers, preparing a two course lunch from scratch.
Parents and carers left satisfied, having enjoyed a variety of meals, including Southern Fried chicken, BBQ pulled pork pizza, chocolate fudge cake and Oreo cheesecake.
Thank goodness we have a dishwasher!!
Horse Riding
Recently pupils at Derrymount School went horse riding
Jerry Green Dog Rescue Centre Visits 2018/2019
For the best part of a year, Martina Martin from Jerry Green Dog Rescue in Nottinghamshire, has been kindly visiting our Friday Dog Care option group to share her knowledge and experience of dogs and the working life of a centre manager. Her visits are always interesting and enlightening – today we learned how dog owners’ behaviours can influence their dogs’ behaviours, how to refine a dog’s recall performance and what you can learn from a dog by looking at its poops!
Gryff, our resident school therapy dog – and an ex-Jerry Green rescue dog – is always a topic of conversation, and it was lovely to hear Martina talk about how she has seen Gryff develop over the months since we have had him. Martina also commented on just how knowledgeable the Dog Care students (6 of them in total) have become since studying for their Professional Dog Walker qualification this year. The group are genuinely passionate about dogs and work really hard to develop their understanding dogs and their behaviours.
So, thank you Martina, well done Dog Care students and of course, ‘good boy’ Gryff… you deserve a tasty treat or two for your progress this year.
Well-being Walks
M1 and M2 Shakespeare Workshop
Over the last few weeks, students in M1 and M2 have been studying William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and have worked hard to produce an amazing piece of artwork which went on display at Colonel Frank Seely school earlier this week, for other schools to enjoy.
Students worked with Nonsuch Theatre in Nottingham and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to learn how to safely carry out stage combat and acted out key scenes from the play. Some of the children’s work also appeared on Notts TV.
If you wish to view it, (and see if your child can spot their work), please visit https://nottstv.com/programme/ey-up-notts-monday-26th-march/ (32 minutes and 20 seconds into the clip).
NB click on the pictures to see a larger view.
Panthers put on a performance
Students were given the opportunity to watch the Nottingham Panthers train at the Motorpoint Arena on Wednesday morning. After watching the experts, it was then time for them to get on the ice and have a go. With the help of some of the Panthers, students managed to learn new skills and survive relatively unscathed!
The morning was a great success and enjoyed by all who took part. Behaviour, attitude and effort were exemplary and we look forward to more skating sessions and experiences in the near future. Many thanks to the Panthers, staff at the arena and parents for supporting the school with this opportunity.
Zoolab visits Derrymount!
In January we had some very unusual visitors in school. Our pupils and staff (or to be more accurate some of the staff!) were very pleased to meet them.
Our visitors included a very friendly rat, a corn snake and a gecko, a scary looking scorpion and a cockroach which was almost as big as some pupil’s hands.
The pupils were finding out about Predators and Prey as part of their Science and Animal Care lessons and the visit certainly helped bring their learning to life.
We enjoyed the visit so much that Zoo Lab are coming back again next year. We can’t wait to see what they might bring with them next time.
Preparing for Adulthood event, Saturday 23rd March 2019
Preparing for Adulthood Family Information Event
Saturday 23 rd March 2019 10:00-14:00
Harvey Hadden Stadium, Wigman Rd, Nottingham NG8 4PB
(Refreshments will be provided throughout the day)
This event is an opportunity for young people and their families to meet with services and organisations who are available to support with the move into adulthood with particular focus on Education, Employment & Training pathways for Post 16. The event is being supported by a range of services and organisations. There will also be the opportunity to get involved and take part in both sporting and art workshops on the day.
If you are interested in attending this event please email them by no later than Friday 1st March
Services at the event:
Futures Career Advice & Apprenticeships
Information regarding Supported Employment
Skills For Employment
NCC Transitions Team
Specialist Colleges
Mainstream Colleges
Adult Overnight Short Breaks Services
Independent Travel Training
Information, Advice & Guidance Services
Sports, Leisure & Community Opportunities
Community Short Break Providers
Nottinghamshire Participation Hub
Email your Name, D.O.B, and people who will be accompanying you to ICDS.EOTAS@nottscc.gov.uk
Derrymount Industry Day, 2018
What a success!
It may have been the first time we’d organised and hosted a careers / industry event as such, but boy was it successful!
The aim of the event was to provide a friendly and non-threatening SEN-specific experience during which the students attending could:
- Find out about local colleges and the courses they offer
- Learn what apprenticeships are and what opportunities might be available for them locally
- Learn more about different ‘career pathways’ there might be in the public sector
- Meet with local companies, such as Sainsbury’s, to find out about work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Learn from parents/others connected with DMS about their jobs and professions e.g. midwifery, nursing
- Mix and interact with other young people from other Nottinghamshire SEN schools
Not only did the Derrymount students enjoy the event, we were delighted to have groups visit from three other SEN schools.
The feedback we got from everyone (exhibitors and attendees) was very positive – it was just the right kind of event (and environment) for students to receive expert career guidance and advice as part of their broader ‘Preparing for Adulthood’ work that takes place in school.
Thank you to everyone who contributed towards the success of the event – especially the students that came round with scrummy school-baked buns 🙂
Now, enjoy some photos taken on the day!
