Sarah Squirrell

Virtual School Assistant Headteacher. experience in secondary pastoral & safeguarding leadership.

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

@JoCLawrence So glad you followed a path for you. Have everything crossed that tomorrow brings you the very best news xx

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

@lifeatthenest His mum would be so grateful that you’re fighting for him. 💙

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

A jam packed, thought provoking couple of days! Thank you @SuffolkVirtual

[Suffolk Virtual School @SuffolkVirtual]

An equally amazing day 2 of our conference! Tara @TheAdultsChange showed us the impact of when adults change their language & behaviour, whilst @JohnLewisRetail, @UniofSuffolk & our own Family Business highlighted some pathways for care leavers. A big thank you to all who came!

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

@JoCLawrence @IncSols @SuffolkPTS The @SuffolkPTS are amazing! These are works of art!

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

Thank you @SuffolkVirtual for such a thought provoking day! Excited for day two tomorrow!

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

Heartbreaking. More trauma approached practice needs to be implemented in schools to support young people. They don’t choose this behaviour. #childhoodtrauma #traumainformedschools

[Naomi Fisher @naomicfisher]

Many parents have got in touch to tell me about their stories of their children being excluded from trips and the effect this had on them and how they felt about school. Most of them don’t want to post publicly to protect their young people. This story is particularly upsetting.

This twelve-year-old boy tragically lost a parent to suicide last year, and everything about his life was affected. Their behaviour and ability to manage school deteriorated. That is because behaviour is one way in which children (and adults) communicate distress. Losing a parent to suicide is a particularly devastating and difficult thing to grieve.

His school uses a behaviour app to track behaviour, and he finds it hard to concentrate in class. Concentration is particularly affected by loss and trauma and he gets a lot of behaviour points for not being on task. Behaviour apps aren’t great for nuance. They record the behaviour, but not the reasons. The boy feels like a problem and the behaviour points tell him that he is.

It’s now end of year reward trip time, and he will be left behind at school with one other child for his ‘poor choices’. Too many behaviour points.

Is this one of these cases where rules should be applied no matter what, because a good rule doesn’t need to be flexible? Or one where the child just needs to learn that ‘good behavioural choices’ mean that good things will happen to them and bad behaviour means the opposite?

Humans need flexibility and understanding, no matter how old they are. You might not know what terrible thing has happened to someone when you assume that they are ‘making poor choices’.

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

@aimeejess Welcome to stay if you fancy coming!

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

One week to go! Book now if you haven’t already! Can’t wait for the take home of this one.

[Suffolk Virtual School @SuffolkVirtual]

Book your place at our conference! 11 & 12 June, Trinity Park, Ipswich. Day 1 has a primary education focus; Day 2 focuses on secondary & Post 16/18. Book for one or both days. See you there!

To book a place:
https://t.co/tAEmq9A0dK

[Suffolk Virtual School @SuffolkVirtual]

Wishing our Year 11 and Year 13 lots of luck in their formal assessments. The hard work will be worth it and your best is always more than good enough.

Good luck!

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

@SallyMarsden14 @AlfieBoe Go to Ipswich & stay here!

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

Thank you @CambsVs for such a fantastic and inspiring conference yesterday! Great to be able to represent the @SuffolkVirtual and collaborate.

[Safeguarding Network @Safernetwork]

131,000 children in temporary accommodation in England, a rise of 10% on last year. Over half a million children at risk of homelessness with major impacts on safety and education

More information for schools and colleges here: https://t.co/5cCDPrIb8B https://t.co/HQcBsYfTFN

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

Very disappointed to have cancelled with @HelloFreshUK but still be charged and have food turn up. Shocking service- won’t be using again.

[Tes magazine @tes]

'Local authorities are left with no option but to place children with the highest level of need in mainstream schools, as special schools are overwhelmed': @debs_cares on the rise in EHCPs and a system at breaking point
https://t.co/kWbQIYwaI8

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

@woollyvix Amazing x

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

@shitscaredmum How lucky she was to have a mum who loved her so fiercely. X

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

@shitscaredmum Cannot even begin to imagine. Hold that hand. X

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

@DeputyPeake Banardos do some great stuff around this x

[Sarah Squirrell @smarsde]

Amazing! Excited to be returning to such a wonderful team in the summer

[Suffolk Virtual School @SuffolkVirtual]

Day 2 of @NAVSH_UK annual conference has been opened by its new Chair, our very own Virtual School Head, Matthew Cooke. Proud to have such an inspirational leader at our helm.

[Suffolk Virtual School @SuffolkVirtual]

Day 2 of @NAVSH_UK annual conference has been opened by its new Chair, our very own Virtual School Head, Matthew Cooke. Proud to have such an inspirational leader at our helm.