The Hub

Our Wellbeing Hub is a calm and quiet space where students can access short-term nurture interventions. These might be 1-1 sessions or group sessions.

Ibrahim: I like the Hub. It has relaxing toys and teddies. It’s a place I can go when I am sad or anxious. I really like the teddy bears.

Sarah: I think the Hub is awesome. We use it for Inclusion Ambassador meetings. It’s a lovely space to meet and brainstorm ideas. I know people like to go there to relax.

Florence: I enjoy going on the peanut ball. It helps my physical movement as I like to bounce. The hub is also cosy and comfy.

Isla: When I need to move bouncy things are good such as the peanut ball. The Kinetic Sand is really fun to play with. It calms me.

Anais: The stuffed toys calm me down. It’s good to squish Plushies as it feels nice.

Lacey: I like to play games there and read in there. I like to bounce on the peanut ball.

Alice: It is a calm space to go with adults who help me with my learning.

January 2026

Once a month, the Hub take a selection of children to Stortford Gymnastics. This is a great opportunity for these children to build up their gross motor skills, core strength and confidence. It is a real pleasure to witness the great progress these children make during the sessions.

February

On Thursday 13th February, the Autism Reality Experience Bus visited our school and parents and teachers were able to experience what it might feel like to have autism. 

As we entered the bus we were asked to wear special glasses and gloves.  We then watched a short video which was very uncomfortable to our ears. We heard amplified noises of the scraping of a chair on the floor, the tapping of a pen, the ringing of a bell and the sounds of voices. All the time we saw lights flashing. Afterwards we had to complete 3 simple instructions we were given during the video.

Following the instructions was impossible. We were left feeling very disorientated and overwhelmed.  It was a very emotional, powerful and eye opening experience of how a child with autism might struggle with sensory overwhelm.

In September 2024 Kierran from the Multi-Schools Council came to Elsenham to award our school with the Inclusion Bronze award. The HUB team and Inclusion Ambassadors worked very hard for this last year and this year we have set ourselves the new challenge of achieving the Silver Award. During an assembly, we introduced the Inclusion ambassadors for this year and they are Millie H, Josh S, Logan R, Sarah C, Poppy B and Isla S. They are very enthusiastic about their new role and motivated to make a difference. We also introduced Felicity Savage to the children, who is our Governing Inclusion Ambassador and we taught everyone our vision: We believe in ELVES- Equality, Listened to, Valued at Elsenham School.

We look forward to another successful year on inclusion at Elsenham.

Just before Christmas, some lucky golden ticket winners, from Willow Class, created a marvellous chocolate creation inspired by Lexi’s fantastic learning on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Mrs Stimpson said they were a pleasure to bake with. Well done girls!

Meet Skye, our Happiness Dog!

Skye and her owner James are regular visitors to the school. Skye works with whole classes, small groups and individual children.

“Petting, scratching and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep as meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer”– Dean Koontz