Throughout the session, pupils had the opportunity to take part in a range of engaging basketball drills, fun games and skill-based activities. From practising their dribbling and shooting to working together as a team, everyone had the opportunity to develop their skills in a supportive and energetic environment.

Most importantly, there were smiles all around — and plenty of enthusiasm on display! It was wonderful to see such teamwork, determination and enjoyment from all involved.

 A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the festival such a memorable and positive experience for our pupils.

On Tuesday 10th February, it was the turn of Rabbits Class, who travelled to The Dolphin Leisure Centre in Haywards Heath to take part in the annual Boccia and NAK Festival.

The event was fantastic, with nine stations for our students to access. Six were variations of these traditional sports, while the remaining three focused on fun, fundamental skill activities, including bean bag target throwing. Everyone   thoroughly enjoyed the event, and we were incredibly impressed by how well the students adapted to the different challenges, followed instructions safely, and participated with growing confidence.

The fun didn’t stop early either—everyone stayed for the full duration of the event, which says it all!  A massive congratulations to Rabbits Class. We are so proud of you—well done, Rabbits!

This was a massive achievement for the students, as they were required to adapt to a different setting, with different people, while taking part in a new activity. Well done, guys, we are very proud of you!  We would also like to say a special thank you to the staff, and especially the Sports’ Leaders at Imberhorne, who were absolutely brilliant with our children.

The children were an absolute credit to the school, showing fantastic adaptability as they took part in less familiar activities, competed alongside new peers, and navigated an unfamiliar setting with confidence. Each student approached the morning in their own unique way, bringing enthusiasm, positivity, and plenty of fun to the session. We are incredibly proud of you all!

This was a fantastic achievement by everyone involved, especially considering that only two members of the team had previously represented Woodlands Meed in table cricket. We are extremely proud of you all — well done!

We are absolutely delighted to share that we have received our two brand-new bikes, generously funded by Tesco through their Stronger Starts programme.  Before Christmas, we were selected as one of three organisations that Tesco customers could vote for, with the winning group receiving a cash prize.  Thanks to the incredible support shown—and one very kind customer who chose Woodlands Meed after   being awarded the golden token— we were thrilled to win £5,000!

Both bikes are three-wheeled trikes with a range of adaptable features, including adjustable footplates, seat positioning and frame length, meaning they are suitable for a wide range of pupil (and staff!).  One of the trikes is a handcycle, making this equipment even more inclusive and accessible.  As a result, our students now have an even greater variety of cycles to enjoy.

A huge thank you to Anna (FOWM) for submitting the project, to Tesco for selecting us as one of the organisations to vote for, and to the very kind gentleman who placed the golden token in our pot!

Now we just need the rain to stop so we can make the most of these fantastic new additions!

Eight schools took part and were divided into two groups. Woodlands Meed were drawn in Group B alongside Hill Park, Saxon Mount, Serenity School and Springboard.

We got off to a dream start in our opening fixture against Hill Park, recording an emphatic 3–0 victory, with Tianna firing in a superb hat-trick. Confidence was high, and the momentum continued in our second match against Saxon Mount, where Tianna once again found the net three times to secure another convincing 3–0 win. Six goals in two games – an incredible achievement by the whole team who were demonstrating some fantastic attacking play, as well as plenty of committed defending!

Our third group match saw us face Serenity School, who had themselves started strongly, including an eye-catching 7–0 win earlier in the competition. However, Woodlands Meed showed no fear and delivered another outstanding performance, running out 4–1 winners. Tianna completed her third consecutive hat-trick, taking her tally to an astonishing 10 goals in just three games – surely the stuff of tournament records!

The final group game against Springboard was no different. Our attacking play proved too strong once again, with yet another Tianna hat-trick, supported by a brilliant goal from Deacon, sealing a 4–2 win. This meant a perfect group stage record: played 4, won 4, 12 points, top of the group, with an   impressive goal difference of +11, four more than the team in second!

In the semi-final, we faced Cornfield, who had finished second in Group A. It was an extremely tight and competitive match that finished 1–1 despite strong efforts from both sides. The outcome was decided by penalties and, although every player stepped up bravely, we narrowly missed out on a place in the trophy final.

However, our tournament journey was far from over. We progressed to the Plate Final, where we once again faced Serenity School. Taking nothing for granted, the team delivered a determined and resilient performance to secure a thrilling 2–1 victory. This marks the first time in Woodlands Meed’s history that we have won the Plate – a truly special achievement and a moment to be incredibly proud of!

Player of the Day quite rightly went to Tianna for her phenomenal and unmatched goalscoring performance. Her consistency, teamwork and passion were outstanding, and it would be fascinating to know if anyone has ever scored more goals in an Albion Cup tournament!

That said, football is a team game, and every single player played a vital role in this success. From Kielen in goal, leading from the back with fantastic communication and crucial saves, to the tireless effort, encouragement and teamwork shown across the squad, this was a true collective achievement.  We are unbelievably proud of Lou and her team – massive congratulations to everyone involved!

Special Mentions

Tianna – Unbelievable. A hat-trick in every match, incredible teamwork and passion. Truly phenomenal!

Tom – Played with respect and showed tremendous teamwork and dignity in the face of adversity.

Luke – Fully committed and gave absolutely everything!

Jax – Played well, acted on coaching advice and demonstrated solid passing throughout!

Dan – Absolutely brilliant; great commitment, teamwork and provided constant encouragement to others!

Deacon – Scored a fantastic goal and delivered an excellent all-round performance.

Kielen – Outstanding in goal: kept countless clean sheets, fantastic communication and leadership during whole tournament

James – Showed real versatility, defending superbly in an unfamiliar position.

Henry – Encouraged others throughout and demonstrated strong teamwork.  Made his competitive debut!

Lou—Dedicated, supportive, a football guru and the first staff member in Woodlands Meed history to lead her squad to victory!

An unforgettable day, a historic win, and a team effort to be immensely proud of.

Congratulations Jack and all who took part in the competition.

All of our students performed exceptionally well, showing great enthusiasm and providing fantastic support to one another throughout the day. We were the only special school in attendance, and for some students, this was also their first time representing Woodlands Meed. Honestly, we could not be prouder of their achievements. Well done, Owls!

The events were co-produced by student-led autism ambassador groups and centred around the theme ‘Calming the Chaos’. They offered wellbeing advice and resilience methods that autistic children and young people can use to self-regulate, or which can be used by neurotypical classmates to help those who are neurodivergent.

A highlights video featuring contributions from children and young people who attended, as well as education professionals, is available to watch on the West Sussex County Council YouTube channel.

WATCH: Highlights from ‘Calming the Chaos’

The roadshow events, held last month at The King’s Centre in Burgess Hill and The Charis Centre in Crawley, were part of the Autism In Schools project. This collaborative initiative between NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board and West Sussex County Council started in 2021 to improve the support for autistic children in mainstream schools.

Among the speakers were author and illustrator Eliza Fricker, and Dan Clark from MindJam, who demonstrated how gaming can be a powerful tool for young people to manage their emotions and navigate neurodivergence.

The events also welcomed representatives from the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum, who were on hand to answer questions and offer support to families.

Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “I’m delighted that autistic children and young people have been given a voice and an engaging platform to celebrate the very things that make them so unique.

“Events such as this are key to achieving Our Council Plan’s aim of helping everyone in West Sussex fulfil their potential. Supporting our neurodivergent pupils, along with their neurotypical peers, is crucial for teaching all students how to effectively help and understand one another.”

Dr Bikram Raychaudhuri, GP and NHS Sussex Clinical Director for Mental Health, said: “The roadshow events have been a wonderful celebration of the creativity, insight and resilience that autistic children and young people bring to our communities.

“Events like these, and the wider Autism in Schools work, show how powerful partnership can be. When education and health teams work together with families, we move beyond awareness to real inclusion. Focusing on strengths lays the foundations for wellbeing that last far beyond the school environment.”

Anyone interested in learning more about autism ambassador groups – or starting one – can contact Jane Crawford from the county council’s Autism and Social Communication Team at jane.crawford@westsussex.gov.uk

Alongside five other schools, including Warden Park, our students had the chance to explore a range of less traditional sports. These included dance, gymnastics, martial arts and, the clear favourite… skateboarding!

Many of the children described skateboarding as “scary but fun,” and they were lucky to receive coaching from skilled and enthusiastic instructors across all activities. The pupils learnt new skills, built confidence, and enjoyed themselves in a relaxed, non-competitive environment.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for everyone and a wonderful opportunity for our students to try something new.  Well done River Class, you did amazingly well!

Patrick was visited at PVL Ltd in Burgess Hill, where he now works in paid employment, following a Supported Internship placement in his final year at Woodlands Meed College. He was presented with the award by Joe Smith from The Careers & Enterprise Company and David Hills from Woodlands Meed.

We are all incredibly proud of what Patrick has achieved during his supported internship year and his commitment to help other young people with SEND understand how Supported Internships
can help their journey into the workplace. 

The commitment Patrick has shown to the programme and the
incredible support of the team at PVL UK Ltd has made this a fantastic showcase of how Supported Internships can lead to positive outcomes for all involved.

Last term two students sat GCSE exams in English language, maths and science. Students were graded in all their exams, with one student gaining a grade 4 in English language.

Year 11 students took entry level qualifications in English, Maths, Science and Digital Functional Skills – all achieved their predicted grades or above.

KS5 students took examinations in Functional Skills English and Maths. There was a high pass rate and students who left Woodlands Meed were all able to go on to further education courses of their choice.

We are so proud of the dedication and determination of our students and the efforts and progress they made in all aspects of their learning journey at Woodlands Meed. Congratulations to all!

We are very excited that one of our talented student’s entries was chosen as a runner up and their card will be used by Alison to send to local organisations and individuals that she has met over the past year. Alison liked Jack’s entry as it was brightly coloured and features a festive snow globe.

One of our other entrants, Megan, received a ‘Highly Commended’ and will receive a certificate from Alison.
Well done to everyone who took part in Alison’s Christmas Card Competition this year, there were so many beautiful works of art - you made Alison and Kate’s job in choosing cards very difficult!

We heard from a local Branch Manager and met the Barclays Roadshow Team who told us lots of useful information about how banks can help you look after your money with help with budgeting, saving and keeping safe.

The Roadshow Team visited our Inspire Cafe and enjoyed a Student Barista made Coffee at break time too.

Thank you Barclays for coming to visit and bringing the Roadshow to College.

After travelling by train, the group arrived to find the ground bursting with energy.  With over 80 schools in attendance, the atmosphere was electric; lots of upbeat music with lots of dancing in the stands, as everyone soak up each moment of the lively occasion.

The match itself was fast-paced and exciting, with England reaching 126-6 before we sadly had to leave.  While we didn’t stay to see the final result, the students thoroughly enjoyed watching high-level cricket and getting a feel for the game.

But it wasn’t just the sport that made the day special.  The music and crowd added to the carnival-like experience, and for students like Deven, that stood out most: “I really liked the music!”

It was a brilliant day full of smiles, cheers, and shared experiences.  A huge thank you goes to all the staff at Sussex Cricket for inviting us and for hosting such a brilliant event.  Thank you to the WM staff who helped make the trip possible, and finally, thank you to our students, whose enthusiasm and excellent behaviour made us so proud!  Thank you for fully embracing the occasion and bringing so much energy and fun to the day!

Day One – Key Stage Three Shine in the Sunshine

On Monday, it was the turn of our Key Stage Three students to kick things off. Burgess Hill Academy was filled with excitement as pupils competed in a variety of events, including the high jump, sprint, archery, and JOLF.  Traditional favourites like the egg and spoon race, sack race, and the always-popular dressing-up relay brought plenty of fun and laughter.

Inclusive events like the wheelchair races and wheelchair football drew huge cheers and showed the true spirit of Woodlands Meed, where everyone is encouraged and supported to participate.

Families and friends joined in, adding to the celebratory atmosphere, and the brilliant coffee van on-site kept everyone well-fuelled with delicious drinks and food.

Students weren’t just competing for personal bests—they were also earning valuable points for their houses, creating a real buzz of friendly competition and school pride.  It was a tightly contested battle for the house points, with every race and event making a difference. After a morning full of determination, cheering, and effort, it was the Red Team who emerged victorious, narrowly edging out the green and blue teams by the tightest of margins.

A huge thank you goes to the incredible Sports Leaders from Burgess Hill Academy, who ran the activity stations with professionalism, enthusiasm and humour.  Thank you so much for your help.

 Finally, congratulations to our Key Stage 3 students, whose enthusiasm and achievements continue to inspire us.  We couldn’t be prouder of all that you’ve accomplished.  Well done!

Day Two – Primary Pupils Prove They’re Sporting Superstars

Tuesday saw our Primary students take to the field with just as much energy and excitement. They took part in a carousel of jumping and throwing activities as well as a brilliant variety of races—including sprints, hurdles, obstacle courses, and of course, another outing for the dressing up race!

Like their older peers, our Primary pupils were also earning house points and, more importantly, were recognised for their teamwork and encouragement with medals being awarded to all students who showed great PRACTICE skills.

The  spirit of inclusion was strong as every child took part and shone in their own way.  A big congratulations to everyone in our Primary  Department — we are so proud of all that you’ve achieved! This year, it was the Green Team who emerged victorious, closely followed by the Blue and Red Teams in an exciting and closely contested competition!

We were incredibly proud of our College Sports’ Leaders, who made the short trip across town to support the event.

They did an outstanding job of explaining and demonstrating activities, resetting stations, cheering on our younger pupils and even encouraging family and friends to ‘have a go’!

They were fantastic role models throughout and truly did us proud!

Day Three – A Fun-Filled Festival for Our Complex Needs Classes

Wednesday marked the final day of Sports Week with a fantastic Sports Day Festival for our younger pupils and those in our complex needs classes. Despite the scorching heat, the morning was packed with engaging, sensory-based activities that encouraged participation and celebrated every student.  A wide range of activities ensured that there was something for everyone, including bubble-wrap races, table-top JOLF, boccia, water shooters, velcro targets, skittles, and a calming sensory space.

Every single student did amazingly well. The safe, secure, and supportive environment allowed them to explore the space and activities with confidence—some alongside their families, and others independently.

 A huge thank you to BH Academy for once again generously allowing us to use their full 3G pitch. The space provided an excellent setting for our students to thrive and shine throughout the day!

A Final Reflection

Across all three Sports Days, the sense of achievement, support, and pure joy was impossible to miss.  Our students were at the heart of everything—whether running, wheeling, jumping, throwing, dressing up, exploring, or dancing to music. Every individual gave their best, encouraged their peers, and showed us exactly what sport is really about: determination, teamwork, the courage to try, and pure unapologetic fun!

Sport Day at Woodlands Meed is a whole community effort; from the staff to the volunteers, to families and friends, to our own sports leaders and those from Burgess Hill Academy, to companies like Bang’s Food Truck who provided fantastic refreshments, and o3e who donated the sports’ chairs. 

At Woodlands Meed, sport does more than break down barriers — it creates opportunities for every student to succeed by bringing people together and fostering belief in one another.

For our students, this was a particularly powerful experience. The event gave them the chance to not only enjoy new activities, but also to gain insight into how people with similar needs, as well as those with very different abilities, are able to access, participate in, and achieve in sport.

River Class approached every challenge with enthusiasm and determination. A stand-out moment involved a series of table activities completed while visually impaired, allowing students to experience tasks from a new perspective, sparking thoughtful conversations and building empathy.

Throughout the day, pupils tried their hand at a variety of inclusive sports - such as seated volleyball, goalball, and adapted cricket - highlighting that sport can and should be for everyone. The joy, pride, and sense of achievement on their faces said it all.

DIScoverABILITY Day not only promotes physical activity, but also opens minds. River Class were brilliant ambassadors for Woodlands Meed, showing fantastic teamwork, respect, and a willingness to challenge themselves.

A huge thank-you goes to the organisers, coaches, and volunteers who made the day so welcoming and memorable. We’re already counting down the days until next year!

In a world that too often focusses on limitations, this day was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when everyone is given the opportunity to succeed.

Congratulations River Class, we’re very proud of you!

This major inclusive sports event — one of the biggest in the region — is the highlight of our sporting calendar, and once again, it delivered an unforgettable experience full of achievement, joy, and pride.

Our pupils competed in a diverse and inclusive range of sports including: Jolf, Boccia, Cricket, NAK, Street Soccer, Table Cricket, Swimming, Dance, and Tennis.

Medals, Milestones & Magic Moments

There were shining achievements across every activity, with students showing outstanding effort, skill, and team spirit. In Swimming, our athletes powered through the pool to secure some impressive PBs and even a few medals, demonstrating both determination and confidence in every race. On the Street Soccer pitch, years of perseverance finally paid off — our players delivered some of the best football we’ve ever seen, clinching a well-deserved bronze medal, with Albion in the Community coach Hayley declaring it “easily the best football of the tournament!”

In JOLF, our medal quest continued with pupils showing precision and patience to secure another bronze, reflecting their dedication and calmness under pressure.

Over on the cricket field, the hard work of our players — honed through coaching sessions with Dom from Sussex Cricket — was on full display. They were easily the most improved team from last year; hitting impressive boundaries and not losing a single wicket!

The tennis courts were filled with energy and enthusiasm, and it was here that we observed one of the “longest Rallies”, a true testament to our students’ resilience and focus.

Inside the Sports Hall, our Boccia, NAK, and Table Cricket players truly shone as they competed against some very strong opposition. While no medals were won in these events, the enthusiasm, determination, and sportsmanship on display were nothing short of inspiring. The team spirit and mutual encouragement among our pupils showed that the greatest victories aren’t always measured in medals — sometimes, the real prizes are confidence, inclusion, and pride in representing your school.

To round off a day full of sporting success, our dancers took to the main stage for a vibrant and collaborative performance alongside students from other schools. Their routine brought the house down and made for a perfect, joyful finale at the closing ceremony — a moment that captured the spirit of inclusion and celebration at the heart of the Games.

“Days like this are exactly why inclusive sport matters. Every student gave their all, supported each other, and represented Woodlands Meed with pride and positivity. "I couldn’t be prouder of what they achieved, and how they achieved it.” Pen Gittins, Woodlands Meed HLTA PE Specialist & Subject Lead

This year’s Parallel Youth Games reminded us all of the power of participation, perseverance, and community. A huge thank you to all staff, volunteers, coaches, and most importantly — to our incredible students.

While we are every bit as competitive as the next school, what truly sets our students apart is the incredible strength and determination they’ve built by overcoming far greater barriers than those found in any sporting arena. Their courage, resilience, and unshakable spirit prove that there are no limits to what they can achieve — on the field or beyond it.

Well done, Woodlands Meed — once again, you were truly phenomenal!

Whether students started as confident cyclists, complete novices, or required adapted cycles to take part, this week was tailored to every individual.  With our own stock of two-wheelers, tricycles, and even a wheelchair-accessible bike, we were already well-prepared.  But with the instructors bringing an even greater variety of adapted cycles, it meant that every single student had the opportunity to take part fully—and that’s what made the week so special.

We saw students who began the week with real anxieties around cycling not only trying out different cycles but finishing the week riding independently on trikes and the ever-popular mobos. Others who had previously struggled with balance on two-wheelers were confidently zooming across the school field by the end of the week!

Some of our students even ventured onto the roads for the very first time, while our more experienced riders took things up a notch, learning about road safety and applying those skills around the streets near school.  Every single student made progress—and we couldn’t be prouder!

This incredible progress wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of the Year 8 staff team.  Since September, they’ve built strong, trusting relationships with their classes, rooted in mutual respect.  This foundation allowed students to feel safe, encouraged, and ready to step outside their comfort zones.  Their presence, encouragement, and hands-on support throughout the week were absolutely key to the successes we witnessed.

And of course, a huge thank you must go to Martin and his team, who bring more than just bikes—they bring what can only be described as a touch of magic!  Their unique combination of knowledge, patience, humour, and kindness creates the perfect environment for our students to thrive.  Their approach isn’t something you can teach—it’s something truly special and we feel very privileged to include them as part of our community.

But none of this would be possible without our incredible students.  You were focused, determined, willing to listen and push yourselves.  Your hard work and positive attitudes were inspiring to see, and you impressed us all with every rotation of the wheel!  From first wobbles to fearless rides, this week was a powerful reminder that when students are believed in, they believe in themselves—and that’s where the real magic happens!

The week launched in energetic style with a whole-school Aerobathon in the hall, featuring a mix of nostalgic 90s hits, chart-topping pop tracks, and a hilariously puzzling finale of “Oops Upside Your Head” — much to the amusement (and slight confusion!) of our students!

Throughout the week, a diverse and inclusive timetable of events was available for all classes, including a Swimathon, Bounceathon, yoga sessions, outdoor games, trips to the park, dance classes and more.  Each activity offered students the chance to try something new, get moving and most importantly have fun!

‘All the Thons!’: Jump Start Jonny Brings Energy and Excitement to Woodlands Meed!

Friday marked a memorable highlight at Woodlands Meed as we had the pleasure of welcoming Jump Start Jonny to our school.  He delivered dynamic, high-energy sessions for both our Primary and Key Stage 3 students, bringing joy, movement and laughter to all involved, including our enthusiastic and star-struck staff!

Jonny’s enthusiasm, positivity and exceptional rapport with our students created a truly uplifting experience. We are incredibly grateful for the time he spent with us and extend our sincere thanks for an unforgettable morning of fun and engagement.

Epic Finale: Jump Start Jonny and Marathon Hero Tom Brown Lead 'Tomathon' to Mark Mid Sussex Marathon Week!

As part of the Mid-Sussex Marathon celebrations, Jump Start Jonny then joined forces with our exceptional marathon runner, Tom Brown, to complete several laps of the field alongside our students in a lively and inspiring event dubbed the ‘Tomathon.’

The week was a vibrant celebration of movement, filled with energy, enthusiasm and a strong sense of community.  It provided an inclusive opportunity for everyone to get involved and highlighted the positive impact of physical activity on well-being.

We are immensely proud of all our students who participated — your dedication and spirit truly stood out! Well done to each and every one of you!

The inspirational fundraisers, led by chief emu and Deputy Head at Woodlands Meed, Tom Brown, ran the marathon along with over 50,000 on the 26.2 mile course.

And as if completing the London Marathon on Sunday wasn’t enough, Tom is running another marathon distance on Friday at Woodlands Meed in Burgess Hill so the students can join in!

The ‘Tomathon’ will see Tom run another 26.2 miles at the School and College sites in Burgess Hill so that the students can join in to take a part in the marathon. The students will run, walk or wheel a lap or more to experience taking part in the marathon distance of the ‘Tomathon’.

Tom explained ‘We did this event last year and it was such a big hit with everybody, we just had to do it again. We’ve had a whole week of ‘athons’, activities celebrating and promoting the love of getting moving. We’ve had the Aerobathon, Swimathon and Bounceathon and Friday will be the Tomathon – I can’t wait!’

‘Anything we can do to inspire the next generation of students with Special Educational Needs to know they can give anything a try regardless of disability is something we are all passionate about.’

‘Being able to try something new or activities that ordinarily might not be accessible to young people with SEN is the motivation behind running the marathon to raise money for the students as well. All the money we raise will go towards giving all the students better access to Sporting activities, which is particularly important for our students where opportunities can be more complex to access.’

You can sponsor Tom & the students here https://www.justgiving.com/page/tom-brown-6

Throughout the morning, our students engaged in a circuit of cricket-themed activities designed to develop key skills including throwing, batting, catching, and teamwork. Batting proved to be the highlight of the day, with many pupils particularly enthusiastic about the challenge.

All students participated with great energy and enthusiasm, consistently encouraging and supporting one another throughout the morning. We were especially impressed by the maturity and focus shown as they listened attentively to instructions given by the young leaders running each station, who were themselves excellent role models.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable and active morning, and we are incredibly proud of all who took part—particularly those for whom this was their first opportunity to represent Woodlands Meed at an off-site sporting event. Well done, everyone!

At the heart of the festival was JOLF mastermind Neil, who orchestrated a morning brimming with highly engaging activities, skill-building, and, most importantly, inclusive fun!  SEN students from mainstream primary schools joined forces with our Woodlands Meed students, embracing the challenge of 17 thrilling JOLF games—ranging from table-top to floor-based activities; ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, had the opportunity to shine!

The turnout was nothing short of remarkable, with 128 children participating, including students from local primary schools Harlands and Turners Hill.  Every primary student from Woodlands Meed took part, and we also welcomed our Key Stage 3 students with more complex needs, ensuring that inclusivity remained at the heart of the festival.

A key highlight of this year’s festival was the outstanding contribution of our sports’ leaders.  Stepping up to the challenge, 21 students from both our school and college sites took on leadership roles—five more than last year!  Their confidence, patience, and encouragement did not go unnoticed, with visiting schools praising them as ‘brilliant,’ ‘great at running activities,’ and being ‘fantastic with our children.’  Unlike last year, there was no need to invite external leaders from mainstream secondary schools—our own students proved more than capable of leading with excellence!  Well done everyone!

In response to last year’s feedback, we also refined the setup to create an even smoother and more comfortable experience for all.  A dedicated timetable for the Performing Arts Room was introduced, allowing smaller groups to enjoy activities in a calmer, more focused setting; an addition that was met with great appreciation.

The festival was a joy to witness; students playing, learning, and celebrating achievements together.  Seeing every child fully engaged and at the heart of the event was a testament to the power of inclusive sport.

We are incredibly proud to host such a meaningful and empowering festival.  A huge thank you to Neil, our phenomenal students, dedicated staff, and visiting schools for   making this an unforgettable morning.  We are looking forward to next year and are already exploring further opportunities to provide even greater inclusive sporting events for both our students and also those SEN children currently in mainstream education.  Successful inclusion is not a one-off event; it’s an ongoing commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability or background, has equal chances to participate and thrive. By creating consistent and meaningful opportunities, we can help individuals reach their full potential and truly embody the spirit of #SportForAll!

Not only did we have children’s authors and illustrators, Julie Alison McDonald and Anna Emilia from Cogmaze Publishing join us to run a story writing workshop, we also welcomed some of the characters of their books, Hedgy, Binkie and Hattie and friends!

Julie and Anna ran a fantastic interactive workshop to show us all how we could come up with ideas for characters, story plots as well as create and write a story about them. They also launched a competition to write a short story which lots of students chose to take part in.

Students also heard how Julie and Anna created their own characters and stories based on some of their experiences, pets and friends and they encouraged everyone to have a go at creating a story and draw a
character to feature in a story. 

Julie and Anna’s books feature diverse character and storylines that celebrate neurodiversity and other differences, encouraging children to embrace their unique traits. Their books offer valuable insights into different ways of thinking, feeling, communicating and behaving, helping children to understand themselves and others better.

The Friends of Woodlands Meed have recently donated the funds for the School and College to buy a collection of Julie and Anna’s books to be enjoyed by the students at the School and College. Julie and Anna also are launching their newest book ‘Oscar finds the treasure’ at Waterstones in Horsham on 15th April  https://www.waterstones.com/events/oscar-finds-the-treasure-booklaunch/horsham

Find out more at www.cogmaze.com

In the final showdown against Lindfield, Woodlands Meed put up a valiant fight, demonstrating fantastic teamwork and determination.  Despite a spirited effort, they fell just short, finishing with a score of 206 to Lindfield’s 263.

Every pupil represented the school with pride, showcasing skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

Congratulations!

Star Performances:

Daniel A (Captain) – Led the team superbly with excellent communication and confidence.  His sharp focus helped save runs and take crucial wickets.

Daniel H – A standout performer throughout the day, earning the well-deserved Sportsmanship Award.

Emir – Delivered an outstanding batting and bowling display, smashing some huge sixes while keeping a big smile on his face!

Nidal – Executed fantastic batting, expertly finding the gaps to accumulate runs.

George – Grew in confidence as the day progressed, proving himself to be a great team player.

Bella – Making her competitive debut, she played with enthusiasm and followed instructions brilliantly.

Isla – Also making her debut, she displayed incredible batting skills, scoring plenty of runs while maintaining focus when it mattered most.

Rhaigen – Showed great independence and accuracy in his bowling, playing a key role in all aspects of the game.

The entire team should be extremely proud of their performances.  It was an amazing day filled with determination, skill, and, most importantly, enjoyment. Well done, Superstars!!!

Game 1: A Battling Display Despite Defeat!

Woodlands Meed 0-2 Burgess Hill Academy

The opening game saw Woodlands Meed face a strong and well-organised Burgess Hill Academy side. Despite their best efforts, Woodlands Meed found themselves on the wrong end of a narrow 2-0 defeat. However, the team showed great resilience and glimpses of their attacking intent, laying the foundations for what was to come.

Game 2: Tianna Inspires a First Victory!

Woodlands Meed 2-1 Burgess Hill Academy

With confidence growing, Woodlands Meed produced a much-improved performance in the second match. Their controlled passing and attacking intent made them a constant threat going forward. Tianna was the star of the show, scoring both goals in a well-earned 2-1 victory. The team’s movement and link-up play were beginning to shine, demonstrating their rapid progression.

Game 3: A Stunning Climax!

Woodlands Meed 2-0 Burgess Hill Academy

The final game was a spectacle of excitement and quality football. Woodlands Meed not only won the physical battles but also showcased some excellent passages of play that highlighted their development throughout the series. Set pieces began to play a bigger role, and it was from one of these that the goal of the day was scored.

From deep in her own half, Tianna struck a beautifully weighted free kick that dropped perfectly for James, who controlled it superbly before executing a stunning half-volley into the bottom corner. It was a goal dripping with class, a moment of brilliance that sealed an impressive performance from Woodlands Meed.

Squad Contributions

This victory was truly a squad effort, with every individual playing a crucial role in the team's success:

• Tianna was relentless in front of goal, proving a constant threat when driving forward and securing crucial goals.
• Finn delivered yet another masterclass in defending, showing composure and strength at the back.
• James will forever be remembered for THAT finish – a moment of sheer quality.
• Kielen put in tireless, selfless running up front, keeping the opposition defenders on their toes.
• Thomas T showed immense resilience, overcoming an early setback to become an incredibly reliable last line of defence.
• Alfie was a force, driving the team forward with purposeful and skilful dribbles—and was unbelievably unlucky not to get on the scoresheet (you absolutely deserved a goal today!).
• Thomas B displayed expert reading of the game throughout, making countless critical interceptions that kept the team solid at the back.

Player of the Day: Daniel

Special mention goes to Daniel, who was named Player of the Day for his outstanding energy and positive influence across all three matches. He was a supportive presence for his teammates, exuded calmness on the ball, and displayed great tenacity in winning possession back when needed. His determination and leadership were key factors in Woodlands Meed’s success.

Summary

With a strong finish to the series, Woodlands Meed can take great pride in their efforts, showing tremendous growth, skill, and teamwork across the three matches. A fantastic display of school football!

The first game was a challenging affair for Woodlands Meed, who were playing their first non-tournament match. The larger pitch and longer game duration tested their endurance and adaptability but despite these challenges, the team exhibited remarkable commitment, resilience, and a 'never say die' attitude. They supported each other throughout; demonstrating true teamwork.

In the second match, Woodlands Meed's confidence grew enormously. They became more assertive in tackles, their passing became more accurate, and they began creating more scoring opportunities. Their dedication and togetherness were finally rewarded when Tianna and James both scored, after some beautiful build up play, to secure a 2-1 victory.

We are so proud of the whole squad who all contributed enormously, but special mention must go to Thomas, who made three outstanding saves, and to Finn, who was named ‘Most Valuable Player’ for his tough tackling and no-nonsense defending.

This victory was a testament to the team's hard work and spirit, and we are all looking forward to further matches against the same opposition in a week's time.

Owls did amazingly well; accessing all the activities, which included a fast-paced warm up, dribbling, piggy in the middle and a shootout!  The shootout was a particular highlight with most of the class scoring a basket in the very high net! 

The students were a credit to Woodlands Meed, and we are super proud of the teamwork and perseverance they demonstrated throughout the event!  Well done everyone!

The class participated at the event for a whole hour; this is a lot of good listening and concentrating!  Congratulations Rabbits, we are SUPER proud of you!  Everyone received sweets, chocolates and a perseverance sticker when they arrived back at school! 

Well done!

Our talented performers were delighted to be supported by Alison Bennett, MP for Mid Sussex, at Burgess Hill station and then combined their performance with some travel training; they caught the train from Burgess Hill to Haywards Heath to get to their next performance at Haywards Heath Waitrose.

At Haywards Heath Waitrose the wonderful performance continued and Mountain also met members of Cuckfield and Lindfield Rotary Club who were also fundraising for the local community.

The amazing efforts of Mountain Class raised £121 today for the Friends of Woodlands Meed.  A well-deserved Hot Chocolate was enjoyed by everyone to warm up after all the performing.

Fundraising like Mountain’s makes a huge difference to Woodlands Med and all the things we can do to enhance our pupils learning environment and experiences.  

Every penny raised goes to fund projects at Woodlands Meed School and College that benefits our pupils.  Thank you to all who donated and supported Mountain today. 

Our group was an extremely competitive one, with the majority of matches being decided by a single goal.  We started strongly, recording a hard-fought 2-1 win in our opening match against Cornfield, and this became a common theme with our fantastic footballers being victorious in their next three matches against Hillpark, Freyen College and Philpots.  Our final group match against league leaders St Marys ended in defeat, but we still finished second in our group. 

We deservedly progressed to the semi-finals where we met an extremely strong LVS Hassocks side.  It was not meant to be as our superstars eventually succumbed to a 4-0 defeat.  However, our students should hold their heads up high as I can’t remember the last time we were in the semi-finals of the Albion cup, and they can take great heart from the fact that the two defeats our students suffered where by the two schools who fought it out in the final!  Finishing third out of thirteen teams is something they should all be very proud of!  Every single one of our 9 players played their part but special mention must go to Kielen in goal who made some brilliant saves and encouraged his teammates throughout, James for making his debut and proving that he is an absolute goal machine, and Alfie for his never say die attitude.

 However, our player of the tournament was Fin who proved to be an absolute beast on the pitch; breaking up play, executing some tough tackles and making countless driving runs forwards, he was always supportive of his teammates and proved to be a manager’s dream!

Well done everyone, we are so proud of all of you!

Students had the opportunity to experience a range of different sports and activities which included gymnastics, basketball, cricket, and taekwondo but the firm favourite was most definitely skateboarding!  Students were taught different skills and even some tricks!  The students threw themselves (literally!) into it which was a pleasure to see.

Well done River Class, you were an absolute joy to take off-site and it was great seeing how you all participated in so many sporting activities, many of which were unfamiliar. Awesome!

Joe visited PVL in Burgess Hill with Supported Intern Patrick and Nola Bennet Deputy Head & Careers Lead at Woodlands Meed. The award is recognition of the significant work that PVL and Woodlands Meed have done to establish their Supported Internship Program in 2024.

Supported Internships help young people aged 16 to 24 with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP), to gain paid employment through support to develop skills valued by employers, show value in the workplace and develop confidence in their ability to succeed at work. Supported interns are in full-time education and their internships last for six months to one year. The internships are facilitated by an expert job coach and enable young people to gain the skills they need for work by learning in the workplace.

PVL and Woodlands Meed have been working together for several years to help give young people with SEND an opportunity for work experience leading to employment opportunities. The new Supported Internship program means that more local young people with SEND can be given the opportunities to access meaningful work experience and gain skills that could help with future employment opportunities, whilst being supported by an expert job coach in the workplace and continuing their education.

David Hills, Woodlands Meed’s expert job coach, has been working with the team at PVL to ensure both the employer and student are supported in the whole process of taking on a Student Intern from set up through to on-site support throughout the time the student is with the employer. David said of the process ‘This program enables the Interns to be fully immersed in the world of work, learning the soft skills of being an employee/ team member as well as the process of the job itself. Being available and able to offer support to both the Intern and the employer makes the whole Supported Internship program set up to succeed, and I am already seeing the huge benefits this has for both our students and the team at PVL.’

PVL have taken on a Woodlands Meed student on the Supported Internship Program starting in September 2024, and they hope to take more in the future. PVL Managing Director Craig Beresford is a key supporter of the program, he said ‘PVL are proud to support Woodland Meeds School in their remarkable Supported Internship programme. Our partnership with the school underscores our commitment to empowering young people by providing meaningful work experience and personal development opportunities.

Being involved in this program has been incredibly rewarding for all the team at PVL. It aligns with our values of inclusivity and social responsibility, as we help interns build confidence, develop essential workplace skills, and achieve greater independence. The dedication and passion of the students from Woodland Meeds continually inspire us, and we are proud to play a part in shaping their future career paths.

We look forward to continuing this important partnership and contributing to the growth and success of the students, as well as making a positive impact on our local community.’

In an inclusive place of work, every employee feels valued and able to contribute to the organisation. Inclusion goes beyond supporting diverse groups and involves recognising and celebrating the differences that make each employee unique. This means that inclusion is relevant for all employees, regardless of their background or characteristics. Joe Smith from West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Careers Hub said " West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Careers Hub are delighted to be working in partnership with Woodlands Meed, supporting their strong careers programme, which includes high expectations for students to have the best possible outcomes after they leave.

The inspiring partnership between Woodlands Meed and PVL was recently recognised by the hub as part of their annual recognition awards. The partnership has seen the launch of a Supported Internship programme, designed to support students with special educational needs and disabilities secure paid work.

PVL are one of the leading organisations across the region who are really embracing what it means to be an inclusive employer and has a deep understanding of all the benefits of having a diverse workforce. It's really exciting to see what this partnership will bring in the future and how it will inspire other organisations to work with a more diverse talent pool." Lastly, we would like to congratulate the Woodlands Meed and PVL teams on winning the Inspiring Partnership Award by the West Sussex, Brighton and Hove Careers Hub."

Fundraiser Anna Hull was invited to a recent choir rehearsal and was presented with an amazing donation. She said  "We all at Woodlands Meed are truly grateful for the generous ongoing support of Choir & Ko and this wonderful donation. It was a real pleasure to be able to come along to your meeting to thank you in person and see what a dynamic group you are. Thank you so much. A decision on what the Choir & Ko donation will fund at Woodlands Meed will be made in the near future and I hope I can return to let you all know how your fundraising has made a difference at Woodlands Meed."

Fundraising like Choir & Ko’s makes a huge difference to Woodlands Meed.

Adam and Anna joined Rotary President James Gartrell and the twenty other club members for a jovial breakfast meeting at Mid Sussex Golf Club, where the club regularly hold their monthly Saturday morning meetings. After a presentation about the new college build, Adam and Anna answered questions from members about Woodlands Meed, the new build and fundraising projects.

Anna Hull, fundraiser, said "We are very grateful to the club for their interest in Woodlands Meed and were delighted to be able to attend the recent meeting to be able to connect with the members and share lots of local connections and community fundraising goals. We hope we will be able to host a meeting for the Rotary in the future, so members can see the amazing work of our students in their new Inspire Café facility at the new College."

Dawn joined the record number of runners who took part in this year’s AJ Bell Great North Run, which saw tens of thousands of runners complete the famous 13.1 mile course from Newcastle to South Shields.

The showery and grey conditions didn’t dampen Dawn’s enthusiasm and the 60,000 other runners following in the footsteps of 1.3 million runners before them taking part in the 43rd Great North Run.

Dawn said ‘This was my 12th great north run and I have raised funds for several charities over the years, the last one was Ambitious about Autism two years ago.’ 

‘We are just so happy that my Granddaughter Leah has settled at Woodlands Meed. She seems very content and is making progress and I wanted to help fundraise for all the great extras Friends of Woodlands Meed provide for the School and College that help all the children like Leah. ‘

Fundraising like Dawn’s makes a huge difference to Woodlands Meed and all the things we can do to enhance our pupils learning environment and experiences. Every penny raised goes to fund projects at Woodlands Meed School and College that benefits our pupils.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/dawn-fahy-1725978106978

Each child and animal is expertly painted and it is heart-warming seeing how they are all interacting with one another.  Julian is an extremely talented artist and he has put so much love and care into creating something far beyond our dreams and expectations!

Julian will be returning this academic year to add some inspirational quotes to this masterpiece, and he will also be tackling another project where he will be painting our remaining sheds with natural features such as mountains, lakes, oceans and deserts, to represent our key stage three classes.  We can’t wait to see how it evolves!

Our sporting achievements this year include:

- Hosting our own JOLF festival: 145 children participated including every primary, PMLD and SLD class at Woodlands Meed, and SEN students from 5 other locality schools, who for the first time, had the chance to participate in an event wholly suitable for their needs. The event was run by Neil and supported by 38 sports' leaders from Burgess Hill Academy, and Woodlands Meed school and college sites.

- 100% of all students experienced an intra-school event!

- 97% of students represented the school in an inter school competition; a massive 30% increase from last year!

- Greatest number of medallists at The Parallel Youth Games

- Ever single student from both our school and college sites who benefit from using a chair participated in the annual Albion wheelchair football festival!

- 100% students received at least one type of training from an external coach. These include AITC, JOLF, Sussex Cricket

- 12 Students trained as sports' leaders; the most ever!

- The greatest number of students completed Bikeability; with 73% receiving on the road training, which is a record!

- Three highly successful and inclusive sports' days

- 100% families have access to weekly physical activities that can be performed at home and thus contributes to their daily active 30

With a record of young people competing in local inter-school competitions this year, we are extremely proud of our pupils for their dedication to all aspects of school sport, including those young volunteers, leaders and officials who made our competitions possible.

As part of our application, we were asked to fulfil criteria in the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs, and we are pleased that the hard work of everyone at our school has been rewarded this year. A special thanks to: Albion in the Community, Burgess Hill Academy, Friends of Woodlands Meed, JOLF's Neil Plimmer, St Pauls and Sussex Cricket!  We couldn’t have done it without you!

We look forward to our next academic year where we hope to celebrate another fantastic year of sport at WM!

The morning focussed on warm ups, stretches, skills and drills, with ‘trucks and trains’ proving to be a popular dribbling exercise and the infamous penalty shootout always a crowd pleaser!

During the afternoon session, Waterfall played each of the schools once, the highlight being a 2-1 victory over ’The Red Ones’ with captain Alfie Russell scoring both goals.  Everyone did amazingly well, with some students representing WM for the first time, some making their football debut and others demonstrating such great support towards their less experienced teammates.  None of this went unnoticed, with volunteers, coaches and also staff from other schools commenting on what a fantastic group of students Waterfall Class are! 

Honestly we could not be prouder of you all; everyone received medals in recognition of all they achieved! Congratulations!

Our students represented the school in 9 different sports which included street soccer, boccia, table cricket, tennis, swimming and dance.  There were so many successes with lots of students making their competitive debut’ at the games, some were representing Woodlands Meed for the very first time and some were trying new inclusive sports.  Medals were won in boccia, tennis and in the pool, games were won in street soccer, cricket and NAK, but what makes us most proud is quite simply…our students.  Yes they are competitive, yes they want to win, but our students recognise that there is a much bigger trophy on offer, and that is the opportunity to not only enjoy playing sport, but to enable others to enjoy it too.  I am proud that our students were the ones who applauded another school for scoring their first ever goal, that our students congratulated other children when they finished their race no matter what position they finished in, that our students were the ones who picked up others and offered them a supportive comment when they were feeling disappointed.  This is why The Parallel Youth Games, and sport in general, is even more important for our students, it helps to build bonds, create friendships and develop our young people into compassionate adults who, although competitive, will always recognise that there is something much more important than just winning.

Pen Gittins

Woodlands Meed HLTA PE Specialist

For many of Moles’ class this was the first time they have represented the school off site and we are very proud of them!

They enjoyed learning about boccia and playing against the students from Palatine school.  Everyone tried their best and showed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout!  Everyone received a certificate in recognition of how well they all did, well-done Moles’ class, we are very proud of them!

Congratulations to our magical Moles: Robyn, Daniel, Pete, Sam, Chloe, Cam, Liam, Phil, AJ and James W

Neil Plimmer, our JOLF guru has been working with Woodlands Meed for a number of years, delivering bespoke sessions to meet the needs of all our students; including those in our EYFS and primary departments, those in KS3 and also our students with more     complex needs.

In partnership with our PE department, Neil and Woodlands Meed delivered an inclusive festival consisting of a range of golf activities for students to explore. 

Students from other schools were invited to attend, with particular focus being on those with special educational needs.  Five schools in addition to Woodlands Meed accessed the event, with 145 children participating!  The event was fantastically supported by 20 sports’ leaders from Burgess Hill Academy, 12 from our year nines, and 6 from Woodlands Meed College.  It really was a collective team effort!

Staff and students really enjoyed the event with one student commenting that it was ‘the best thing ever on the planet!’  This positivity was mirrored by staff from the attending schools who said that they ‘had a great morning; there were lots of great activities, and it was great to meet new people’.  It really was fantastic to see all the students from different schools playing together and being able to access an event which they would normally find difficult.  I appreciate that especially for some students in mainstream education it can be challenging to find events suitable for all their students.  At Woodlands Meed, we are so very proud to have given this opportunity to targeted students and they benefitted so much from it.  We can’t wait for next year!!!

It is really hard to put into words how fantastic this year’s Bikeability was and it is one of the highlights of our sporting calendar.  Every year we are always so impressed with our students and this year was no different with everyone    excelling far beyond what we could ever have hoped for!  Every child in year 8   accessed some form of Bikeability, be it trying out different adapted bikes, accessing the equipment with greater independence, gaining confidence to try alternative bikes without adult support, learning to ride a two-wheeler on site, or cycling 4 miles on the road! 

Some students who had never ridden a two wheeler before, were (after just a couple of days – in the pouring rain I may add!) cycling independently!  Every child has created their own successes and this week will be remembered and celebrated for a long time!  Congratulations!!!

The weather was not kind to our superstars, but they continued their training with determination and resilience.  When asked if they would recommend Bikeability to others, they gave a resounding yes! They would definitely recommend to other people!

Here are a few quotes where our students explain what they enjoyed most…

I enjoyed learning how to do it properly on the road

I enjoyed doing my hand signals on a busy road

I enjoyed going on a couple of different bikes. I tried loads of two wheelers!

I really liked when I was on the 2 wheeler bike and when I was learning how to signal (a new rider!)

I loved going out on the road with my friends

Having a laugh with instructors while we were cycling!

I enjoyed doing the hand signals

I liked learning how to do the signal

I enjoyed that I finally know how to balance on a bike now.

I loved learning how to ride a bike

We really are very proud of every single one of you!!!

Seven emus are taking on the London Marathon on Sunday 21^st April to raise money to help fund sporting opportunities and experiences for children and young people with learning, social, physical and communication disabilities at Woodlands Meed School & College in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.

Tom made headlines in 2019 when he ran the London Marathon in a banana in pyjama costume with running pal Andy.  This year, he will be joined by Andy and five other friends dressed in emu costumes who are keen to support Tom in his fundraising efforts.

The 7-strong team will be individually dressed as “emu riders’ and are aiming to break the ‘bananas’ previous record of 3 hours 39 minutes.  They’ve recently been spotted taking part in Hove Seafront Park Run and you may well have seen them out and about locally on training runs!

The Emu’s are hoping to raise lots of money for resources and opportunities to enhance the student’s time at Woodlands Meed, with a special focus on giving the students a summer of sporting experiences - to give the children and young people as many opportunities to try out sporting and physical challenges that ordinarily they might not get a chance to do.

Tom said he was feeling “unbelievably excited” ahead of this year’s marathon.

 “I am incredibly excited about this year’s London Marathon.  We had such an unbelievable experience last time as the bananas, I can’t wait to unleash the emus on to the course!  The atmosphere and the crowd at the London Marathon is just incredible and I feel really lucky to be able to run to raise money for the inspiring students I teach at Woodlands Meed.’

As well as running the London Marathon, Tom will also be undertaking a ‘Tomathon’ later in the week at Woodlands Meed on 26 April, where every student at Woodlands Meed will join Tom to run, walk or wheel to be part of the marathon event and help raise money for the sporting activities.

To find out more or donate to support Tom and friends, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/tom-brown-1710692268145