Important update from TheSchoolRun
For the past 13 years, TheSchoolRun has been run by a small team of mums working from home, dedicated to providing quality educational resources to primary school parents. Unfortunately, rising supplier costs and falling revenue have made it impossible for us to continue operating, and we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close. The good news: We’ve arranged for another educational provider to take over many of our resources. These will be hosted on a new portal, where the content will be updated and expanded to support your child’s learning.
What this means for subscribers:
- Your subscription is still active, and for now, you can keep using the website as normal — just log in with your usual details to access all our articles and resources*.
- In a few months, all resources will move to the new portal. You’ll continue to have access there until your subscription ends. We’ll send you full details nearer the time.
- As a thank you for your support, we’ll also be sending you 16 primary school eBooks (worth £108.84) to download and keep.
A few changes to be aware of:
- The Learning Journey weekly email has ended, but your child’s plan will still be updated on your dashboard each Monday. Just log in to see the recommended worksheets.
- The 11+ weekly emails have now ended. We sent you all the remaining emails in the series at the end of March — please check your inbox (and spam folder) if you haven’t seen them. You can also follow the full programme here: 11+ Learning Journey.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for being part of our journey it’s been a privilege to support your family’s learning.
*If you need to reset your password, it will still work as usual. Please check your spam folder if the reset email doesn’t appear in your inbox.
Class photos excluding SEND children
Beyond the cheese: a new concern for parents
A recent BBC article sheds light on a new worry: are some children being left out of the picture altogether?
A school photo session has parents from Aboyne Primary School fuming. Parents were offered a choice of class photos – one with all the children and another that left out children with complex needs. Yikes!
Apparently, a photography company sent out a link with these 'alternative' options, leaving parents feeling shocked and offended.
Such was the backlash that Aberdeenshire Council swiftly apologised, clarifying the school had nothing to do with this decision and promptly removed the link to the photos that excluded some children.
More than just a smile: why inclusion matters
This incident raises the question: should anyone be left out of the picture, especially on picture day? School photos are supposed to capture a moment in time, a snapshot of your child’s year. Shouldn't that snapshot represent the entire classroom, diverse abilities and all?
Most schools would agree that every child is a valued member of their class and deserves to be part of the group photo each year.
Taking a stand for inclusion: what parents can do
So, what can parents do? If your child’s photo day is approaching and you have concerns both for your child and others, here are a few things you can do:
- Open communication is key: talk to your child about picture day. Discuss their comfort level and any anxieties they might have. Some children just do not like having their photo taken.
- Embrace the opt-out: if your child isn't comfortable participating and the school offers an opt-out option, use it!
- Advocate for inclusion: if you're concerned about the exclusion of any children from your child’s class photo, talk to the school administration. It is doubtful that any school would advocate such photographs. The BBC article also suggests working with the school to ensure photographers understand how to create a more inclusive environment for all children on picture day.
Making school picture day a positive memory for every child
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to participate in school photos is a personal one. But picture day should be about celebrating all children, not creating award-winning portraits.
By keeping the lines of communication open with your child and advocating for inclusion, you can help make picture day a more positive experience for everyone. It's a memory that should reflect and celebrate the diverse world in which our children grow up in.
Matt Revill is a primary school headteacher with over 20 years experience of working in schools. He has worked in a range of settings and currently works within a multi-academy trust of 14 schools. In his free time, he enjoys reading, computing, holidaying and spending time with his family and friends. Matt has a son who is currently working his way through A-levels at college.
