Following some dark Winter months and a disappointingly wet and drab Spring, we’re not the only ones looking forward to the warmth of Summer – and one very important picnic.
Braintree’s well-known Edith Borthwick School for children with special needs holds an annual Summer for the parents and families of new students to the school, to introduce them to both the team and the premises, in advance of starting school in the September term.
This introduction to the building, the staff and fellow pupils is an essential event, especial for those students for whom a significant change in their daily routines will prove a challenge. Schooldays are often heralded as some of the happiest days of our lives, but for a neurodiverse student, or children with complex needs, a set of new faces, combined with a new context, can cause anxiety, and can take some getting used to. When a child with special needs starts school, it can also be an anxious time for parents, so the Edith Borthwick School Summer picnic acts as an invaluable introduction to school life and a reassurance for both parents and students.
The Pursuit team have been supporters of this truly outstanding school for several years, so when we asked how we could help this year, we were delighted when headteacher Maggie Loveday asked if we could sponsor the Summer picnic. Our MD, Lorraine said, “I’m always in awe of the dedicated work that the team at Edith Borthwick do to help each child to reach and fulfill their potential, so it’s a delight to be able to help in a very small way by sponsoring the summer picnic.
“Fulfilling your potential is something we talk about with our candidates at work all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning when it involves facing and overcoming the odds that the students and staff face every day of term. It’s a real privilege to be able to facilitate a small part of their work by helping to stage the picnic. This getting to know you session is such a brilliant idea for staff, students and parents. One thing we can’t really help with is the weather, but we’ll be praying for sunshine to make it a truly special occasion.”