Exning Primary School, Suffolk

Exning Primary School is a nurturing and inclusive one-form-entry school located in Suffolk. The school’s ethos centres on enabling children to Persevere, Shine, and Be Happy, offering a vibrant learning experience where inclusive practice is at the core.

‘We believe all children should be taught kindness, co-operation, resilience, honesty, respect, concentration and perseverance – creating an emotionally aware school family within a safe and secure environment.

We believe the most effective way to prepare children for learning is through a skills- and knowledge-based creative curriculum, giving children the opportunity to become motivated, independent learners who can steer their own learning.’

Exning Primary was proudly awarded the Inclusion Quality Mark in 2022, a recognition it continues to uphold through inclusive and responsive practices.

The school provides tailored support for children with additional needs, including a specialist provision known as The Hive, created for pupils aged 4–7 with Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) and complex additional needs. The curriculum in The Hive is carefully personalised, covering all subject areas to ensure a broad and balanced learning experience.

The social, emotional, and mental wellbeing of pupils is a key priority at Exning. The school recognises the increasing level of need among both pupils and families and remains committed to offering a range of targeted interventions to ensure the best outcomes for all.

As part of Suffolk local authority’s Delivering Better Value (DBV) Project, Hamish & Milo was selected as the core wellbeing resource and offered to schools across the county.

Exning Primary was keen to participate, and in September 2024, proudly joined the Hamish & Milo community.

To support effective delivery, Louise Carter (HLTA) was chosen to lead the intervention, with strong support from Ruth Clifford-Turner (SENCo), Katrina White (Co-SENCo), and Julie Manttan (TA). Staff attended the initial training together and successfully embedded the approach into the school’s wellbeing provision.

The Hamish & Milo sessions have since become a core programme at Exning, supporting children’s social and emotional learning and helping them to thrive.

“Hamish & Milo has been transformative for many of the children who have taken part. We’ve seen calmer, more regulated and more confident children who are now able to express their feelings. Parents report fewer incidents of dysregulation at home and stronger, more open relationships.

We’re now excited to begin our Families Together sessions to further support mental health and wellbeing for pupils and their families.
Staff have also found the supervision sessions incredibly valuable. We are Hamish & Milo converts and advocates!”

Ruth Clifford-Turner, SENCo

As part of Exning’s whole school SEND approach, children are identified for specific Hamish & Milo intervention groups based on individual need. Groups are generally mixed-age, including pupils from Year 2 to Year 6.

The programmes delivered so far include:

Calm me

Amazing me

Exploding me

New beginnings and me

Actions, words and me

Resilient me

“What stands out most is how much fun the children have—and how much it matters to them to know they’re not alone.”

Louise Carter, HLTA

“What stands out most is how much fun the children have—and how much it matters to them to know they’re not alone.”

Louise Carter, HLTA

Currently, different themed groups run two afternoons per week, but from September 2025, this will increase to daily sessions, with Louise’s role expanding to cover more pastoral work. The goal is to reach more children and deepen the programme’s impact school-wide.

“I love the structure and how each theme helps children talk about their feelings. It’s not a tick-box exercise, it’s about what the children are thinking and feeling. Listening to them bounce ideas off each other is so powerful.”

Louise Carter, HLTA

The programme has already had a noticeable and positive impact. Some powerful stories include:

Exploding Me – Year 6

A pupil who was initially withdrawn began contributing from week 4. They used art to express feelings – drawing the Moana mountain without a heart to represent their emotions. Once reluctant to join, the child asked for the group to continue and later joined New Beginnings and Me. Teachers noted the transformation: the pupil became open and chatty in ways not seen before.

Exploding Me – Year 5

A child with explosive behaviours – especially at home – began using strategies from the sessions, resulting in a significant improvement.

“We use the wellbeing profiles alongside teacher and pupil feedback to track the impact. The Navigator Dashboard is helping us to visualise individual and group progress. It’s a growing area of development for us.”

Katrina White, Co-SENCo

Resilient me

Year 3

“When I was struggling in class, Hamish & Milo gave me the confidence to put my hand up.”

Favourite activity:

The Floor is Lava obstacle course.

Calm me

Year 2

“I now understand my feelings and know how to calm down.”

Favourite activity:

Making a sock puppet.

Exploding me

Year 6

“I feel happier and more in control of my feelings. I have more friends now.”

Favourite activity:

Using clay to release frustration.

New beginnings and me

Year 6

“Hamish & Milo helped me feel better about going to secondary school. I’m not so worried now.”

Favourite activity:

Making a sock puppet.

Action, words and me

Year 3

Hamish & Milo reminded me about positive play – not hurting or being unkind. I feel calmer and happier.”

Favourite activity:

Making a sock puppet.

“The programme helped Chester manage his emotions and develop safe, healthy coping mechanisms. He’s more confident and mature, using a feelings book to express himself. He now has the confidence to speak up when something upsets him.”

Elizabeth, Mum

“Phoenix really enjoyed the sessions, especially the volcano activity. She was very sad when it ended. The visual aids really helped her understand emotions better.”

Cookie, Mum

“Tilly has loved it! It boosted her confidence to express herself and manage emotions constructively. We’ve noticed more openness at home.”

Christie, Mum

“Children who participated in ‘Resilient Me’ have shown a more positive attitude to learning.”

Year 3 Teacher

“I’ve seen increased confidence in how openly children share their feelings after the ‘Calm Me’ sessions.”

Class Teacher

Hamish & Milo is now a significant part of the school’s wellbeing and social-emotional strategy.

From September 2025, the programme will expand to daily sessions, with more time allocated and additional staff trained to lead interventions.

The next step is to launch the Families Together programme to deepen parent engagement and provide carers with greater insight into their children’s social and emotional learning—while also helping to build supportive networks among families.

We are incredibly proud of the progress so far and excited to see how Hamish & Milo continues to evolve and make a meaningful impact at Exning Primary School.