Exning Primary School, Suffolk
Our Hamish & Milo Story
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 School was proudly awarded the Inclusion Quality Mark in 2022, and in huge recognition of the work they continue to demonstrate through exemplary inclusive practice, they have now been awarded Flagship school status through IQM in July 2025.
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.
Hamish & Milo and the Suffolk Delivering Better Value Project
As part of the Suffolk local authority's Delivering Better Value (DBV) Project, Hamish & Milo was selected as their preferred Emotional Wellbeing Intervention provider and offered to schools across the county. Exning Primary School 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 free 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 Primary School, 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 have seen noticeably calmer, more regulated, more confident children who are able to express their feelings to others. Parent feedback has also shown that children are able to transfer the skills that they have learned into their home settings, with comments around the lessened incidents of dysregulation at home, as well as better, more open relationships. We are so excited to begin our journey with the Hamish & Milo Families Together sessions so that we can see an even greater impact on the mental health and wellbeing of our pupils and their families. Every step of our journey has been well-supported, and I know that the staff delivering the sessions have found the supervision sessions to be 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. 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.
The programmes delivered so far include:
Measuring impact
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 a New beginnings and me group. 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.
"The children really enjoy the sessions and are sad when they come to an end. Some have truly opened up and said how much Hamish & Milo helps them."
Julie Manttan, TA
Child voice and impact
Year 3, Resilient me
"When I was struggling in class, Hamish & Milo gave me the confidence to put my hand up."
Favourite activity:
'Floor is Lava' obstacle course.
Year 2, Calm me
"I now understand my feelings and know how to calm down."
Favourite activity:
Making a sock puppet.
Year 6, Exploding me
"I feel happier and more in control of my feelings. I have more friends now."
Favourite activity:
Using clay to release frustration.
Year 3, Action, words and me
"Hamish & Milo reminded me about positive play – not hurting or being unkind. I feel calmer and happier."
Favourite activity:
Making a sock puppet.
Year 6, New beginnings and me
"Hamish & Milo helped me feel better about going to secondary school. I'm not so worried now."
Favourite activity:
Making a sock puppet.
Parent feedback
"Phoenix has loved Hamish & Milo, she has enjoyed coming home and explaining about the erupting volcano and other sessions. Phoenix has been very sad her time doing Hamish and Milo is over. The visual aids have really helped her understand feelings and emotions better."
Cookie, Mum
"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
"Tilly has absolutely loved it! It's been such a valuable support for her, boosting her confidence to express how she feels and helping her navigate different emotions in a healthy, constructive way. It's also given her great ideas on how to open up more and communicate her thoughts more clearly and I am seeing a lot more of this at home."
Christie, Mum
Teacher feedback
Ongoing plans
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.
