Winning schools in our Festive Season Giveaway 2024
We received 246 thoughtful and heartfelt nominations throughout December highlighting once again how schools work tirelessly to support their pupils’ wellbeing and social, emotional, and mental health needs whilst working with diminishing budgets in tough environments and many communities facing adversity.
We are delighted to share that the winners of our Festive Season Giveaway 2024 are Roman Hill Primary School, Lowestoft, Suffolk, St Andrew’s CofE Infant School, Preston, Lancashire and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Gloucestershire and Stower Provost Community School, Gillingham, Dorset chosen by an independent judge, Abigail Hawkins award-winning SEN Consultant, Educator & Advocate, Keynote Speaker, Author & SENCO Support Network Founder.
The chosen schools will receive their wellbeing resources by 10th January 2025. Our sincere commiserations to all the other entrants, thank you for taking the time to submit your nominations.
“Our Festive Season Giveaway has given us another poignant insight into the incredible work of schools and the commitment to place children’s social and emotional development and wellbeing at the centre of their work, despite the overwhelming challenges they face. We are delighted to celebrate with our winners and to continue to advocate and support schools and our growing Hamish & Milo community to make a difference. We know that the time is now to prioritise children’s happiness and social and emotional literacy for life and learning.” Clare Williams
We thank Abigail Hawkins, founder of SENsible SENCO who generously agreed to select the winning schools a challenging task considering the stories shared in the nomination entries.
We would like to extend an additional gift to any school that submitted a nomination that didn’t win with a 20% discount off any order placed within this term ending 30th March 2024.
Commentary from Abigail Hawkins
Roman Hill Primary School
Justification: The nomination highlights that Roman Hill Primary School is situated in an area known for socioeconomic challenges. Despite these difficulties, the school is described as making significant efforts to provide for its pupils. This aligns perfectly with Hamish & Milo’s aim to support schools striving to improve the wellbeing of their children in difficult circumstances.
Strengths: A strong community focus and resilience in the face of adversity make this school a deserving candidate for the top prize.
St Andrew’s CofE Infant School
Justification: The nomination portrays St Andrew’s as a school committed to nurturing its pupils and providing excellent pastoral care. It emphasises the school’s focus on wellbeing, creating a supportive environment for young children during their formative years. This aligns well with Hamish & Milo’s emphasis on wellbeing and emotional support in education.
Strengths: The focus on early years support and a strong pastoral ethos highlights its suitability to make efficient use of the resources.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
Justification: St. Joseph’s is described as a lovely village school that contributes significantly to its community. It is small but dedicated, making the most of its limited resources to support its pupils holistically. The nomination captures the school’s value to its community, echoing Hamish & Milo’s values of inclusivity and support.
Strengths: A clear sense of community and commitment to pupil wellbeing makes this school a strong candidate, particularly for its grassroots impact.
Stower Provost Community School
Justification: This is a very small school with fewer than 100 pupils, facing unique challenges due to its size. The nomination highlights the dedication of the school staff in overcoming these challenges and fostering a close-knit, supportive environment. This aligns well with Hamish & Milo’s ethos of resilience.
Strengths: A tight-knit community ethos and resilience in delivering education to a small cohort make this school a noteworthy candidate.