A message from our CEO
As you know, we had a scorching summer and I’m probably not alone in enjoying the return of damper weather in September. Certainly, the school grounds needed the rain and it’s good to see our grass beginning to recover.
Over the summer we had our Sports Day and Wildmoor Festival (pictures of which are included in this newsletter). Since joining Loddon last year, I have really enjoyed these events that bring our community together. It was also great to have the Staff Awards and recognise all the excellent work that our team members carry out.
Our new website is now live at www.theloddonfoundation.org.uk. It is brighter, fresher and more accessible than what we had before, and the centrepiece is a really lovely film about all that we do here. I’m not ashamed to admit that even having only been here 18 months, I was emotional watching it and the film is a great reminder of all that we do to support our children and young people to live fulfilling lives.
Our next event will be our Loddon Winter Village taking place on Friday 4 December — details to follow. I look forward to seeing you there.
Highlights & achievements
Arts Week
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” — Pablo Picasso
We once again celebrated the arts with our very popular “Arts Week” at the end of spring. Each day we created something new, from catapult splatting to vinyl record designing, and we also had a visit from a wonderful brass band who entertained us all day.
We concluded the week with an exhibition of all the creative work and art pieces our children and young people created and designed throughout the week, showcasing the reason why we organise events such as this. It is not only time to have fun and be creative but also a time to relax, regulate, focus and engage with everyone involved.
Throughout June we had some of our art pieces exhibited in one of the local art galleries called Freedom Through Expression, to high praise.
From the garden
Over the summer weeks, we have been busy harvesting our tomatoes and looking after our pumpkins, which are getting very big now. Some of us also entered some produce into the local community Sherfield Show. Our peppers and chillies were successful, winning some prizes. As the month progresses, our sweetcorn will be ready. Our produce gets used in Nutribar so the children can try new textures and tastes, as well as at the Chumble Market in therapies.
News from The Paddocks
Things at The Paddocks have been busy lately! Following The Mane Event fundraiser, we have finally managed to send Chester off for his carriage training, after a long waiting list with Grayswood Carriages. He is doing great (and winning over the staff there with his fantastic moustache!) but will be away from Loddon for several weeks more.
The Paddocks team have also been working hard learning how to drive the carriage, and are all looking forward to offering this activity once Chester is home again. The change in weather has been very welcome, and the animals are enjoying the cooler temperatures. They are all much more active, and making the most of it before winter sets in.
Huge thanks to Basingstoke Loddon Rotary Club and Centerprise International, who once again worked incredibly hard for the day and have helped to create a wonderful new play area for our young people. We think the team of volunteers did a fantastic job in achieving that!
Prom 2026
Another year to celebrate our young people at Loddon. PROM 2026! We danced, laughed and had a great time. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Prom one to remember. For some of our students, this was their first time taking part in such a special event and watching them shine reminds us why we do what we do.
Spanish Day
Spanish Day at The Loddon School, organised by our wonderful Spanish-speaking staff team and led by Lorena.
The day was filled with music, dancing, games and delicious traditional food prepared by staff from their home countries. It was a great opportunity for everyone to come together, share a bit of their culture, and enjoy something a little different during the school day.
Events like this are always a reminder of the diverse and supportive community we have at Loddon, where staff bring their experiences, traditions and personalities into the life of the school. A big thank you to everyone who helped organise the day and shared their culture with us.
Sports Day & Staff Awards 2026
Big congratulations to all our winners and runners-up at this year’s staff annual awards and sports day. You have given so much to the children, and on behalf of them we say thank you to you all.
Some of the winners from this year…
Employee of the Year
At the core of a great employee is a willingness to be optimistic and positive, despite any challenges. They consistently exceed job expectations, take initiative, deliver high quality work and go above and beyond their job description to contribute to Loddon’s success. They inspire others with their work ethic, attitude, resilience and commitment to The Loddon School’s values, as well as role modelling good self-care and supporting the wellbeing of others.
Winner: Apology Zhou
Runners-up: Gabriel Agyare, Kelly Simpson
Special Award for Block Booked Agency
Consistently demonstrates an outstanding commitment to Loddon, its children and young people and its values. Dedicated, professional and willing to become an integral part of the team. They have made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the quality of care and education provided at Loddon. They champion children’s rights, build positive and trusting relationships, and go above and beyond to support children and young people to thrive. Their flexibility, reliability and commitment strengthen Loddon and exemplify the very best of partnership working at Loddon.
Winners: Ahsan Khawaja & Akash Singh
Most Supportive Employee Award
A dependable member of staff who supports colleagues in times of challenge. Someone who is dedicated to supporting staff. A staff member who makes time for colleagues and actively supports their wellbeing.
Winner: Gwizi
Runner-up: Millie Bromley
Children’s Champion Award
Holds the children at the heart of their work. Has a dedication to expand the children’s learning and leisure activities. Children enjoy working with this staff member. A member of staff who makes their interactions with the children fun, playful and positive. Always promotes the wellbeing of children and acts in their best interests.
Winner: Gabriel Agyare
Runners-up: Nadia Erdei, Rowan Williams, Tayo Adu
In other news
Meet our Occupational Therapist and Speech & Language Therapist
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves as the Occupational Therapist (OT) and Speech & Language Therapist (SaLT). We are so pleased to be back at Loddon having worked here previously. We are really looking forward to working alongside you all to support the children and young people.
Our roles focus on helping individuals to maximise their independence, participation, communication, wellbeing and quality of life. We understand the invaluable knowledge and experience that all staff bring, and we believe that the best outcomes are achieved through collaboration.
Whether you have questions, concerns, ideas, or simply want to discuss someone you support, please feel free to come and speak to either of us at any time. We want to be approachable and accessible, so there is no need to wait for a formal meeting or referral if you would like advice, guidance, or just an informal chat about communication, daily living skills, sensory needs, eating and drinking, equipment, or any other therapy-related concerns.
We are really looking forward to working with you all to support the children and young people. Please don’t hesitate to stop by and say hello — we are always happy to help.
Best wishes, Lauren (Occupational Therapist) and Kathryn (Speech & Language Therapist)
Our new website is live
We are delighted to launch our new website: www.theloddonfoundation.org.uk
We are so pleased with the excellent support we’ve had from Perfect Pixels Digital Website Services who designed it, and the result is a brighter and fresher website that tells our story across The Loddon Foundation (School, Training, and Charity) in a really accessible and engaging way.
A word from wellbeing: getting cosy with hygge
Can you believe that it’s September already?! Summer is coming to an end, and Monday 22nd September marks the official start of autumn. For some people this is exciting; autumn is about cooler, bright days, frosts, changing colours and spooky celebrations, but for others who enjoy the sun and heat, it can be a depressing time.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a well-known mental health condition where the darker, colder months can cause periods of depression for many. This is due to many factors, such as lack of vitamin D and sunlight, less social activities and less time spent outside, all of which impact our wellbeing.
We can’t do anything to stop autumn from coming, but one way to make it easier for ourselves is to lean into the novelty of the season and get cosy, using a Scandinavian concept called hygge (pronounced “HOO-guh”). Hygge is about appreciating the little things in life, and romanticising the everyday in a way that makes us feel comfortable and at ease. The concept is about finding joy in everyday rituals, such as drinking your morning coffee, or folding your laundry. It is about being very present, acknowledging your senses and emotions, and finding simple pleasures. But how do we do this?
Make your home cosy
You’re going to be spending more time inside, so make your house nice to be in! Maybe do a deep clean, start a cleaning schedule to keep on top of things, or have a de-cluttering session. Get warm blankets for the sofa, buy some seasonal candles, or maybe refresh your décor with new pictures or houseplants. Get a salt lamp with soft lighting, and maybe even a diffuser. If you have to be inside, make the inside a nice place to be!
Eat and drink your seasonal favourites
Comfort food and drink is vital for hygge. Maybe it’s eating more soups as we approach autumn, baking fresh bread and enjoying everything pumpkin spiced. Why not do a hot chocolate night and make cookies to eat while watching movies. It could be roast dinners, stews and pastas, all the things that make us feel full and satisfied when we eat them.
Ground yourself in the present
Life is busy and overwhelming, and we are often always moving on to the next thing. Part of hygge is being present in the moment. To do this, try some grounding techniques. Focus on 5 things you can see, 4 you can hear, 3 you can touch, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste. Finding the little things and really appreciating them helps us to find beauty in the everyday, making even the mundane feel special. Find those details and focus in on them — you’ll realise there is so much you are missing!
Safeguarding team update
We would like to inform parents of an update to our safeguarding team. Kelly Simpson is now our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Tim Clark continues to be part of the safeguarding team, and we are pleased to welcome Cephas Doku who has joined the safeguarding team. Safeguarding remains our highest priority, and the team is committed to ensuring that all children are safe, happy and supported. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to a member of the team.
Children must feel safe and be safe. Have you seen something that concerns you? You must immediately speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Kelly Simpson — and in her absence: Tim Clark, Cephas Doku, Jo Emerson, Laura Lovett, Maciej or Pam Dobson.
Candid moments
Our next event is the Loddon Winter Village on Friday 4 December — details to follow.