22 January 2026

Swan Bites is our weekly college bulletin for parents/carers – it is published every Thursday.
We welcome any feedback or comments via: enquiries@swanmore-sec.hants.sch.uk

College Notices

Urgent Action: Emergency Closure Permissions

Thank you to the huge number of parents and carers who have already completed the Emergency Closure Permission form sent out yesterday. Your prompt response is greatly appreciated.

If you have not yet completed this form: Please check your email inbox (including junk/spam folders) for a message sent yesterday, Wednesday, 21 January, at around 11:35 am, regarding "Emergency Closure Form – Urgent Completion Required."

It is vital that we receive a response for every pupil to ensure their safety and welfare should we need to close the College unexpectedly.

Please locate the email and complete the form by Monday, 26 January 2026.

If you have not received the email, please contact enquiries@swanmore-sec.hants.sch.uk as soon as possible so we can send it to you.

Police Request

Knock Door Run

The Police have asked that you remind your children that playing ‘Knock Door Run’ can amount to harassment, which is a crime. The Police are aware of and keen to pursue incidents of this nature and may take formal action against anyone who is identified as being involved. People who incessantly bang on the doors of vulnerable people and run away are currently being investigated in the local area.

PE Kit Reminder

Image shows pictures of the correct unbranded items needed for Swanmore College PE

Pupils must wear clean, correct PE kit every lesson (even when ill or injured) so they can take an active part in the lesson and fully participate once they return to full health. This way, College uniform is not damaged whilst standing on muddy pitches and any illness won’t worsen as pupils will have dry uniform to change back into. Only at the College’s discretion, i.e. severe injury or illness, may this rule not apply.

Dos and Don'ts

Image shows correct and incorrect items of black PE kit, including astro trainers above normal trainers, no brand logos, no flat soled shoes

Pupils who do not have the correct Swanmore PE kit for lessons will be expected to borrow kit (that has been washed) from the PE department, and they will receive a kit mark. If a pupil receives three kit marks in a half-term, they will be submitted to the Learning Hub. Kit marks restart each half-term.

Get Inspired Portsmouth – Careers Visit 🌟

A group of pupils from Swanmore standing and smiling at the British Army stand at the Get Inspired Portsmouth careers event

Pupils take part in a hands-on STEM activity at an engagement stand, using a construction kit with colourful components, circuits and tools on a table. Nearby are wooden learning resources, metal rods, stacking rings, cables and an iPad

A group of 14 Year 7 and Year 8 students enjoyed a fantastic morning last week at Get Inspired Portsmouth, an interactive careers event organised by EBP South at the Portsmouth Guildhall.

During the visit, students explored a wide range of employer stands, took part in hands-on activities, and spoke directly with professionals from different industries.

It was great to see students engaging confidently, asking thoughtful questions, and enjoying the chance to explore pathways they may not have considered before.

Year 7

There are no specific items for Year 7 only.

Year 8

Reminder: Y8 Parents Evening

Date: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Time: 16:30-19:30

Year 9

Reminder: Y9 Vaccination programme

Your child’s 3-in-1 Teenage Booster and Meningitis vaccinations are now due. These vaccines help protect against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio and Meningitis.

Follow the links below for the electronic form and information about the vaccines. Access to the form will close two working days prior to the session.

School Code: SH116424

Session date: Wednesday 28^th & Thursday 29^th January 2026

Year Group: Year 9

Link to form: https://www.hiowhealthcareimmunisations.co.uk/Forms/DTP

For further information: https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/hampshire/teenage-booster-tetanus-diphtheria-polio-meningitis/

To choose YES or NO please complete the form to record your decision. Regular reminders will be sent to those that have not completed a form to ensure children do not miss their opportunity for vaccination.

From the NHS School Age Immunisation Service

Year 10

There are no specific items for Year 10 only.

Year 11

There are no specific items for Year 11 only.

Next Week’s Events

Monday, 26 January 2026

Y11 Mock GCSE exams
Y8/9 Girls Football vs. Westgate (H)

Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Y11 Mock GCSE exams
Y9 Knife Crime Awareness Talk
U16 Basketball vs. Westgate (A)

Wednesday, 28 January 2026

Y11 Mock GCSE exams
Y9 Booster Jabs (Td/IPV & MenACWY Immunisation)
Intermediate Mathematical Challenge
Y10 Swanmore Primary Science Show 13:15-14:45
Ski Fit 15:15–16:15
Dance Live - 12:00 at Portsmouth Guildhall
Y9 Boys Football vs. Mountbatten (A)
Y9 Sportshall Athletics at Swanmore

Thursday, 29 January 2026

Y11 Mock GCSE exams
Y9 Booster Jabs (Td/IPV & MenACWY Immunisation)
Y8 Parents Evening 16:30-19:30

Friday, 30 January 2026

Y11 Mock GCSE exams

Community Notices

P.A.C.E 2026 – FREE Parent and Carer Events

Yellow banner featuring the P.A.C.E 2026 Parent & Carer Events branding. On the left, large textured white letters spell “P.A.C.E” above the words “Parent & Carer Events” and the year “2026,” set against a dark blue triangular shape. On the right, the NHS logo appears above the text “Hampshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.”

As you may already be aware, Hampshire CAMHS offer a number of Parent and Carer Events (PACE), aimed at sharing knowledge and skills to parents/carers and professionals. These events aim to play a part in building the resilience of our young people, empowering families with knowledge and skills in relation to a wide range of mental health and neurodevelopmental difficulties and supporting young people/families managing day to day, to reduce the need for referrals, or to support families whilst they wait for CAMHS input.

Further information about the events and how to book can be found at hampshirecamhs.nhs.uk/events

Upcoming Sessions

DATE	LOCATION
Thursday, 26 February 2026	Queen Mary’s College, Cliddesden Rd, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 3HF
Thursday, 16 April 2026	Junction Church, 2 Romsey Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9FE
Friday, 8 May 2026	Lyndhurst Community Centre, Central Car Park, High Street, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NY
Thursday, 25 June 2026	Winton Community Academy, London Rd, Andover, Hampshire SP10 2PS
Monday, 5 October 2026	Trosnant School, Stockheath Lane, Havant, Hampshire PO9 3BD
Friday, 23 October 2026	Waterlooville Community Centre,10 Maurepas Way, Waterlooville, PO7 7AY

Session Itineraries

TIME	SESSION 1	SESSION 2
9:30 – 10:45	Understanding Adolescence & Their Mental Health What is adolescence & how can we understand teenage development. Brain development & the impact for young people at this stage of their lives. We will cover some ways to wellbeing for adolescents and consider how you as parents you can support your young person whilst maintaining your own wellbeing.	Sleep Optimisation What is sleep and the importance of this. Why it may be difficult to sleep, & exploring what this is and how we can promote healthy sleep with some top tips.
11:00 – 12:15	A basic introduction to ADHD What is ADHD? Spotting the signs and symptoms from 5 years to 18 years. How to support a young person with symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity with or without an ADHD diagnosis.	Understanding Suicide and Suicidal Thinking Understanding and increasing confidence in noticing and managing young people who may be distressed, not coping and at risk of self harm or suicide.
12:15 – 12:45	Lunch break	Lunch break
12:45 – 14:00	Introduction to Low Mood Upskilling parents and carers to identify the signs of low mood in their young people and support them to break the cycle of low mood using activity scheduling and value-based living techniques.	A basic introduction to Autism What is Autistic Spectrum Condition? Spotting the signs and symptoms Diagnosis: the process and things to know about the diagnostic assessment How to support a young person with ASC.
14:15 – 15:30	School Avoidance & School Transition The session will aim to provide parents/carers an understanding of what emotionally-based school avoidance is and the reasons why some young people find it difficult to attend school. Moving to a new school is a big life event. We will cover common worries and how these might present in your child, strategies to manage worries that you can share with your child to help them build their resilience, as well as coping strategies to calm the physical symptoms of anxiety.	Parent Care – looking after yourself This session will focus on the needs and challenges for parents and carers, as well as provide a range of practical advice and strategies around how to look after yourself in order to better support the wellbeing of your child.
15:45 – 17:00	Eight Skills to Support a Young Person This session will cover 8 different key skills and strategies that a parent/carer or professional can use to support a young person. It will be a practical and helpful opportunity to feel more confident and knowledgeable in supporting a young person.	Understanding & managing anxiety What anxiety is and how to spot the signs and symptoms of anxiety in children and young people. How to support a child and young person who experiences anxiety with practical strategies.
17:15 – 19:30	Understanding ADHD & the Strategies YOU need This session will include what ADHD is, practical strategies to support the child/ young person with identifying their strengths, prioritising tasks, building resilience and has a focus on maintaining wellbeing. It includes evidence-based parent/carer skills to manage behaviour that can challenge using Nonviolent resistance skills. Overall the event provides tools to support children and young people with ADHD to thrive.	Supporting your autistic child to thrive This two-hour session will consider what areas of life can be challenging for autistic young people. We will think about how we can adapt our communication and the environment around the young person to make life easier and more suited to their needs. We will discuss practical changes that can be made in all the areas and give example of what these look like in real life. We will support you to think about the specific needs of your child and develop the beginnings of an individualised plan, providing the opportunity for discussion with other group members and the facilitators.

Additional Hampshire CAMHS 2026 Events

Children’s and young people’s mental health information and advice sessions (drop in):
First Wednesday of every month
Time: 10am-2pm
Place: The Arc, Jewry Street, Winchester, SO23 8SB
How to Cope When Your Child Can’t
Three one-day events focused on parents/ carers understanding their own needs, and learning strategies to look after themselves as they support a young person with their own mental health needs.
22 January, Winchester
15 May, Eastleigh
30 September, Basingstoke
Anxiety
Understanding & strategies to support young people.
28 January, Basingstoke
11 November, Havant
Embracing Autism
Three days that focus on skills and strategies for parents, carers and professionals supporting a child with autism.
4 February, Havant
9 July, Eastleigh
17 November, Andover

Stopping Avoidable Suicides Initiative
Hampshire CAMHS are offering a one-day training event on suicide prevention across three different locations in Hampshire.
27 February, Andover
11 June, Waterlooville
2 October, Eastleigh
Understanding ADHD
Three days that focus on skills and strategies, for parents, carers and professionals supporting a child with ADHD.
5 March, Eastleigh
16 September, Havant
3 November, Andover
Trauma
Understanding the impact of trauma on a young person’s brain, body and behaviour and how we can guide them from surviving to thriving.
4 June, Basingstoke
7 October, Havant

For further details of these session, or to book your space visit the Hampshire CAMHS website.

Meon Valley Food Bank Donations

Thank you for your continued support

We will be open next Monday, 26 January, between 10am and 12pm to receive food donations.

Food can also be dropped off at the following places:

Bishops Waltham - Sainsbury's, Coop, St Peters Church and the Jubilee Hall in Little Shore Lane
Curdridge – St Peter's Church
Upham – Blessed Mary Church
Wickham – the Coop and the Community Centre.
Park Gate – Robinson Reade Estate Agents

The items we require for the coming week are:

Pasta Sauces
Tinned Tomatoes
Jam
Tinned Custard
Tinned Ham

Please note that any external clubs / events that are advertised here are not endorsed by or directly affiliated with Swanmore College in any way.