Engage

Welcome to Engage at St. Joseph’s.

Engage is a small, mixed Year 4 and Year 5 class led by Miss Russell, supported by Mrs Kaur and Mr Ceron. Together, they are delighted to welcome families into a classroom community that is built on nurture, encouragement and a genuine belief in every child’s potential.

Engage has its own bespoke curriculum, carefully designed to meet children exactly where they are in their learning journey. The team understand that children develop at different rates and may need learning presented in different ways. They are passionate about ensuring that every child feels safe, valued and capable of success.

The ethos of Engage is rooted in patience, positivity and progress. Staff prioritise strong relationships, emotional wellbeing and building confidence alongside academic development. In this classroom, small steps are celebrated, effort is recognised and children are encouraged to take pride in their achievements.

Miss Russell has been working at St. Joseph’s for over 8 years now and is passionate about inclusive education and creating a classroom where every child feels understood, supported and capable of success. She believes that confidence is the foundation of progress and works hard to ensure that every child experiences success each day. She particularly enjoys seeing pupils grow in independence and begin to believe in themselves as learners.

Mrs Kaur is an experienced HLTA who has worked across the whole school at St. Joseph’s for 7 years. She plays a key role in supporting both academic and emotional development to pupils throughout the school using her amazing Thrive training. With warmth and consistency, she helps pupils feel secure and ready to learn. She takes pride in celebrating each child’s individual strengths.

Mr Ceron is currently completing his HLTA qualification and is a valued member of the Engage team who has been working at St. Joseph’s since 2025. He works closely with pupils throughout the day, delivering targeted support, offering guidance, encouragement and positive reinforcement. His patient and encouraging approach helps children feel secure and ready to take the next step in their learning.

One of the strengths of Engage is its strong team approach. With three adults in the classroom, pupils benefit from consistent support, small-group teaching and plenty of opportunities for personalised learning. The staff work closely together to ensure that every child feels safe, cared for and confident enough to try – even when learning feels challenging.

Engage follows a carefully adapted, bespoke curriculum tailored to the needs of the pupils in the class. Learning is personalised, structured and responsive, ensuring children can close gaps, consolidate key skills and build strong foundations.

There is particular focus on:

-Core literacy and reading development

-Securing number fluency and mathematical understanding

-Communication and language skills

-Building independence and learning stamina

-Social and emotional development

Learning is delivered in a smaller group with targeted support, practical resources and opportunities for overlearning to build confidence and retention. Pupils also regularly access enrichment opportunities and educational visits to support their skills-based learning.

A key priority within Engage is emotional wellbeing. The classroom provides a calm, structured and predictable environment where children feel safe to take risks in their learning.

Children in Engage say:

“I feel safe in our classroom”

“Teachers help us when we find it hard”

“I like learning new things”

The staff are incredibly proud of the determination, kindness and perseverance shown by the pupils in Engage each day.