At Foxfield Primary School, we believe that every single child deserves the opportunity to achieve their best possible long-term outcomes, regardless of their unique start in life.

 In January 2026, we were officially awarded the Prem Aware School status. “Congratulations on becoming a Prem Aware Setting. This will make a huge difference to families and I am delighted to confirm you meet our criteria and we can award you The Smallest Things Prem Aware Award!”
This prestigious accreditation, run by the UK Neonatal Charity The Smallest Things, recognises our school’s deep commitment to understanding, identifying and supporting the distinct developmental and educational needs of children who were born prematurely.

Starting nursery or school is a monumental milestone for any family and for parents of children who spent their earliest days in neonatal care, it can come with unique anxieties. Many parents naturally worry about the lasting, long term impacts that an early birth might have on a child’s school journey.

This prestigious accreditation, run by the UK Neonatal Charity The Smallest Things, recognises our school’s deep commitment to understanding, identifying and supporting the distinct developmental and educational needs of children who were born prematurely.

Starting nursery or school is a monumental milestone for any family and for parents of children who spent their earliest days in neonatal care, it can come with unique anxieties. Many parents naturally worry about the lasting, long term impacts that an early birth might have on a child’s school journey.
While being born early absolutely does not mean a child will have Special Educational Needs, extensive research shows that it does statistically increase the chances. Statistics reveal that an average of two to three children in every UK classroom are born prematurely and research from child development experts highlights that these children are more likely to experience poorer academic attainment or require extra learning support compared to their full term peers.

To achieve this award and ensure our practice meets the highest standard, all of our staff engaged deeply with the specialised PRISM (Preterm Birth Information for Educational Professionals) training. This PRISM Training developed by Professor Samantha Johnson and her dedicated research team at the University of Leicester. This comprehensive training equips educators with vital insights into how premature birth alters physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development.

With this knowledge, staff are equipped to break down instructions to ease working memory, adjust task times for slower processing speeds or provide targeted mathematical frameworks. Our staff are fully prepared to put these skills into practice to support the wellbeing and academic success of all our pupils.