Springfield House Community Special School

PROUD of our Roots

Springfield House Chess Club

We are pleased to announce that we currently have spaces available in the Springfield House Chess Club which started successfully almost a year ago. Last year we had to remain in bubbles within the school, so the club could only operate online. This year we are looking forward to running the club in person as a lunchtime activity. We have partnered with the national charity Chess in Schools and Communities and they have very kindly donated some chess sets and other resources to the school so that we can make chess part of our enrichment offer.

Chess is an inclusive pastime that promotes key skills such as problem solving, logical thinking, pattern recognition and concentration. Playing chess boosts self-esteem and gives children resilience, which helps them grow into well rounded adults. It does this by teaching children how to lose and how to win gracefully, to think ahead and to foresee the consequences of their actions. Chess is especially beneficial for children with Special Educational Needs – please follow this link to the Chess in Schools and Communities website for more information about this:

https://www.chessinschools.co.uk/special-educational-needs

As part of our link up with Chess in Schools and Communities, our club members will be given log ins so that they can access ChessKid, a worldwide online chess learning and playing zone designed for primary school children. Children will be able to watch instructional videos, try chess puzzles, play bots and challenge their friends, while tracking their improvement as they move up through the ChessKid levels. For a one minute introduction to ChessKid please view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxRUm--xlkw

As spaces are limited we would be very grateful if you would discuss this opportunity with your child and then let us know whether they want to be involved. Please either complete the consent below or return the attached consent slip by Friday 4th February if your child wishes to take part in the Springfield House Chess Club. If you completed a consent slip last year, you do not need to do so again – your child’s membership will automatically roll over.

If you have any questions, please call me at the school and I will be happy to help. I look forward to hearing from you.

 Yours sincerely

 

 Stuart Broadaway                                                                                                                                                     

 Personal Development Lead

 

Chess Permission Slip