Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 13th October 2023

As we approach the last 2 weeks of this half term, I can see that there are coffee afternoons coming up. I hope that the forward planning is helping those of you who can attend with sufficient notice to do so.

If there are matters you wish to discuss with me I am usually at events to which parents/carers are invited. I am also available to support by telephone, email, TEAMS and, subject to other commitments on Thursday/Friday when I have sole use of my office.

What’s coming up?

Next week we have 2 parent coffee events and 2 days of MOVE to Spooks. Full information on events can be found on the events calendar requested by parents and the link is below.

MOVE to Spooks: Tuesday/Wednesday 17^th/18^th October.

KS4 appropriate accreditation coffee afternoon: Thursday 19^th October 14-15.00

ELTBA coffee afternoon: Friday 20^th October 14-15.00

Grants and financial support schemes Q&A session from Contact – for families of disabled children:

“Many parent carers are eligible for grants and financial support schemes to help pay for household bills, adaptations and other costs related to your disabled child’s needs — such as their health, education, or transport.

This Wednesday, we’ll be answering any questions you might have about these sources of support during a Q&A session between 10-11:30am in our Facebook Group for parent carers!

Join our group here to take part

Our Q&A will be a great chance to get expert advice from our helpline team about what financial support you could get, how to apply for schemes, eligibility rules and more. Please note that the session will not cover DWP benefits.

This will NOT be a livestream — our team will answer all questions in writing. You can visit the group anytime between 10-11:30am to ask your question in the comments under our Q&A post, and then pop back later to read our reply.

Find out more about the Q&A in the link below

Activities:

This week, I thought I would look at October half term events. There are some others included too.

Ouseburn Farm:

There are a few things happening over half term including rabbit and guinea pig grooming (yes, that’s what it says), goat walking, craft sessions and a farmer’s club. You can find more information on their website.

The link to book activities is here.

Did you know that Smile for Life has their Café Beam there too and some of our current and past students volunteer there. The menu looks good too, so why not support them too? It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10.00-15.00.

Druridge Bay Country Park: Pumpkin trail.

This is a free event: pick up a map at the café/visitor centre, follow the trail to find pumpkins and return to the café for a trick or a treat. There is a pushchair friendly route, so I take that to also mean wheelchairs. This is happening as of now until 5^th November. The café closes at 16.00. More information available here about the Country Park where there is a children’s play park. It isn’t especially wheelchair friendly from memory

National Trust.

Before I look at events, I thought I would look at membership options.

Family membership: £146 (2 adults), £91.20 (1 adult).

Junior membership (0-17) £10. Note this doesn’t include free parking or handbook.

Young person’s membership (18-25): £42.

Carers, 1 or 2 can access free of charge if the disabled person applies for a companion card. For families with a child aged 5-17, you could consider getting them a membership at £10 and applying for a companion card. Just a thought.

Access guide can be found here:

Events:

Seaton Delaval Hall: They have a special after-hours event between 28 and 31^st October advertised as being suitable for age 9+ as it is Halloween themed. It is a ticketed event and you can find information here

Wallington Hall: They have some autumn themed events and story telling over half term. You can find information here.

Gibside: They have a half term trail; no additional charge and information is available here.

Eldon Scare’s trick or treat.

Join us for our spooktacular Eldon Scare’s Big Trick or Treat event this Halloween half term on Saturday 28 October from 9am to 3pm, upper level within Grey’s Quarter to help raise funds for the North East Autism Society.

Grab your fangs, put on your cape and get out your witch’s broomstick for a frighteningly fun-filled day with over 20 brands taking part in the trail.

There are only 400 Halloween bags to give away, so we suggest arriving early to avoid disappointment. Please note. All attendees must register for one ticket per person.

Collect your FREE Halloween treat bag and map from upper Grey’s Quarter, opposite Chatime and set off on your trick-or-treating adventure around the centre. Participating stores and restaurants will display an Eldon Scare sticker in their windows so little ones know they can bag lots of free devilish delights when they visit.

Our Eldon Scare’s friendly monster and witch trainer will be roaming the malls, casting some magical spells along the way. They are friendly, so they are always happy for a selfie with fellow little witches, vampires, and monsters, so don’t be afraid to stop them in their tracks!

Register for your tickets (one per person) to the Eldon Scare’s Big Trick or Treat event below.

Plus, when you register, you’ll automatically be entered into the prize draw for your chance to win a £100 Eldon Square gift card.

Derwent Waterside Park pumpkin picking:

Celebrate the spooky season RIGHT by picking your very own pumpkin at Derwent Waterside Park!

With 100’s of pumpkins of all sizes, a dedicated carving tent, face painting, games and loads more, there is something for the whole family!

With dates from the 14 – 31 October, make sure to book your spot to reserve a pumpkin as we don’t want you to miss out.

Price: £12pp ages 2+. This includes the cost of your pumpkin.

Here’s an advance one for your Christmas planning:

Evening Chronicle Santa bus.

Advertised as fully accessible and free to all. It has been organised in partnership with Stagecoach, offers fully wheelchair access to visit Santa Claus. No booking is required and, from what I read they fully understand the challenges of neurodiversity, that things can change etc. I know this was on last year, so I would love some feedback to share if you attended.

Paddlepod sensory sessions.

Pool sensory sessions take place on Sunday mornings at PaddlePod (Shiremoor) and Sunday afternoons at PaddlePod (Killingworth). Spaces can be booked via our online booking system and cost £3.50* per swimmer.

Disability tag rugby

Newcastle falcons are offering free sessions on Mondays form 17-18.00. It will be at the Tyneside badminton Centre.

 North East family Fun

This is a Facebook group I follow, and sometimes get ideas for activities. It is not disability specific.

Cinema Exhibitors Card: CEA card

I have shared this many times, but a conversation this morning with a parent who didn’t know about it prompted another share. The card enables a carer to attend a screening with the card owner free of charge and costs £6 for 1 year.

“The CEA Card is a national card scheme developed for UK cinemas by the UK Cinema Association (UKCA).

The Card enables a disabled cinema guest, aged 5 years and above to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema.

The Card is also one way for cinemas to make sure they look after their disabled guests. If you require an adjustment to visit a cinema because of your disability, cinema staff should make them for you whether you have a CEA Card or not.

The Card is developed by UKCA’s Disability Working Group, whose members include film exhibitors and distributors, and national disability charities such as RNID, RNIB, Dimensions and Whizz Kidz.”

FoPHS News:

We have this week funded resources for the next MOVE session. For those new to school or who haven’t attended any of our meetings I thought I would let you know what happens with funding. Staff email to request funds. These are passed to the committee for consideration. We adopt an approach which ensures that our funds benefit all students. That isn’t to say that everything we fund is right for all. As an example, the MOVE sessions are open to all, but our older accreditation students are less engaged. We will consider any request on this basis, so some things may only be for a few classes, but are always passed by the committee.

Our funds come from:

• The FoPHS Autumn Fayre
• FoPHS 100 club
• Christmas card sales
• Stalls at the enterprise fayres
• Family donations
• School photograph contributions
• Special events: Bayvox Choir (£1000) is a recent example.
• Donations from families who specifically ask for funds to come to FoPHS.

We have also worked with the Student Council, supporting their fund-raising and they have run both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day sales in past years.

IQ Christmas cards

Thanks to those who have placed orders. It is quite time-consuming collating these, but it is something I feel you appreciate. There are some very talented young artists in our school. Once received these will be sent to you with receipts.

FoPHS 100 Club.

We now have 50 numbers taken, so we are halfway to the target I have been in contact with finance, and it is possible to pay by BACS. Contact me if you’d like to do it this way. In the meantime, here is the form again.

Facebook page:

This is a closed group for family and friends of Percy Hedley School, where you can share news and updates about school life. It is not for external professionals who may be working with families. To join, you need to answer the question stating your link with school.

Please note: this group is for sharing news and updates about school life and is not intended to discuss any issues around individual students, and as such all comments are moderated. If you have a particular issue or concern, please contact school directly on 0191 216 1811.

Sometimes, in fact often easier said than done. My son, who spent 14 happy years at PHS and 2 at Hedley’s College has been one of my best teachers and inspired other family members in their career choices.

 Parenthood is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you’d have. It’s about understanding your child is exactly the person they are supposed to be. And, if you’re lucky, they might be the teacher who turns you into the person you’re supposed to be. ~The Water Giver

Contact details

Eileen Robinson: Family Liaison Officer

Email: e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk

Telephone: 0191 2161811 ext. 3260.