Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 17th November 2023

It is here. 

This week’s online safety blog from Maria is in response to parents requesting information on snapchat and can be found here.

Parents and carers are often overwhelmed when the term autism is mentioned to them, especially in relation to their own child. Fiona and Lynda will come together to help you begin your journey into a better understanding of what it means to be autistic and how you as a parent/carer can feel more confident in supporting and understanding your child.

We will cover key areas and dispel common everyday myths using a range of materials and drawing on lived experience from autistic individuals. This webinar has been co-produced by our staff with support from our A Team (Autistic Advisory board) and the children and young people we work with.

Please take a look at the poster below for upcoming dates which are also available to view on our website. If you would like to register for this session, please complete our online registration form.

Note from Eileen: This is open not just to parents/carers but also to family members. My own experience with some members of my own family when my son was diagnosed was:

• They didn’t understand.
• They didn’t believe it.
• They didn’t know how to support him or me.

Over time we all learned, and I have always had excellent support from most; I thought this might be a good way to get extended family on board.

LOCATION – Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

SUITABLE FOR – Children

DATE – Weekends from Sat 2 Dec until Sat 23 December 2023

TIME – 10:30am, 11.10am, 11.50am, 12.30pm, 1.20pm, 2pm, 2.40pm & 3.20pm

Limited availability and 10% discount for online bookings.

Tickets to Festive Stories with Father Christmas at Belsay Hall cost £9.50 per child. This includes the group storytelling session and a small present.

A little early for many people I think, but for those who have early birds and for whom it is accessible the contact details are:

Telephone: 01670 238502.

The award-winning experience starts on Monday 13th of November and runs until the 7th of January 2024 with tickets selling fast! Don’t miss out on the ultimate festive adventure, book your tradition today.

“Santa is busy in the North Pole getting ready for the big night on Christmas Eve so come and keep his Elf team company for a wonderful Kirkley Christmas time helping the keeper elves with their jobs. Start off with a zoo tour with one of our elf keepers delivering some food presents to our animals. After your festive tour head to the elf workshop where you’ll get to help make some Christmas crafts and animal enrichment to give to our animals and listen to a story round the fire and receive a lovely animal themed present per child.”

Times:10-13.00

Dates 2, 3, 9, 10 (1-4pm added), 16 and 17 (1-4pm added) December.

Price £20 per child (one adult free with each paying child then any additional adults £7.50)

You’re invited to Elf School!

Eldon Square, which has achieved our Gold Acceptance Award, is opening its doors for a very special festive event this Christmas.

Children of all ages are invited to attend a 30-minute ‘Elf School’ session at the shopping centre across four days this Christmas – and the first session of each day will be a quiet session with no music or singing.

Sessions are free to book and will take place on: Saturday 25th November, Sunday 26th November, Saturday 9th December and Sunday 10th December.

“RELAXED SCREENING – THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, Sun 26 Nov

Our relaxed screening programme is open to all, but is particularly mindful of neurodiverse audiences, with adjustments in place to create an inclusive, relaxed environment for everyone.

After booking a ticket, you’ll receive a Social Story document to outline what to expect at the screening, including information about the film, our building and how the day will run.”

“Have you tried our pool sensory sessions yet? We dim the lights, keep the numbers low, and add lots of toys, floats and sensory toys to the pool. Everybody is welcome but these sessions are particularly popular with SEN families and young children.

Why not come along and give them a go one day? Advanced booking essential. Spaces cost just £3.50 (plus booking fee) per person and can be booked via our website”.

Sunday, 8.45am, Shiremoor.

Sunday, 3.45pm, Killingworth.

The AGM will take place on Thursday 25^th January from 9.30-11. I, and I am sure I speak for the committee as well as many parents, carers and staff truly feel that what the FoPHS does makes a difference. It is why many of us gave up a day off to run the Autumn Fayre, support initiatives like the 100 club, IQ cards etc. It is why parents/carers are generous with their time and donations for the fayre and other events. Funds raised by us are used to enhance the learning environment for all students. I am parent to a former student and fully understand the challenges being a SEN parent brings and I appreciate everything done to support FoPHS. I would like to ask more of you to join us; it doesn’t have to be onerous but that saying “many hands make light work” is so true. We may need help with different things in school, so offers would be great.

 FoPHS 100 Club 

If you haven’t yet joined, and are able would you consider doing so please? If we get to the magic 100, this means the FoPHS will raise £600, and each winner of the monthly daw would win £50. To enable us to reach 100 we do these draws in 2 batches: with the first 6 being drawn at the AGM.

We will get the form revised to include BACS details and the Just Giving QR code but here is the form.

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.