Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 18th July 2025

Students eligible for income related Free School Meals have been receiving vouchers from North Tyneside Council to help with the cost of feeding your child in school holidays. The process has changed; a copy of the letter will be sent to eligible families.

Important: Students in Year 14 are not eligible for the holiday vouchers. You will receive them for the summer holiday, then they will cease.

Forms have been sent out for applications for the 16-19 bursary and I have covered this in the last blog. I am still awaiting applications despite reminder texts. It is important that we have the application with supporting evidence as early as possible. If you have not sent it, please ensure that it returns with your child on 2^nd September.

As I have informed you in previous Newsletters, the system is changing for those in receipt of income related free school meal holiday vouchers.

Please see below a link to the letter from North Tyneside Council.

This week’s online safety blog is School holidays related and has links to resources as well as useful tips. The link is below.

You can also find the link to previous weekly online blogs here:

Claiming Universal Credit for a Student in Education.

Contact with parents this week prompted a reminder of what has become very important due to proposed government changes to the benefit system.

Before you read on, if your child is in receipt of a payment due to medical negligence different rules apply. The Court of Protection, or the Solicitor managing the case will need to decide if they can apply for a bursary. If they refuse, any payments for the additional costs of Post 16 education should be met by this fund.

If you answer yes to the following, please read the information below:

• My child is 16, receives PIP, but our household income is above £40,000 so is not eligible for the Discretionary 16-19 bursary.
• My child is 16+ and is leaving education.
• My child is 18+ and moving to college. I claim Universal Credit with carer elements which will cease when he/she turns 20. If this is the case, you need to apply for a credit only; this protects your Universal Credit until they turn 20, but it enables a work capability assessment to be carried out in advance.

Here is a link to the information for applying for Universal Credit for a student. The information is on our new Preparation for Adulthood resources for parents. I have linked both.

What you need to say is on the link below. X is eligible to claim although still a full time student as x has a disability which means he/she has limited capacity for work. You should be asked to submit 2 fit for work certificated from your GP. These should acknowledge that due to his/her disability he cannot work part time as mainstream peers can. The work capability assessment will be done by the DWP.  I’ve also copied and pasted the section you need to quote.

If you are in training or studying full-time

If you are in full-time training or are a full-time student, you can get Universal Credit if any of the following apply:

you are disabled, have been assessed as having Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity, (LWRA) and receive:

• Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment

Here is the link from Contact-for families of disabled children

FUNDED PERFORMING ARTS!

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company new Arts Group for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities is an exciting opportunity for people to explore their creativity.

Each week, participants are immersed in a sensory experience through sound, light, texture, and movement. Using stimuli such as music, scarves, lights, and more, we create a sensory-rich environment that invites creative expression in many different forms.

Weekly on Wednesdays at Wallsend Library:

Group 1: 10.15am – 12noon

Group 2: 12.45pm – 2.30pm

Cost: Free – Fully funded until September 2025 (spaces are limited)

NEW – SEND friendly game group

Children North East are introducing a new table top role play group based at the Metrocentre.

For ages 13-19 (up to 24 with SEND), The group will run every Tuesday from 5-6:30pm.

Please scan the QR code on their flyer for more info or contact:

louis.browning@children-ne.org.uk

Looking for inspiration on things to do in the holidays? Have a look back over the last few weeks as I have included a lot of links. There are some Facebook Groups too that have suggestions, though not necessarily SEN related:

Here are a few:

Newsletter from Newcastle Parent Carer Forum

There is information on activities, HAF funded activities, training for parents and other interesting information. This is for Newcastle residents. Pease see link below:

At our last meeting it was suggested that we do a round-up of news relating to FoPHS to include fundraising information, what we have funded and how you can help us.

Please see the link below.

Thanks to every parent, staff member and friend who has supported us this year. We could not do it without you.

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.