Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 24th November 2023

If:

• You are claiming Child Tax Credits/Child Benefit. If you are claiming these, you are a low-mid income family. These will cease as soon as your young person is 20, regardless of whether they are in education/training.
• You are not claiming benefits to support your child/young person. You are in a higher income family; the eligibility depends on how many children you have and if they are on disability (DLA/PIP) related benefits.

I’ve had many conversations with parents/carers about benefits and one which was available to Post 16 students in the past was Employment and Support Allowance. This is now an element of Universal Credits and in December 2021 government guidance changed. Although students receiving full time education are no longer eligible, it is important to get a WCA carried out as soon as you can after they turn 16 and well before they leave school. This is because they cannot apply for it once they have commenced a course. So, say your young person is 18/19 and leaving school in July to go to college. This could be a 2-year course and they would turn 20 during the course. If the WCA is not complete before they leave school it would be too late, and they wouldn’t be eligible.  Now, if you don’t receive benefits, when your young person moves on, they are likely to be doing more community activities and having their own money may help.

it does appear from my extensive research and contacts that a young person at PHS cannot claim the ESA element of UC as the course here is a full 5 day one, so they would not have capacity to work alongside study/course. This differs from mainstream 6^th form, where courses are not full 5 day.

When students move on from PHS to a further education college/placement most LA’s cover only 3 days education. This means there is the potential to take on paid work alongside their course. However, for the majority of our students they would not have capacity to do both.

The rules from December 2021 state that a WCA must be carried out before they start a course, see below (from Contact, I’ve included the full link and copied the relevant part)

We recommend that you try to establish a LCWRA (limited capacity for work related activity) when your child turns 16. This is a good idea for two reasons:

1. If your child stays in non-advanced education beyond the August after their 19^th birthday, having a LCWRA rules out them having any work-related conditions that’d make their claim and their course incompatible.
2. Establishing a LCWRA early (or even just establishing a limited capability for work) will help your child claim Universal Credit (assuming they get DLA or PIP or one of the Scottish equivalents) if they move from one course to another. This second point applies to students of any age and in education of any type – not simply those in non-advanced education who have passed the September after their 19^th birthday.

Establishing a LCWRA in advance will not only help your child get Universal Credit in the above scenarios but it also means that once Universal Credit is awarded they will receive an additional payment called the LCWRA element from the start of their claim rather than having to wait 3 months for this extra amount to be added.

Below is the advice from Disability North:

A young person aged 16+ will not usually be able to claim Universal if they are still in education, unless they have been assessed as having limited capability for work prior to starting the course. There are exceptions to this rule including a person that has no parental support or has responsibility for a child.

I would suggest seeking additional support; could be from Welfare rights (only some LA’s offer this), Citizens Advice or Contact-for families of disabled children. There was, last time I checked a 5 month wait for a Work Capability Assessment and that could cause issues once the student leaves here. This involves contacting the Jobcentre, but please ensure you are fully aware of the rules to avoid being refused.

You get a “fitness to work” cert from GP, usually can do this by phone as the GP will look at the person’s file and know they cannot work due to disability. You’ll have to send 2 consecutive ones. Then Jobcentre will advise. I’m aware that some will be asked to visit the Jobcentre for a face-to-face meeting whereas others are assessed from written information.

I know this has been a long read, and hope that it helps some of you. If a parent/carer session would help, get in contact and I will organise.

These will be blue spruce fir wreaths prepared by florists and decorated by our students.

The photo below is an example of a plain wreath but imagine how pretty it will look covered in fir cones, oranges, and other colourful additions. They will cost £20 and will be available from the beginning of December. Order forms will be sent out next week. We thank you for your support of our wonderful enterprise group.

Toby Henderson Trust

This local charity has put together a guide full of advice and tips on how you can create an autism-friendly Christmas

They hope that some of these suggestions might help you navigate the festive season and remember to do it your way!

I have to say that I think it is pretty good.

Dalton Park:

Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors are running a quiet grotto experience every Sunday from 11am to 12pm

This is where they will dim lights, turn music and tannoy announcements off and keep the noise to a minimum around the park for a more calming visit.

Toby Henderson Trust:

Here is a link to more relaxed/autism friendly activities’ and events happening across the North East this festive season by following this link to our guide:

More from Toby Henderson:

Are you looking for SEN friendly things to do over the festive period? We have started a list of activities and events taking place across the North East as well as some examples of visual supports that you might like to use. We will be adding to the list so please share any events with us and we can add them on

*Please note that some activities are specifically for the neurodiverse community, but some aren’t so make sure you check the full details and contact the event provider if you are unsure*.

What’s on this weekend?

Taken from North East Family Adventures; it is not an additional needs specific group but it is a great list:

𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥’𝕤 𝕆𝕟 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕎𝕖𝕖𝕜𝕖𝕟𝕕

𝕊𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝟙𝟠𝕥𝕙

Create a curled Christmas Card – Souter Lighthouse and the Leas

Elmer Rainbow Trail –Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Plotters Forest Trail – Raby Castle

Rainbow Art Space – Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝟙𝟡𝕥𝕙

Morpeth Ghost Walk

Breakfast with Poppy – Lanchester Garden Centre

Theres a monster in your show – The Fire Station

Jeanie & the Jollybogs – Beamish Museum

𝕊𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝟙𝟠𝕥𝕙 & 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝟙𝟡𝕥𝕙

Christmas Kingdom – Bamburgh Castle

Christmas in Neverland – Castle Howard

Father Christmas has lost his gifts trail – High Force waterfall

Artic experience – Metrocentre

Lego Exhibition – Dorman Museum

Quentin Blake trail WWT Washington Wetland Centre

Shildon Brick Club – Locomotion

Christmas Stocking Trail – Sunderland City Centre

Christmas character VR Trail – Sunderland City centre

Visit Santa – Bridges Sunderland (Please note the grotto has a new look for this year)

Lapland VR Ride – Bridges Shopping Centre

CHRISTMAS MARKETS

𝕊𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕕𝕒𝕪

York Christmas market returns for the majority of November and December (be prepared for huge amounts of people)

Christmas fair at The Customs House

WCC Christmas fair Washington Cricket Club

Wheelbirks Parlour Christmas market

Newcastle Christmas Market

Beamish Hall festive Fair

Wynyard Hall Christmas Fair

Craft fair National Glass Centre

Edinburgh Christmas market

Christmas fayre St John the evangelist – Brandon

𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪

Christmas fair at Marsden road community centre

Angelo’s restaurant Christmas market (Sunderland)

Wheelbirks parlour

The Sill Christmas market

Gosforth winter Market

Spectrum leisure centre crook Christmas market

Newcastle Christmas market

Redfox Christmas fair

Stadium of light’s This is Christmas

Wynyard hall Christmas fair

Save the date:

Our AGM will be on Thursday 25^th January from 9.30-11. More details to follow. Are you interested in knowing a bit more, considering taking on an Officer role? Get in touch and I’ll answer what I can.

100 Club:

We will soon share an even easier way to join with a QR Code flyer, but in the meantime here it is: The 100 club costs £12 for the year. We hold a monthly draw but do this retrospectively in 2 batches: February and July. If we have 100 numbers taken, the winner will receive £50 and the other £50 goes to FoPHS, raising £600 for us over the year. We’d love to sell more than 100 and rename it accordingly. Thanks to those who have already supported.

You can find both a QR version which will lead you to it and a paper version.

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.