Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 26th April 2024

Contact-for families of disabled children’s guide:

“As your child gets older, you might have to decide whether they’re able to make decisions for themselves. If not, there may be legal steps you can take to make decisions on their behalf”.

If this is something that you would like more information on, you can find it at:

“Calling all Newcastle parents and carers of children with a learning disability and/or autism.

Is having a diagnosis for your child important to you?

Newcastle City Council want to understand if having a childhood diagnosis is important to parents. The council want to identify what changes are needed to give parents and carers good support.

They would like to hear from parents’ and carers about their experiences of getting a diagnosis.

We welcome responses from all parents and carers, even if you haven’t had a formal diagnosis.”

LEGO weekend at Discovery Museum

This is very popular so if it’s for you, book up quickly.

Newcastle’s Discovery Museum is hosting the Brick Alley LEGO® User Group’s annual Discovery Brick Show – LEGO® Weekend on 4 and 5 May.

The magnificent 4th floor Great Hall will be filled with the newest LEGO® models and displays from a hand-picked selection of the best LEGO® builders in the UK.

With LEGO® Friends to Ninjago, cities, trains, spaceships and more, visitors can get up close to the UK’s best amateur LEGO® builders, showcasing their creations and be on hand to discuss their work.

There will also be a range of specially selected LEGO® traders and sellers, with pocket money toys to hard-to-find LEGO® sets and accessories to buy.

In the museum, visitors and families will be able to take part in science and speed-building activities too.

Tickets cost £4.50 per adult, £3.50 per child (5-17 years) and children under the age of 4 go free. Booking is essential. Various time slots are available when booking for entry.

“There is a new club which may be of interest to those living in Durham.

Brand new multi-sport session for children and young people with SEND in #Shildon. A range of sport, activities, and games for all ability levels.

1st & 3rd Saturday of a month

10am-12nn

Jubilee Fields Community Centre, Shildon, DL4 2AL

Starting Saturday 4th May

To book email info@smilethroughsport.com

If your child prefers smaller groups, our Sunday SEN sessions might be for them!

We are running these sessions every Sunday 10-11am for ages 6-16years, with a maximum of 4 participants at £15pp.

The water activity is dependent upon the conditions on the day. They could try surfing, body boarding, stand up paddle boarding, snorkelling, body surfing or flat-water games.

They have a relaxed session on the second Sunday of every month from 10-11.00. They also have relaxed story telling and craft sessions during school holidays. Visit the Facebook page for more information

Trip-Trap down to Seven Stories this weekend to create your own troll fit for a fairytale out of colourful craft materials and enjoy a troll-ific storytime too.”

The cost is below.

Adult: £6.50

Child: £6.50

Max card: £3.50

Carer: Free

There is also the Café Beam, where some of our current and former students volunteer.

“Have you tried our pool sensory sessions yet?

Sunday, 8.45am, Shiremoor

Sunday, 3.45pm, Killingworth

If you love swimming but prefer a quieter, more relaxed environment, then these sessions are for you! 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.”

They also have reasonably priced family memberships:

UNLIMITED open swims (up to 4 people)

UNLIMITED play sessions (up to 2 children)

10% off all other PaddlePod sessions

Money off in our on-site cafes and shops

Savings on PaddlePod parties

All for just £20 per family per month – what an AWESOME deal!

East End Pool · Hadrian Square Byker Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear NE6 1AL ·

New SEND swimming lessons at East End Pool

Due to high demand, we have added an additional SEND lesson to our Better Swim School programme.

This exciting new class takes place every Saturday at 12.45pm

For further details please email

ashley.hardy@gll.org or gary.langham@gll.org

There’s still spaces available to run for #TeamPercyHedley at this year’s Mini and Junior GNR, find out how to get a space below.

Get ready to experience the ultimate thrill at this year’s Color Obstacle Rush in Newcastle on Saturday 8th June 2024 in aid of the Percy Hedley Foundation! Dive into excitement with the obstacle lineup featuring a whopping 30 of the latest inflatable creations designed for sliding, bouncing, tumbling, and delightful tangles. Immerse yourself in foam galore and uncover brand-new surprises that await at every turn!

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable event – sign up now for just £20 to run for The Percy Hedley Foundation and join the fun! With a minimum fundraising target of only £120, you will recieve a Color Obstacle Rush T-Shirt, Powder Paint pack on the day and your very own Percy Hedley Sunglasses!

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday 11th July 2024
• Location: Durham Airfield
• Fundraising Target: £395
• Sign-Up Fee: £70
• Maximum Weight: 14st for females, 15st7 for males

What to Expect: Experience the thrill of a lifetime as you freefall from either 10,000 or 15,000 feet above the ground, all while knowing that your bravery is directly contributing to the support of Percy Hedley’s vital initiatives.

Fundraising Target: Participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of £395 to support Percy Hedley’s mission of empowering individuals with disabilities to live life to the fullest. Don’t worry – our team will be there every step of the way to support you in reaching your fundraising goal. The minimum fundraising target must be met in order for your challenge to go ahead.

Our inaugural event will take place on Thursday 16th May, from 9:00 – 11:00, at the picturesque Choaphraya in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Against the backdrop of the city’s stunning views, you’ll have the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, entrepreneurs, and advocates while delving into insightful discussions on disability and neurodiversity.

We believe in the power of collaboration and learning. Our first event will feature an insight into what offer at the Percy Hedley Foundation – delivered by some of our amazing staff and students – shedding light on the importance of inclusivity in business and society. We will also be welcoming PHF Northern Counties School Signing Choir at the event to showcase their BSL talents and also teach some basic BSL to our attendees too!

Discover new perspectives, exchange ideas, and forge valuable connections that transcend boundaries. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, a budding entrepreneur, or simply passionate about making a difference, we welcome you to be part of our vibrant community. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow with us.

Mark your calendars for Thursday 16th May and join us at Choaphraya in Newcastle for a morning of inspiration, networking, and empowerment. Together, let’s build a future where every connection counts and every individual thrives. See you there!

School Photos:

On Monday students in the ELTBA pathway will have their photos taken. These are most of the classes in Lower School. These were so popular last year, and Beth is a talented photographer. You will appreciate the time and planning that goes into this, which is why late additions may not be possible. We hope that you are happy with the results. These will need to be edited and photos sent by email. You can get these printed easily at lots of large supermarkets, which have digital photo services. Alternatively, you can order online. Here are a few places:

When the photos are ready, letters will be sent with the proof to enable payments to be made.

This is a fantastic way to support the work the FoPHS does, with the possibility of winning this lovely prize. There are still plenty of numbers left for the number generator raffle for a short stay at Cresswell Towers Caravan Park. This is open to anyone. It is a 3 bed 9 1 double, 2 twin room) respite caravan which has level access via decking. Please see the poster below. Each number costs £3; you can pay by cash, cheque (payable to Percy Hedley Foundation) or QR code. If you use the latter which is easy, remember to reset the “tip” to zero at the checkout. If you already have a justgiving account (either because you’ve donated before or done a fundraiser using this platform), your details will have been saved which makes it even easier. We hope to draw this on either 16^th May or 20^th June at a FoPHS meeting. School holiday dates are still available. Unfortunately, it is not possible to take your 4-legged friends with you. You will find more photos on the link below, scroll to the end.

Entertainment passes can be purchased separately, and no deposit will be required to book your stay at the caravan. All you will need to take with you is towels as the beds are made up.

To enter all you have to do is scan the QR code on the poster above or visit the link below:

Please share: This has been shared on the foundation’s social media. It would be wonderful if our families and staff could share too, please. Our main fund-raising target is to enhance the Outdoor Learning area and make it more fun for students. Funds raised from this will go towards this area. To date we have funded the electric connection work to the outdoor learning pod, a mud kitchen, benches, woodchip, and rubber matting to the tune of £3000. We did receive 2 grants, totalling £1400 so the actual cost to us was £1600. Hannah, our wonderful Outdoor learning Teacher has some lovely plans which we hope to help fulfil. Your support is always appreciated.

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.