Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 27th October 2023

Family Fund:

Probably the most well-known grant making charities for disabled children nationally, it is available to those with children aged 0-17 years who meet their eligibility criteria.

“We are the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, on a low income.”

Please see link to the website below. It looks like there may have been changes around applications, but the schemes are open now.

Maths STEAM challenge.

This is the second challenge set by our Maths team. I hope you enjoy it

Halloween Maths STEAM Challenge

The maths steering group would like to set you a half term challenge!

Can you build a zip wire using materials around your house or garden to transport our witch to get from one place to another.  It might be off the top of the sofa, from a tree, from the top of the door or from the table.  You can cut out the witch above and decorate her or find or even draw your own!

We would like to know whose witch can go the furthest!  You can measure using a ruler, a tape measure, or even non standard units of your choice (pegs, spoons, stuffed animals, your feet or hands, be creative!!)

Does it make a difference if it is higher or lower?

Does it make a difference if it is heavier or lighter?

You can send photos and measurements to Terry West at t.west@percyhedley.org.uk

North East family Fun

Taken from their Facebook page, here is a list of free activities over half term which do not require pre-booking:

FREE October Half Term Events with NO PRE-BOOKING required

FREE Scarycrow Trail at Ford & Etal

FREE Trick or Treat Pumpkin Trail at Druridge Bay Country Park

FREE LEGO Ghost Hunt at LEGO Metrocentre

FREE Elmer and Friend Exhibition and Rainbow Art at Sunderland Museum

FREE Sunderland Lantern Parade

FREE MonsterBoro in Middlesbrough

FREE Entry Hexham Spook Night

FREE Pumpkin Trail at Land of Oak and Iron

FREE Autumn Crafts at Oriental Museum Durham

FREE Fear on the Wear Interactive Halloween Trail in Sunderland

FREE Entry Autumn Funfair at Manor Walks Cramlington

FREE Witch Crafts and Colouring Zone at Manor Walks Cramlington

FREE Halloween Town with Crafts & Character Visits at Metrocentre

FREE Entry Wallsend Parks Pumpkin Play Day

FREE Pop Up Hospital Family Fun Day at Newcastle Cathedral

FREE Halloween Mask Making at South Shields Museum

FREE Halloween Day at Dorman Museum

FREE Family Fun Day at Baltic

FREE MIni Train Rides at Exhibition Park

Find out more about these events and more here:

I found this on Money Saving Central:

Cinema savings.

Autism Able:

AutismAble have FREE October Half-Term Activities for 14-25-year-olds on Monday 30th October and Friday 3rd November from 10am-2pm.

Please take a look at the poster below to find out more and to book your place, please email rachel.mawson@autismable.com or call 0191 825 0035.

South Lakes Zoo

HALF PRICE HALF TERM ADMISSION

GRAB ONE OF OUR HALF PRICE ADMISSION TICKETS FOR THIS OCTOBER HALF TERM AND YOU’LL SAVE A WHOPPING 50% OFF OUR ON-THE-DOOR PRICE OF £23.99 FOR ADULTS AND £19.99 FOR CHILDREN!

It’s not a gimmick, it’s not a con, you’ll get the same access as the full price tickets, you just save your well-earned moola!

Remember – Under 3’s do not need a ticket, they visit free of charge.

Half term at Alan Shearer Centre:

Half term is looking fun at the Alan Shearer Centre, get ready for a ghoulishly good time making masks and designing Pumpkins as well as a Halloween Scavenger Hunt!

Then on Wednesday and Thursday get crafty creating a firework & bonfire display.

Then on Friday, everyone’s favourite, meet the little creatures and learn about them all, with Angela’s Ark.

Don’t forget to book 0191 267 8118

You will need to register, but it is free to do so on the link below:

Haystax Inclusive farm Experiences and Lodges:

Today is the first day of their Pumpkin Carving events…if your booked on, we can’t wait to see you there. Little update…the first session starts at 10.30-12 then the next is 1.2.30. Please bring a carrier bag with you to take your creations away with you afterwards…can’t wait

Visit their Facebook page for further information (it doesn’t appear to be on the website)

They have a “Changing Place” and sensory rooms and reviews from parents/carers have been very positive.

Contact details for enquiries are below:

enquiries_haystax@outlook.com

+447596856654

 Kielder Winter Wonderland:

This one has been going for many years and I can see there is limited availability already.

“Kielder Winter Wonderland is a full day experience packed full of festive activities to keep you and your little ones entranced all day. Your full day will include everything from helping Mrs Christmas get ready for Christmas to helping in the elves workshop to walking through the forest to find Father Christmas plus lots more! With the forest home to Father Christmas and his festive friends you never know who you could bump into!”

There is a relaxed one on Saturday 18^th November.

According to the faq it is suitable for wheelchair users: See below:

“Yes, we have many wheelchair users who visit us onsite. The Snowman route is the most accessible route for your visit to Father Christmas. If you have any concerns over accessibility, please email us at info@kielderwinterwonderland.com”

Alnwick Garden

There are Halloween events and the winter light trail returns. These light trails are becoming more popular, popping up in new places every year. After half term I’ll aim to include links to all in 1 blog to make it easier and to help you plan ahead. By this stage, many Christmas events have sold out, but you can join mailing lists to receive advance notification for next year.

Create your own memories at our Winter Light Trail this year, so many others did in 2022!

Autumn Fayre Update:

To date, we raised £1606.39 with costs of £219.93 leaving a balance of £1386.46. We await a part match fund of £500 from a bank, applied for by one of our parents.

It was, I feel a very successful event all round and I hope you enjoyed it. Once the match funding is confirmed I will update.

This would not have been possible without the support of a lot of people, too many to mention but here’s a snapshot:

• Staff: On their day off several school staff came in, helped run stalls, set up, face paint and temporary tattoos, helped in kitchen, dining area and assisted traders set up and cleared up. Thank you does not seem enough.
• Staff from Fund-raising and Catering supported before, on and after the event. Thank you; it wouldn’t have been as good without you.
• Staff who attended on their day off, provided items for the tombolas and a link to Greggs, who provided bakes and cookies. Thank you. Every little helps.
• Parents/Carers, past and present. Your generosity knows no bounds. From donations for the raffle, tombolas, a link with Hartlepool Carers providing items we needed on the day, raffle prizes, a match funding application, manning stalls, helping set up on the Friday. We appreciate every effort and I know how difficult it can be. Thank you.
• Students: some current and former students helped man stalls. You are amazing.
• To everyone who attended, bought raffle/tombola tickets, supported the traders and stalls; it would have been a sad day without you. I hope you had fun.

FoPHS 100 Club

The form to join is below. If you’d like printed forms, please let me know.

Meeting

The next meeting of FoPHS will be held on Thursday 16^th November between 9.30 and 11.00. This time, we return to hybrid, so you are welcome to come in or join online. If you do intend coming along, please let me know. I’ll send a text reminder nearer the time. Feel free to come in for as long or short a time as you are willing and able. Every little helps; the success of the group depends on families and staff getting involved.

The link to join via TEAMS is here:

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.