Family Liaison and PTA updates 10 December 2021

What a busy end of term we are having? I’ve watched Christmas trees being erected in school last week. We have had 2 magical days of MOVEing to a Winter Wonderland which brought the magic to school.

Just wanted to remind families to make sure that you keep data forms up to date. On these, we record those who consent to sharing of images or not. If your child is new to school, or you haven’t completed one get in touch and I will send a form to you.

Looking forward to seeing some families next Thursday at Carols round the tree. The PTA has funded refreshments. We will hold a small raffle (cloakroom tickets) on the day so please bring a £1 or £2.

Information:

All Local Authorities are required to have  a Local offer

The Local Offer provides information for children and young people with special educational needs (SEND) and their parents or carers in a single place. It shows families what they can expect from a range of local agencies including education, health and social care.

I have looked at the Local Authorities who have placed students at PHS. Here are the links:

Newcastle: www.newcastle.gov.uk/localoffer

Gateshead: https://www.sendirect.org.uk › providers › gateshead-council › my-services

North Tyneside: https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/1243/local-offer-special-educational-needs-and-disabilities-send

Northumberland: https://www.northumberland.gov.uk › Children › Your-local-offer

Sunderland:  https://www.togetherforchildren.org.uk › families › send-local-offer

South Tyneside: https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/37862/Special-Educational-Needs-and-Disabilities-SEND-  

Durham:  https://www.countydurhamfamilies.info/kb5/durham/fsd/localoffer.page

Hartlepool: https://Hartlepool.fsd.org.uk/kb5/Hartlepool/fsd/local_offer.page

Darlington: https://livingwell.darlington.gov.uk/Categories/528

Stockton: https://www.stocktoninformationdirectory.org/kb5/stockton/directory/localoffer.page

Gateshead SEND Local Offer

Gateshead has a fantastic new SEND Local Offer website. The Gateshead SEND Local Offer brings together information for children and young people aged from 0-25 years with special educational needs and disabilities and their families.

Acting on feedback from users of the original Local Offer site, Gateshead Council’s SEND team have redesigned the website in consultation with young people and their families across the local area. The new site is designed to be more user friendly, more accessible and easier to navigate.

Go to www.gateshead-localoffer.org to access Gateshead’s new SEND Local Offer site. You can also keep up to date by following the Gateshead SEND Local Offer Facebook page

Gateshead SEND Youth Forum

Gateshead SEND Youth Forum is a group for local children and young people aged 12-25 with additional needs. The Forum meets regularly on a virtual basis aiming to ensure that their voice, opinions and experiences are at the heart of the development of local services.

Members of the Forum have an interest in improving the lives of local young people with additional needs and meet to discuss the challenges they face. Previous meetings have discussed accessibility and inclusion issues in Gateshead, education and transition for young people with SEND. The group is currently working closely with the National Council for Disabled Children and their young person’s advisory group FLARE in order to promote their message further.

The Forum is always looking to recruit new members and more information on how to join can be found on Gateshead’s Local Offer website: Gateshead SEND Young People’s Forum – Gateshead Local Offer . Accessible minutes from previous meetings are also available: Gateshead SEND Youth Forum Accessible Minutes – Gateshead Local Offer. For more information, please contact AlexThompson@Gateshead.Gov.UK

Thanks to one of our Post 16 students, Danny Watson who is a participant in the Youth Forum for sharing.

Activities:

The Urban Factory:

Festive Fayre for families with additional needs at the Urban Factory, Hebburn 

 Monday 20th December 10-2pm
 Full access to soft play and gym
Arts & Crafts
Activities and Games
 Christmas Stalls
 Santa (additional charge on day)

This session is FREE to all families however booking is essential. Book direct through The Urban Factory: https://www.facebook.com/theurbanfactoryuk/

Smile through Sport:

PTA:

We held a core committee meeting this week to set the date for the AGM. This will be held on Thursday 10th March 2022 from 13.30-15.00. We hope to be able to hold this face to face, but this will depend on ever changing COVID-19 restrictions. It will definitely be an option to attend virtually. Please visit the PTA section of the website where you will find information about the PTA, committee roles. We would really like to see more parent/carers engaging with the PTA at meetings.

The next PTA Meeting will take place on Thursday 13th January 2022 from 13.30-14.30.

You can join HERE

What the PTA funds. 

I was asked by a member of staff for a list of things we have funded in the last 2 years. In previous years we funded individual class trips. COVID-19 made this a challenge along with managing payments,cash etc. The Committee decided some time ago that it would fund in school activities and I believe we have done pretty well on that front. Below is a link to the list covering the last 2 years. Some of the in school events are very costly; with Bubbleoolgy costing £1000 and Science Dome £1500. We have also paid for the majority of the resources for Winter Wonderland over this and last year. We hope that you have seen the photos.

PTA Funded resources and activities.

PTA 100 Club:

The first draws will be done during the AGM. 44 numbers, with 10 more pending. I have asked staff to consider supporting. The link to the subscription form is below:

100 Club Annual Subscriber agreement 2021-22

PTA Facebook page. 

The Facebook page is a closed group for families and staff of Percy Hedley School. It is another way of connecting with families, sharing what you are doing too. Over the holidays I try to add any interesting events I know of, or those shared with me. Please use it to help me do a better job.

The link to join is HERE