News, Stars & National Careers Week from John & the PHS Team!
Welcome to Percy Hedley School's Whole School Blog!
Friday 15th March 2024!
Hi everyone
Such busy times! Today everyone is wearing what’s comfortable for them while we do a special day on Core Self to coincide with Red Nose Day! But more on that next time, as I have to get this blog off in the morning!
I hope everything is OK with whatever is with you at this time, and that you find something you like in this blog, whether it’s the amazing Personal Development stuff, the STARS!!! of the week, or news about therapy, PE, literacy or anything else – there’s a lot here. We’re trying to fit everything in before the end of term, which really isn’t very far away either
I hope you have a lovely weekend and that your son or daughter is happy and making progress at PHS. Thank you, as always for your support and partnership
Take care – Oh! And Happy St Patrick’s Day to you! Watch out now!
J
😊 from John & the PHS Team 😊
Literacy
Personal Development
Physical Development
our three Super Steering Groups deliver our curriculum, Key Drivers and School Values – there’s a paper on the website if you want to read further. These Groups deliver the right curriculum for our pupils. This is where a lot of exciting stuff happens. Here’s the latest from them
Literacy!
First up, the Literacy Team. And here’s Becky talking about World Book Day and some other great stuff
We had so much lovely stuff happening in school last week as part of World Book Day, we couldn’t help use another blog post to show you some more of what our staff and students got up to! We love having an extra excuse to celebrate the importance of reading, and it’s been great giving staff and students the opportunity to reflect on what they do to foster a ‘love of reading’. World Book Day have described ‘reading superpowers’ to create a love of reading – nice to have a think about what else we can all be doing to encourage reading!
Students in 3HB had a cozy time reading in The Pod, as part of ‘Read Your Way’ for World Book Day! They had been to visit Killingworth Library in the morning to choose a book and then had dedicated time to read in the afternoon – sounds delightful!
Students in 6LA and 6LWC were invited to design a top hat inspired by a book or character. They spent the morning turning their ideas into reality through the medium of colourful cardboard, feathers, and pictures from their favourite books! Some of the styles included; murder mystery, Pokémon, sports and much more!
Students in 4AH enjoyed a sensory story together, ‘Shark in the Park on a Windy Day’, with lots of props and some brilliant symbol sequencing!
Don’t forget you have until the end of March to spend your £1 book tokens and there are some lovely options this year.
Personal Development
Jo looks after all Personal Development (PD), including PSHE, Careers, Wellbeing, Online Safety, Social Moral Spiritual Cultural stuff and many other things. It’s a brilliant area! The Online Safety blog is also PD, and all sorts of other stuff too
Let’s hear from Jo and the team! There’s been loads going on, as usual!
Wellbeing
4RR have demonstrated a lot of lovely social skills when making Olivia, our new member of the class, feel very welcome.
Olivia, too, deserves a lot of praise for settling in so well, beginning interactions with staff and showing her sense of humour.
The class have also talked about important women in their lives, celebrating International Women’s Day and considering all of the help that mothers provide for their children before purchasing gifts from our Mothers’ Day Sale, Russell
International Women’s Day Continued
This year the official theme was #inspireinclusion, check out students and staff striking the official pose!
4AJ has looked at the issue of gender equality/inequality. We’ve had discussions relating to the theme, constructed a timeline of major events in the struggle for equality, watched an amusing film which imagines a reversal of gender stereotypes in an office environment and recorded our thoughts on the positives and negatives of being a woman.
Quote of the day!
Santi CB: “We need to snap stereotypes in half!”
St Patrick’s Day
2RC recently celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a twist of creativity. Engaging in a discussion about the holiday’s importance, students crafted their own Leprechaun masks, while the sounds of traditional Irish music filled the classroom, adding to the festive ambiance!
And Now Sensory News Too from Hannah!
On the Engagement Pathway, we have been developing our Sensory News sessions with the support of our wonderful Speech & Language Therapists. Every week, the students let us know what they have been doing at the weekend and, on Tuesday afternoon, we gather together to share the information. It’s really important that our students have the opportunity to tell their friends about their lives, their interests and what they’ve been up to. We always start our news session by listening to Big Ben chiming the time, then we listen to the ‘newsflash’ sound. This cues everyone in to what is going to happen. We always wait with great anticipation to see whose face pops up on the screen! We use a wide range of resources to describe everyone’s news. For instance, one of our students had recently met a baby, so we all took turns to cuddle a baby doll. Another student had had his hair cut at the barber’s shop, so we felt the vibrations from the clippers and listened to the buzzing sound. It is always lovely to see everyone’s reactions as we explore the resources and share the news, using a Total Communication Approach.
If you would like to send us news for our weekly sharing session, please email your child’s SaLT:
Physical Development
And Steph runs the Physical Development Group, full of exciting things all over the school
Let’s hear from Steph about the latest that’s been happening
Walking Slings!
We have very much enjoyed utilising our new walking slings in school, and our children are able to access these within the areas of the school that have ceiling tracking. So, for now, this has been within the physio room, the Garden room, and in the Sensory Motor Suite
These have been fantastic at enabling our children to explore their environment, gain freedom of movement, all whilst working on a crucial area of their physical development: standing, stepping and walking!
They are used during therapy sessions, and within our MOVE and PE lessons
Have a look at this very helpful information poster that has been created to explain the benefits of walking slings…. We think they’re great!
Therapy Star of the Week. Love Therapy Star of the Week, especially when it’s about Riley!
Lauren has been working with Riley and was really impressed with his work this week
Ryley has shown great resilience this term when trying a range of standers to find one so that works for him. Today he tried a new type of stander
Well done Ryley! THERAPY STAR!!!
National Careers Week!
Let’s hear about this excellent thing from Louise!
National Careers Week is a time where employees share careers guidance and resources to young children in education. The aim of Careers Week is to provide a focus for careers guidance to take place during important stages in the lives of young learners. Different employers help support young people to explore and develop awareness and excitement about their future pathways by sharing opportunities to take part in different activities
Last week our young people explored different local employers or received a talking tour within working environments
On Monday the Grand Hotel in Gosforth invited PHS to attend a talking tour
Young people were also invited to listen to an inspirational presentation from Tailored Leisure Co. Santi said “Tara was very friendly and understanding”
On Wednesday some of our young people visited The AkzoNoble factory in Ashington which is recognised as the world’s most advance and sustainable paint plant. Michael said “It was interesting to explore the factory. I liked the colours and the smell of the paint.”
On Thursday a few of our young people had the opportunity to complete interviews with employees of Bowmer and Kirkland, Greggs and Disability North. Katie said “It was good experience. I liked talking to other people.” Harrison said” It was my first ever interview.”
Super Sports Event of the Week! Let’s hear from Nathan
This half term we have made some changes to the lunch clubs going on in school:
- Monday – NUFC Foundation coaches run football clubs for all students at school
- KS2/3 – 12-12.30
- Tuesday – 12-12.30 KS2/3 Boccia Club
- Wednesday – NEWKS4/5 Foot Rounders 1- 1.30 and NEW Dance Club 1- 1:30
- Thursday –KS4/ Post 16 Boccia Club 1-1.30
- Friday – NEW KS2/3 Dance Club 12-12.30
Also – Dance
Since coming back from the half term the students have been focusing on movement skills in Dance. They have been looking at performing a sequence of movements and being able to evaluate and improve their practice. Students have also looked at these themes in trampolining and Martial Arts sessions
Richard and Nathan are extremely proud of our students showing progress in dance, they have enjoyed it and learned lots from the sessions. Well Done!
Working on Movement in a variety of ways
Safeguarding Updates – this week, Intimate Images
Aylisha is our Safeguarding Officer, Rebecca is the DSL, and there is a great team, including Claire, Tracy, Corin, and other colleagues who look at other aspects too. For the blog, they give us weekly updates, which cover a range of topics. Here’s Aylisha with another important topic
This week our blog will cover new intimate image abuse laws. As part of the Online Safety Act, reformed intimate image laws came into force across England and Wales from 31st January 2024. The amendments broaden the scope of what can be considered an “intimate image”, and ensure anyone who shared, or threatens to share, a manufactured or altered image that appears to show another person in an intimate state will face the same consequences.
We know children and young people share intimate images (both real and fake), and not necessarily to cause harm or distress. It’s important that our young people are told about these changes so they’re aware of the risks for sharing intimate images and know what they can do if their intimate images are shared.
AI (Artificial Intelligence)-enabled intimate image abuse is a global phenomenon. The landscape is moving incredibly fast with code-free technology becoming increasingly accessible.
AI-enabled intimate abuse occurs when harm is caused by the creation and distribution of AI-generated non-consensual intimate images.
Today, the average person can use code-free technology with no experience necessary to create images. Through this, we are seeing the democratisation of the ability to cause harm. The technical barriers to entry are now low. We are seeing synthetically-altered images (“deepfakes”) that are increasingly realistic.
However, stricter laws will ensure that anyone who shared or threatens to share images online without consent in England and Wales could face jail time. To learn more about the new legislation and the support available, please visit New Intimate Image Abuse Laws Come Into Effect | SWGfL
As always, if you need any help, support or advice please get in touch, you can use our anonymous questions sheet on the website within the safeguarding section if you would prefer to do this.
As always please get in touch if you have any questions about this or anything else, or queries through email or our website anonymous link https://forms.office.com/e/QTWAtZJhFE
From Aylisha aylisha.holland@percyhedley.org.uk and the DSL Team
Online Safety
This is based on topics that we know that you ask about or are concerned with:
This week it’s about Whatsapp! What a great topic!
Exams – thanks to Kat, our Exams Officer! Let’s hear from Kat now
The Exams Entry Deadline has now passed and candidates are registered and entries have been submitted. The first on demand examination has taken place last week with more to follow this week. For NEA coursework the mark submission deadline is approaching at the beginning of May. We have a busy schedule ahead throughout all May and June with GCSE entries and Functional Skills examinations. I am busy with planning logistics for the setup of the exam rooms and preparation of all documents involved. From the arrival of the exam papers, students sitting their exams, to the postage to the exams board after the examination – all steps along the way require attention to detail to ensure all goes smoothly and without interruption
The exams results day for this academic year 2023-24 will be Thursday 22nd August 2024. Functional Skills Examination results are usually available 28 days after the exams date.
For all upcoming examinations – best of luck to all candidates!
Kat
School Lunches
We appreciate your co-operation and understanding as we implement this new system. If you encounter any challenges during the registration process or have questions please contact school on 0191 216 1811
Updated Code of Conduct
Here’s a link to our Code of Conduct, which is also on the website in the Parent and Carers Area – Percy Hedley School. Most schools have these now, so please do have a read – they aren’t used very often
Friends of PHS – the FoPHS!
There was a FoPHS meeting this week. So excited by all the things that they are talking about and planning. A huge thanks to all of them for their time, commitment and support, with projects, ideas and all sorts. One of those is that the FoPHS have bought us a Metro Pass, which is a fantastically kind way of ensuring that we can get about more quickly and easily on trips at no extra cost, which all counts! So glad we have them, and we’re very lucky to. Cheers guys!
They’re also talking about the Outdoor Learning area. It could be the FoPHS Outdoor Learning Zone or anything! Great to have you guys on board, thanks again
The fabulous Friends are always looking for volunteers for events! If you can offer any support, please contact Eileen at e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk
Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA)
Hello from The Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA) team
I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you some of the comments Angela Charlton made in the final verification report. If you would like to read the full document I have attached a link below.
“Walking into Percy Hedley School, you are met with an overwhelming sense of belonging. Throughout the day, I was presented with exceptional evidence by Tracy Smithson (LPPA Lead) and other key stakeholders, to show that the school is at the heart of their widespread community, that strong partnerships with parents ensure that every pupil is nurtured and supported to reach their potential in a supportive and inclusive way.”
“Relationships with parents and carers are one of the strengths of the school. It is clear that Percy Hedley School has used the LPPA to give greater focus on the work they do regarding Parental Partnership.”
“The school community is spread across a wide area which makes it difficult to engage parents in school-based activities. This has not been used as a barrier as the school have been creative in their thinking and understand the importance of strong parental partnership and the positive impact this can have on the of the outcomes of pupils.”
Please get in touch with me via the email below and I will be happy to respond to any queries, suggestions about the LPPA
From Tracy and the LPPA team Contact t.smithson@percyhedley.org.uk
And Now
Stars of the Week!
That reflect our School Values!
ELTBA STARS OF THE WEEK!
Exciting things have been happing in the Outdoor Learning area. Some of the classes have been planting trees and taking on the responsibility of looking after them and watching them grow
This week’s ELTBA stars are 3RM!
Here are Leon and Zakaria from 3RM planting their trees and placing the protection around them to ensure they have the opportunity to grow. Teamwork and Respect at its finest. What STARS!!!
I’m sure everyone will enjoy watching the trees growing in this amazing space
ENGAGEMENT STAR!! of the Week!
Resilience
Nat Walker for persistence during morning routine to use his VOCA to say hello to his friends, say how many friends are here, say the day of the week and describe the weather. In addition, he has also been using his VOCA to ask for help to take his arm gaiter and jumper off. Nat the STAR!!!
POST-16 STARS!!!
Well done the post-16 STARS!!!
Resilience
Tatjana for independently thinking of a dance move in PE. Also for completing her ICT work with support. Very well done! STAR!!!
Alex for completing his maths work with support. STAR!!!
Resilience and teamwork
Logan for a general joyful attitude. He is an asset to the class. What a STAR!!!
Teamwork
Benjamin and Andrew. They proved to be a formidable team during their first aid lesson. They listened well then went on to participate fully in the online simulation. Their CPR skills were amazing. Very well done! Excellent STARS!!!
Makaton Signs of the Week
Here’s Julie!
Days of the Week
I don’t think we’ve covered these signs before, apologies if I have but a refresher is always useful! Signs for the days of the week are easy to incorporate into daily school life too
Here are the signs:
The Singing Hands do it so much better than me! Their video is linked below.
Have a great week and keep signing!
Finally…Science Week!
Joel’s asked me to drop in a trailer for Science Week in June. Sounds good!
…..from John & the Team here at PHS