Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 4th July 2025
Welcome to Percy Hedley School's Family Liaison Blog!
Today is American Independence Day and our fantastic catering team produced a themed menu. It is also the This is Me Festival and, as this goes to print mid-morning I can only comment that the plans I have seen are amazing. This will be covered next week; Friends of Percy Hedley School has contributed £500 towards workshops and decorations.
16-19 Student Bursary.
Thanks to those who have returned forms which must be back with me by 14th July. Just to clarify:
Unless your child/young person is claiming BOTH PIP and Universal Credit in their own name please return the Discretionary Bursary form.
Evidence must be sent with the application. So, for
Vulnerable Bursary: PIP letter with award from April 2025 and evidence of your child’s/young person’s Universal Credit including the breakdown. Please do NOT include your Universal Credit information.
Discretionary Bursary: Evidence that the household income is less than £40,000 per annum. This could be a recent payslip, Universal Credit including breakdown, Tax return if self-employed. Please do NOT include your child/young person’s PIP award.
If you need help, please contact me and I will support.
Events:
MOVE Summer Event: Wednesday/Thursday 9 & 10th July. (if attending the Social Coffee morning, there will be an opportunity for parents to see this afterwards)
Social Coffee Morning: Wednesday 9th July 9.30-11.
FoPHS Meeting: Thursday 10th July 14-15.00
Prom: Friday 11th July 18.30-20.30
Leavers Assembly: Tuesday 15th July 14-15.00
School closes for summer: Friday 18th July 15.30
Free School Meals:
Those who receive vouchers from North Tyneside: Please be aware that they are changing the provider. Those who receive printed vouchers will still get these from school. Those in receipt of codes via Edenred will be advised of the new provider once confirmed with me.
Online Safety:
The link to the Online safety information can be found on the school website under the heading “Parent and carers area”, then “online safety” from the dropdown menu.
It is here: https://www.percyhedley.org.uk/percy-hedley-school/e-safety/
This week’s online safety blog is focused on ‘gaming language’ and specific terms for parents to listen out for! They can sound quite innocent but often have a more malicious intent behind them. The blog also looks at supporting children to reflect on how much time they spend gaming/how much it is impacting their overall wellbeing. It is here: https://www.percyhedley.org.uk/percy-hedley-school/weekly-newsletter/online-safety-blogs/#story-1
You can find the link to previous weekly online blogs here:
https://www.percyhedley.org.uk/percy-hedley-school/weekly-newsletter/online-safety-blogs/
INFORMATION
Newcastle Access Fund:
Access Fund applications are now open
Footsteps Children’s Services Ltd is proud to coordinate the Access Fund, a grant scheme designed to support children and young people with educational needs and/or disabilities.
This fund helps cover the cost of participating in local community activities alongside non-disabled peers, including sports, performing arts, and recreational programs.
Got questions? Email accessfund@footsteps.me.uk
Find out more on the link below.
Personal Assistant Training.
Do you, or are you planning to employ a Personal Assistant for your child/young person? If so, the following free training may help.
I’m so excited to share that PA Training is back, thanks to generous funding from Skills for Care! 🎉
Our next course will take place on:
📅 Tuesday, 16th July
📍 Disability North
If you’d like to join me at Disability North, please register here: 👉 https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/PATraining
As space is limited due to the size of the room, I kindly ask that you only register if you’re as certain as possible that you’ll be able to attend. However, don’t worry if you miss out – more dates will be announced soon!
💻 Prefer to attend online? We’ve got something new and exciting to make that possible! Meet Snowy 🦉 – our brand new 360° camera and microphone (‘Owl’). With Snowy on board, you can now join the training from home via Microsoft Teams.
To attend online, register here and I’ll send your Teams link:👉 https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/ONLINEPATraining
South Shields Day Out
Funded by Arts Council England, this is a free day out and looks lovely. There will be food to purchase and craft stalls too. Just some additional information: The nearest Changing Places toilets to Sandhaven Amphitheatre are located at South Shields Town Hall, Bents Park, and Souter Lighthouse. Additionally, Boldon Community Association also provides a Changing Places facility. Come along to Sandhaven Amphitheatre and Walkway at South Shields Seafront on Sunday 6 July for an afternoon of entertainment! Join us from 12-3pm for lots of family fun including: - Green Anne and Herr Familiar - an interactive performance, telling the story of a witch and her trusty fox companion - Enchantment Under the Sea - a mermaid performing underwater in a very special tank, as well as a craft station, photo opportunities and free aerial hoop tasters - Walkabout characters - Bubbleologist - Electric Pedals - a cycle-powered performance area - Live music #ACESupported
South Shields Day Out
The Seaside Market will also be taking place in the covered walkway next to the amphitheatre! Come along from 10am - 3pm to browse top quality goods and hand-made gifts from some of the best local traders & makers in the North East. For more details: https://www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk/article/18283
Smile Through Sport Summer Scheme
6 weeks packed full of holiday activity sessions and events for children & young people with SEND and their families to get involved in. Take a look Outdoor games at National Trust sites Multi-sport sessions for 4-7 years and 8 years plus Multi-sport sessions for children with a visual impairment Adapted cycling sessions Sessions will be full of fun, enjoyable activities in a friendly environment. There will be some structured activities but also space for children and young people to explore games and play using the equipment! Booking is required for all sessions - https://smilethroughsport.com/whats-on/ (select Summer Holiday Activities) The age range is there as a guide, contact us for a chat to discuss your individual child's needs. Any questions or for more information email info@smilethroughsport.com
Reason to – Disability Triathlon.
This inclusive event for differently abled children and adults takes place again this year at the Wentworth leisure Centre, Hexham. It takes place on Sunday 14th September 2025 at 10.00. A parent, whose child has participated more than once at this venue and the previous one (David Lloyd Centre, Jesmond) felt that the new venue is better equipped for those who use wheelchairs.
FoPHS News:
Our final meeting for this academic year is next week on Thursday 10th July from 14-15.00. We will do the remaining 6 100 club draws at the meeting. Do come along and meet some of the committee and other parents. Your support is invaluable, and we could not continue without it.
Join us on TEAMS 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.
My quote to end the week is linked to our “This is Me” festival:
“You are the artist of your life, don’t give the paintbrush to someone else”
Iva Ursano
Contact details
Eileen Robinson: Family Liaison Officer
Email: e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk
Telephone: 0191 2161811 ext. 3260.