Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 25th October 2024
Welcome to 最新麻豆原创 School's Family Liaison Blog!
25.10.24
As they say, and that鈥檚 wrap for the first half term. We reopen to staff and students on Monday 4th November. I hope that you found some ideas in recent blogs for half term activities.
You can find school calendar links below.
Have a good half term and don鈥檛 forget to put your clock back an hour on Saturday night. May the mild weather continue for just another week.
Harvest Festival
There were some wonderful Harvest Festival themed assemblies this week.
Thanks again for your fantastic support of The People鈥檚 Kitchen, who support homeless and vulnerable people in Newcastle. It is a fantastic local charity.

Makaton
Julie, who shares Makaton signs with you each week via the school blog would like to know:
- Are any parents/carers interested in learning more Makaton?
- If so, would you like it online or face to face?
Please let me know and I鈥檒l pass it on.

Free School Meal
Those who have applied for free school meals and are eligible due to low income will receive a voucher on Monday 28th October.
These will come by email from 鈥淓denred鈥. I need to emphasise that these come from North Tyneside Council and are intended to help you provide a meal for your child each day of the school holiday. You have only a limited time to activate the vouchers, otherwise they will be cancelled by North Tyneside Council. Please check on Monday and activate them.
See letters below from North Tyneside and instructions on how to use the code.
Bursary Reminder
If you have told me your child is eligible for the bursary, and your child was in school yesterday the application forms were sent out
Please help me to help you by returning the form and evidence by Monday 4th November. This will enable us to apply for the bursary and this will not be possible until I have received all application forms and evidence.
I would like to thank the majority who already sent in evidence and even a few forms.

Online Safety
The link to the Online safety information can be found on the school website under the heading 鈥淧arent and carers area鈥, then 鈥渙nline safety鈥 from the dropdown menu.
It is here.
The Online Safety blog is now live for this week. The focus has been on providing guidance and supportive links/contacts for parents to help keep students safe over the half term. It is linked below, along with the previous weekly blogs.
16-19 Student Bursary
I have covered this before, but as letters, applications are going out to parents thought a refresh would be a good idea. If your child/young person is, or will turn 16 in the next few years this will be of interest to you.
The 16-19 Student Bursary comes from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and is intended to help vulnerable students and those from lower income families with additional costs incurred in further education. It is intended to reduce barriers to learning for students aged 16-19 or, for those who still have an EHCP in college.
For this year, the student must have been 16 years old on the 31st August 2024 or older to be eligible. Students who turn 16 during the academic year are not eligible for that year.
There are 2 types of bursary:
- Vulnerable Student Bursary
- Discretionary Student Bursary.
The difference between the two is that the first one refers to the young person鈥檚 circumstances and income.
- Vulnerable Student Bursary:
The student must be one of the following:
- In receipt of Universal Credit/Income support in their own name.
- Be in, or recently left Local Authority Care.
- Be in receipt of BOTH DLA/PIP AND UC, LCWRA element.
- Discretionary Student Bursary.
- The Household income must be less than 拢40,000 per annum. (not including the students benefits).
Want to know more? The link to the government site is below.
Here is a link to the presentation I did for parents/carers.
What difference can/does it make?
It can cover the student contribution to the residential trip.
It can cover the cost of school meals.
It can cover other costs which are assessed and agreed by school so, for example equipment not available through other services, community, travel, work experience costs.
What is considered when we receive applications?
You will find this on the government website, but some factors we consider are:
- Attendance, as students need to be engaging with education.
- It needs to fit in with individual accreditation, not a students 鈥渟pecial interest鈥. School is for education.
- Students are asked to apply for a concessionary bus pass to enable them to get into the community for work experience, career fair visits, supported independent travel training, community trips, meals out. The list is not exhaustive, but decisions are made by school.
The bursary has made a positive difference to all eligible students. If you have yet to respond to the letters, texts sent and believe your child is eligible please contact me as soon as we return after half term.

Toby Henderson Webinar
They are hosting a webinar on Autism and Mental Health difficulties in children and young people which is taking place on Monday 4th November from 5.30pm-7.30pm via Zoom
This is one of their most popular webinars and we are so excited to be delivering it again.
This session is with Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, Carolyn Morgan. Please sign up on our website by following the link below.
They have listened to families鈥 requests and do try and offer webinars at different times to enable working families to access them. To enable them to continue to offer free webinars they do need families to sign up to them so we can continue to run the sessions.
FACE (family advice, communication, education)
I have been asked to share; I would appreciate feedback if anyone has experience of this group and what they offer?
In the meantime, I can share but cannot give any recommendation. They have a range of webinars, some are free, others come at a cost. Subjects do look interesting.
You will find more information on their website below.
Halloween related activities
North East Family Adventures has a comprehensive list of activities for half term
Anything from Autumn trails, non- Halloween activities, movies, spooky castles and pumpkin picking. These are not SEND specific. See link below.

When Halloween is too much
I found this on the NAS page and thought it might be helpful
is creeping up on us and whilst it can be a treat for some, it can be overwhelming for many autistic people. We asked our online community to share their tips on how to help make the spooky season autism-friendly:


Great North Museum: Hancock
This October half-term, come and explore our brand-new family trail, 'Underground Adventures with Murray the Mole', discover hidden treasures, engage with objects, and collect prizes
We also invite you to take part in making wearable fashion accessories using 3D-printed mitochondria, creating an upcycled hedgehog, and learning how to make a compost bin with pumpkin leftovers.
All activities are drop-in and do not require booking. Visit our website for dates, times, and more information.
Travel to the museum by and up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free with a fare-paying adult.
Here鈥檚 a link to 鈥淲hat鈥檚 on鈥:

Free Travel!
Don't Forget - Kids Travel for Free on Public Transport in the North East during all School Holidays now
Applicable dates for upcoming half term are 26 October – 3 November inclusive.
And don’t forget, Metro and Shields Ferry allow up to three children aged 11 and under to travel for free (with a paying adult) all year round.
Terms and conditions
Up to three kids aged 11 and under can travel for free with a fare paying adult. This includes ENCTS, and excludes U22 products, student tickets and GNE’s 5-25 products. All other adult tickets are acceptable.
Some service exclusions apply, including Toon tour, match day services, Scholars services, Whitby P&R, Dales bus and Moors bus.
Participating services
Kids Go Free will cover the area of the North East Combined Authority 鈥 County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, and Sunderland during school holidays.
Please see a list below of all the services that are participating in the Kids Go Free offer (in the above areas only):
Arriva – All services
Gateshead Central Taxis 鈥 All services
Go North East – All services
Glen Valley – 472 and 473
Hodgsons – 87, 17, 73, 81/89,104,113, 35A, 70/71/72, 74/83
JH Coaches – 37
Liberty Coaches – 58, 417, 436, 471, W1, W2
Northstar – 599, 643, 939
Peter Hogg – X74
Stagecoach 鈥 all services
Stanley Travel – 30/31, R5
Weardale – 725, 9, 84/85/95/96, 99, 101/101A/102, 108/109, 111/115, 763/764/765/773, 84 (Crook Town Service)
Older kids / teens?
Young people aged 21 and under can travel for 拢1 single or a 拢3 unlimited day ticket to get round County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear 鈥 you can go by Metro or ferry too.
What about adults?
The 拢2 fare cap is still in place. If you’re travelling a lot in one day, the TNE Day Saver is 拢6.80 and valid for unlimited travel for the day of purchase on eligible local bus services, The Tyne and Wear Metro, Shields Ferry Services and the Northern Rail services between Blaydon and Sunderland.

Northumberland College Zoo
October Half Term - starting tomorrow
Come along to meet Raggy Potter on the 28th October, 30th October and 1st November! He鈥檒l be telling spooky stories and creating magical treasure trails
all week follow our pumpkin trail around the zoo to answer the spooky lemur questions
come along to our popular Discovery sessions where you鈥檒l get to meet some of our spooky and scaly animals with one of our amazing presenter team
All activities including the admission price
Link to the website with entry cost are below.





FoPHS News:
FoPHS 100 Club.
We have had 42 numbers taken, only 58 to go. Are you in a position to support, either by taking a number or asking friends and family.
See poster below.


Asda Cashpot for Schools
Asda Cashpot for Schools
We are slowly edging towards 拢300, with 拢258 as it stands. This has been an easy fund-raiser for us. We receive 拢1 for each person with the Asda rewards app who selects 最新麻豆原创 School. We then receive 0.5% of your spend at no cost to you. It won鈥檛 affect your Asda Rewards.
Christmas Enterprise Fair.
Students and classes are collecting donations for this fayre, which will be held on Thursday 19th December. There will be some stalls for FoPHS too. More to follow after half term. If any parents would like to volunteer to help us please get in touch with me.
Facebook Page
This is a closed group for family and friends of 最新麻豆原创 School, where you can share news听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.
This weeks鈥 quote ties in with the Intensive Interaction post from last week:
鈥淎 child with disabilities often spends hours being taught how to interact with others… but why don’t we spend time teaching those without disabilities how to interact with them?鈥 ~ Calleen Petersen
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Contact details
Eileen Robinson: Family Liaison Officer
Email: e.robinson@percyhedley.org.uk
Telephone: 0191 2161811 ext. 3260.
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