Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 27th June 2025
Welcome to vlog School's Family Liaison Blog!
27.06.25
School is always busiest at this time of year. Add in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) week, with most of the school visiting the Centre for Life and you get the picture. The Metro Pass has been invaluable!
The summer fayre was a resounding success. It was lovely to see so many families there, and wonderful to see former students too. I’d love to hear what you thought. We raised an incredible £1453.89 for the Friends of vlog School – an achievement that wouldn’t have been possible without the fantastic support of everyone who came along and joined in the fun.
Events:
Early Years coffee afternoon: Wednesday 2nd July 14-15.00
Post 16 coffee afternoon: Thursday 3rd July 14-15.00
Themed Menu (American Independence Day): Friday 4th July
MOVE Summer Event: Wednesday/Thursday 9 & 10th July.
Social Coffee Morning: Wednesday 9th July 9.30-11.
FoPHS Meeting: Thursday 10th July 14-15.00
Prom: 岹11th July 18.30-20.30
Leavers Assembly: Tuesday 15th July 14-15.00
School closes for summer: Friday 18th July 15.30
We reopen to students on Tuesday 2nd September 2025.
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. The weekly online safety blogs focus on current issues or information. This is either something relevant in the social media world or is response to issues which arise within the school community. The information is invaluable in keeping your young people as safe as possible online.
This week’s online safety blog focuses on “Snapchat” and the safety features with which parents should be familiar. The link is here:
Information: Personal Independent Payment (PIP)
During the Parent Forum on Preparation for Adulthood (PfA), a few parents asked for information on the above. Hence, I am including it this week.
Here is the link to the information on the PfA section of the school website. The videos are very helpful, but I will add a few additional comments below which you will find helpful.
Additional notes:
- If you are claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA Child) for your child, as they approach their 16th birthday you will be invited to apply for PIP. If you do not apply, their DLA will cease.
- The form is called “How your disability affects you”; please avoid information on what they can do.
- I have a copy of the descriptors; if you would like it sent to you, please email me.
- Here is the link to the current form you will be asked to complete: comms, attached. Please link
- Do keep a diary of all the support your young person needs over a 2-week period. Include all the support they need, physical and prompting, appointments, phone calls, prescription orders/collection, shopping, transport; anything you do for them which a peer without additional needs can do independently.
- Do include a copy of their EHCP, ETCH report.
- Do identify a professional in school who could provide a letter of support, usually Speech therapist, Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist. Please give them at least a week to prepare.
- Do start preparing in advance. This will reduce stress and time pressure when the form arrives.
If you need further support, please contact me.
Activities:
As most of you will know by now, the summer holidays are imminent so I will share as much information as I can about activities. This will continue in the next 3 weeks. Some will not be SEN specific, but worth sharing I feel
North Tyneside Parent Carer Forum.
They have produced a SEND friendly Summer guide. Here is the link:
Tim Lamb Centre
The summer holiday programme is now showing on their Facebook page. I’m sure there will be additional information as the next week passes. You must have a family membership to access the Centre and there are additional charges of £4 per member child on entry. To keep in touch here are their details:
Cineworld:
Info from Moneysavingcentral:
Cineworld are offering £1 tickets throughout the Summer Holidays!
FoPHS News:
Find out all about our recent Summer Fayre!
We must talk about the summer fayre. We were blessed with the best weather; the rain waited until we were packing up. Thanks to our school community for your generous donations, support on the day and for simply being there. It was great to see current and past students. I don’t think we missed the fairground rides who pulled out too close to the event. The smell of a BBQ and an ice cream van signal summer. We had a small number of craft stalls and lots of our own.
What you really want to know is how much was raised? Well, we await a donation from the ice cream van owner and have raised £1453.89. This is amazing given we didn’t have match funding and the takings from the traders was significantly less than the last (Autumn) fayre. All raffle prizes have been delivered to the winners.
It was lovely to have an event where our families could meet and chat. My standout moment was my son being reunited with one of his best friends from school.
Great North Run 2025.
My husband and daughter have signed up again to do the GNR and raise funds for FoPHS. As Niall left vlog School in 2017 and college in 2019, we may be limited to the support we get from our friends and family. Please would you consider sponsoring them to enable them to reach their target.
If you are in South Shields on the day, be sure to drop in to the vlog Foundation where you will be assured of a warm welcome.
Facebook page:
This is a closed group for family and friends of vlog School, where you can share newsand 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.
With the end of the school year in sight, there are a lot of tired staff, students and families. So, this week’s quote is:
“Drink some coffee. Put on some gangsta rap and handle it”. Anonymous
Contact details
Eileen Robinson: Family Liaison Officer
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0191 2161811 ext. 3260.
My husband and daughter have signed up again to do the GNR and raise funds for FoPHS. Please would you consider sponsoring them to enable them to reach their target.