Easter NewsLetter
2003

Heads News

New School!

You may well have read or heard by now that we are not going to get a new school - at least for the time being!

Obviously we are extremely disappointed about this, and so I want to explain to you what has happened. We were told by the LEA just before Christmas that a bid was going in to the Government for money to re-build Dorothy Goodman on a new site (or sites). I believe that the bid was a very good one, and the LEA certainly submitted it in very good faith. Everyone to be honest was shocked by the outcome - it is a blow for the whole of Leicestershire.

1. We are currently trying to find out why the Government rejected the bid. As soon as we do we hope that we can work with the LEA to re-submit the bid for next year (and the year after that if necessary!) until we are successful.
2. We are disappointed, but of course for the time being we just have to forget that and carry on improving the site here and doing the best we possibly can for the pupils. As an example we are at this moment having a sensory garden built at the back of the school. At least now we will see the plants grow fully! I have also put in a bid to increase the size of the library.
3. We will continue - in conjunction with the LEA to explore all ways of improving our resources and facilities. We owe this to our pupils, and that is what we will do.

So - a setback, yes, but that's all. Disappointed, yes, but not downhearted. We now need to carry on with the job here as we always have done, and we need to carry on fighting for the new school, in conjunction with the Local Authority. Rest assured this is what I will do!

NEWS in BRIEF

Broadband

The whole school is now on Broadband - so look out for some good Internet & E-Mail work. If anyone has an E-Mail address that you would like us to write to, please let us know!

Donations

Donations this term have included:

• £300 Citizen's Club
• £35 Knight Arnold Ward
• £100 Gofixings
• £200 Rotary Club
• £200 Fabrex
• £42 Twycross House School
• £350 Mr. & Mrs. Osborn

They have been used to fund communication equipment, classroom equipment and a special keyboard for one of our senior pupils.

School Web Site

New address of school web site:

www.dorothygoodman.co.uk

For the Easter holidays there will be a competition that pupils can download, fill in and then return to the school. So please take part in that if you would like to.

Sensory Garden

The Sensory Garden at the rear of the school is now almost compete. It has a variety of textures for children to experience, a fort - which will have access to electricity so that music can be played there, and a number of raised beds which will shortly be planted. If any of you are creative (or gardeners!) and have any ideas for how we can develop it, please let us know. I have already had some planters and bird boxes from Mr. Towers, which are very much appreciated.

Swimming & Autism

I have been informed about a swimming class at Bosworth College on Saturday afternoons - for families who have a child with autism. If interested, please contact me.