Easter Newsletter

I can hardly believe that we are nearly at the Easter holidays. I have to say this term has flown by – it really does not seem like a whole term has passed since I last wrote this newsletter.

Anyway – what has struck me this term is the range of wonderful achievements made by our students. As I was walking on the park a few days ago this thought suddenly came into mind. And I don’t just mean in terms of the work that they do in school (although of course I am extremely proud of that). I mean the other achievements too – the sports events that they take part in, the medals that they get for events that they attend out of school, the certificates that pupils receive from their Inclusion links or their Work Experience programmes, the swimming badges, participation in the Hinckley Area Dance and Drama Festival, the things learned in the After School Club – a whole host of achievements, and too many to mention them all here.

So what struck me is how wonderful it is to be part of all of this and to be able to share in the fantastic things that these young people accomplish in their lives. Of course we are aware that our students have learning difficulties, and we do everything we can to help them make as much progress as they possibly can, but we are aware too of all the positive things that they CAN do in their lives, and it is so lovely to share in this. One of the best parts of my day is when young people bring things to show me that they are proud of - as they often do.

And of course, what we want is for all of these abilities and achievements to lead somewhere, and thinking about this led me on to the second thing that I wanted to mention here.

For some time now three young lads have been responsible for cutting the grass at the Lower Site and for keeping the borders tidy. I think they have done a fantastic job. For instance it was they who recently cleared away all the rubbish and all the overgrown plants from the front of the school. Of those three lads, two used to attend Dorothy Goodman School – and now here they are a few years later – paid employees of the school. Now of course not all of our pupils will achieve that – but they can all make a contribution to their local community in some way – and I am very pleased that these kinds of opportunities are beginning to be available. I believe that in the future more things will open up in this way, and of course we all have apart to play in ensuring that this happens.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday.

As always, if you have any problems or issues, leave a message on the school Answerphone:

01455 634582

And someone will get back to you over the holiday.

Tony Smith

School Policies

Just a reminder that if parents want any school policies or procedures – e.g. Safeguarding Children, School Prospectus, Homework etc. – they are all available on request.

Most of them are also on the Web Site, so if you have not been on the Web Site recently I would recommend a visit. On there, for example, you will find a calendar of forthcoming events, which may be useful when you are making your arrengemnts.

Governor News

Governing Body has remained stable this past year. A reminder that the four parent governors are:

Fran Childerhouse
Dawn Hayward
Sue Pearson
Phil Stock

All have children on the Lower Site, although Chris Jones has also been co-opted on to the Governing Body and she has a son on our Upper Site.

FMSiS

Last term we had to undergo a major exercise called:

Financial Management Standard in Schools

This is a new measure introduced by the Government to make sure that all schools have good practice with regard to financial management. All schools need to show that they are compliant. It was our turn last term and I am happy to say that we passed first time around! So a huge congratulations to Sheila Neale (the Office Manager), Jean Reynolds (the Bursar) and to the Finance Sub-Committee of the Governing Body. All of these people showed that they are playing their part, and playing it extremely well.

Donations

We have continued to have a lot of donations this term and we are very grateful. People are very kind and it helps us enormously because otherwise we could not buy many of the things that we need. Donations received this term have gone towards new books for the Library, outdoor Musical Instruments, and new sensory equipment for the Sensory Rooms on each site.

Thank you to:

Earl Shilton Baptist Church
Fred & Audrey Stock
Archie Varden’s grandparents
Baddesley Ensor Social Club
In Mem. Mr. F. Geary
Becci Newman
Queen’s Head, Barwell
Miss Durn
Karen Clarke
Crane Electronics
The Old School Surgery
Citizen’s Club
Vera & Verdon Carbidge
Wendy Jeffs