Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
[Type here]
I n s e r t T e x t :
NURTURING KINDNESS, COMPASSION & SELF BELIEF
In this edition:
Page 1:
News from the
Headteacher
Diary Dates
Page 2:
Class News
Eco News
Page 3:
Class News
Page 4:
Information for
Parents
Page 5:
Information for
parents …
Dear Parents & Carers,
We have come to the end of a long term and the whole school community is looking forward to a well-earned rest. Our School Improvement Plan is now ready to view online…
In response to our new School Values and in relation to the new Ofsted framework, I am pleased to
announce that our Annual School Improvement Plan will be ready to view on our school website.
The amalgamation of staff input, pupil voice and a conscious effort to ensure that our school
continuously raises the bar, supports our pupils within the independent therapeutic approach.
As the prospect of Christmas cheers us and lifts our spirits away from the cold, dark season. In particular, on Friday 13th December, the school looked extra wonderful, with staff and students dressed in all sorts of wonderful Christmas jumpers! Christmas has always been a magical time for me and to be at Eton Dorney School this year and get to share in the Christmas festivities here has been extra special, particularly when I got to see the intense excitement on the faces of our pupils during the Christmas lunches and outings.
Diary Dates: Term 3 - 2020
Mon 6 Jan All Day Inset Day – School Closed to Students
Tues 7 Jan 12.00pm Pupils return to School
Tue 11 Feb All Day Safer Internet Day
Mon 3rd – Fri 7th Feb
All Week National Children’s Dental Health Week
1st Feb - 29th Feb
All Month Heart Month
Fri 14 Feb 3.00pm End of Term
Term 4 - 2020
Mon 21 Feb Scheduled Appointments Only
IEP Day
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School, Lake End Road, Dorney, South Buckinghamshire, SL4 6QS
Issue 2
December
2019
As the term draws to a close another one starts, we look forward to planning for next terms activities. We focus on E-Safety in February and will be sharing our new E-Safety Newsletter that will be sent out monthly focusing on the safeguarding of electronic applications and communications. Ms Hill our Welfare Lead will be responsible for updating you all on Welfare Issues and directly on E-Safety that causes us ongoing concerns as technology develops. We will also be focusing on our Hearts celebrating Heart Month and National Children’s Dental Health Week where we will be looking at Health & Wellbeing and my favourite focus, loving and respecting each other and keeping our focus on Nurturing Kindness, Compassion and Self-Belief. It is with humility and gratitude that I both look back on the term and with barely restrained anticipation look forward to the holidays and next term! I am sure that pupils, parents and carers would like to join with me in thanking all of the staff and governors at Eton Dorney School for their continued tremendous hard work and commitment to the students of the school. Likewise, we the staff, governors and pupils would like to thank all parents and carers for all your support.
Welcome to our new
puppy; “Dorney”…..
Last but in no way the least, we the rest of the school community thank our pupils – you are indeed some of the best pupils I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Whilst we celebrate this festive season in our own
traditional ways, it is important to focus on those less
fortunate than ourselves who may feeling a sense of
challenge and hardship during this time.
It is important to think of those who may be feeling a sense of loneliness and isolation and to reflect on those adults and children not being fortunate in being with family and friends.
[Type here]
Birch Class News:
Birch Class have done incredibly well since coming back from last half term, where we have
continued to welcome in new students to the class and continuing to create new experiences
with each other. In Math, we have been working on measurements and prime numbers and the
students have continued to excel in this area of their academic studies. We are looking forward
to continuing with math next half term as we work on place values, as well as algebra.
In English, we have been working on techniques used in poetry and have even completed our
own cautionary poems. We now look forward to working on short stories next half term.
We wish all the students a great Christmas holiday and we look forward to next term.
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School, Lake End Road, Dorney, South Buckinghamshire, SL4 6QS
Ash Class News:
Ash class have been working on a variety of tasks this half term; in addition to our core subjects we have been visiting venues off-site to develop life skills which give pupils the opportunity to plan and shop for specific requirements related to the group's planned activities. This has included shopping for resources used to make Christmas cards, drinks and doughnuts for school fair, where we raised over £40. The Christmas cards proved so popular that a commission for an amazing 50 cards was received and this endeavour is being used as an enterprise activity which will contribute towards the pupils' Duke of Edinburgh Award. Pupils from Ash have increasingly joined Cedar group for learning and the students all seem to have benefitted from both the learning opportunities and social interaction this leads to. Ash class wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and sends best wishes for all good things in 2020!
Eco:
Our Eco Instagram now has almost 150 followers and you can follow:
eco_dorney_2019 to see our progress.
We have re-potted Aloe-Vera to sell at the Christmas Fair and we have
made some eco bird feeders for the garden.
The club will run in the new term on Thursday’s after school from 3-4pm,
parents and carers are most welcome to attend.
Continued… News from the Headteacher It is important to think of those who may be feeling a sense of loneliness and isolation and to reflect on those adults and children not being fortunate in being with family and friends. I pray for and wish everyone peace in all our homes and families during this holiday season knowing that at times of happiness or challenge, please allow for kindness, compassion and tolerance and knowing that at times of difficulties, there is always a bright light shining on each and every one of us - may we all be safe and keep healthy. Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings to everyone! Enjoy the geese, the mince pies, the biscuits and sweets and best of all the lights and carols!
Kind regards,
L. Parmentier
Ms L. Parmentier
Headteacher
[Type here]
Beech Class News:
Beech class have been busy this month getting ready for the
Christmas Fair. They were able to independently think of ideas to
raise money. As a group they were able to discuss each of their
ideas and decide which ones were viable. After presenting their
ideas to the group they were able to eliminate some of their more
ambitious ideas.
They have worked hard to decorate the class and took inspiration
from Tom Barker at Snow Windows. They were able to email him
and purchased snow spray and stencils which he delivered. The
children worked in groups to create designs using the stencils. They
have now decorated the windows which are very creative and show
real talent.
We were pleased with our first ever Christmas fair and how fantastic
Beech class looked with a wonderful display of stalls that the
children had created.
Oak Class News:
The pupils in Oak class have been working hard to train the dog Booma at agility classes, they have trained her to jump hurdles, run through tunnels and climb A-frames. The pupils have also had fun learning about space and built our own space ship to fly to the moon. We have also been visiting the local library, choosing books and developing our reading skills. We are looking forward to our trip to the Living Rain Forest at the end of term, we are excited to see the sloths but not so excited about seeing any snakes. Happy Christmas from Oak Class.
Cedar Class News: At the start of this term, Cedar Class worked on planning Remembrance Day. They took part
in making clay poppies and organising slides to be read in the Remembrance Day assembly.
Moving on through the term we have also completed other handcrafted displays for the
classroom and clay models for the Christmas Fair.
The children have been working very hard in both Maths and English. They have been focussed on completing work on a Maths portfolio which includes:
Component 1: properties of number.
Component 2: the four operations.
Component 3: ratio.
Component 4: money.
Component 5: the calendar and time.
Component 6: measures.
Component 7: geometry.
Component 8: statistics. Some students are working towards the AQA ELC Maths Non Exam Assessed Certificate. In English, the children have been completing work on Detectives and Grammar. Some of these students are working towards the AQA ELC Step up to English Non Exam Assessed Certificate.
Our students have worked extremely well over the term and are a real asset to the class.
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School, Lake End Road, Dorney, South Buckinghamshire, SL4
6QS
[Type here]
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School, Lake End Road, Dorney, South Buckinghamshire, SL4 6QS
Information for Parents:
Website Update:
Our new website has now been launched and we are very proud with the new content and layout.
Please do take the time to have a look around the site at
https://www.etondorneyspecialschool.co.uk/ and also view the video featuring our Headteacher,
Pupils and Parents which aims to provide a real insight into what our school is all about.
School Therapy Dog:
Our School Therapy Dog has arrived...
We are so pleased to have a new addition to our school. The children have been spending some lovely
time walking, playing and taking care of the new puppy which we have decided to name ‘Dorney’.
Outdoor Areas:
Our outdoor garden area is coming along. We now have 20 chickens which have been producing some
lovely eggs.
Despite a slight delay in completion, the MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) and the Forest School
enclosed Canopy areas are almost finished. I am sure the children will get lots of use out these
fantastic new outdoor spaces on return to school after the Christmas break. Thank you to the pupils
for their understanding and patience whilst this work is taking place.
Car Park:
Our new parking lines have now been completed in the car parking area around the school building.
Please continue to drive in through the designated signed entrance and exit signs and be aware of the
pupils and adults coming in and out of the school.
Fun with the
Chickens….
Forest School
new Outdoor
Canopy…
Our fantastic new MUGA (Multi Use Games Area)…
[Type here]
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School, Lake End Road, Dorney, South Buckinghamshire, SL4 6QS
Continued…
Information for Parents:
Recommendations for Family Support
National Autistic Society is the leading UK charity for those with autism and their families, providing information, support and other services. The NAS will often run short courses locally and it would be worth enquiring about their programmes. They have a helpline, and also offer services such as befriending. Tel: Autism Helpline 0808 800 4104 Email: www.autism.org.uk/enquiry (enquiry form) Website: http://www.autism.org.uk/
Autism Berkshire provide specialist services, training and social and leisure activities throughout the Berkshire area Tel: 0118 9594594 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.autismberkshire.org.uk/
Parenting Special Children offer a post diagnostic support service, a range of parenting programmes and workshops as well as a sleep service. Tel: 0118 9863532 Email: [email protected] Website: http://parentingspecialchildren.co.uk
The Autism Group a Maidenhead based charity that offer social opportunities for young people on the spectrum from age 9 and above, together with training and free parent support and social groups, parent training sessions and a home visit service for residents in the Boroughs of Windsor and Maidenhead, Slough and Bracknell. Special Interest Groups: For more information contact Ruth on 07454 375071 or email [email protected] Training : For more information contact Dawn on 07463 337851 or email [email protected] Parent Support: For more information contact Tricia on 07423 636339 or email [email protected] Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theautismgroup/
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year
