Academy Messages

National Challenges for Special Educational Needs and Impact on Schools

You may have recently been made aware of the news reports highlighting the challenges of the Special Educational Needs provision in England. The National Audit Office (NAO), which is the government’s spending watchdog, recently published a report which argued that many view the special needs education in England as broken and that a whole system of reform is needed. This links to a significant rise in children registered in England with special educational needs (SEN).

Some of the key challenges that parents and schools are facing are related to accessing professional help and support; delays in waiting for specialist assessments and Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCP’s) and the lack of Special Educational Provision.

In all schools across the Fierte Multi-Academy Trust, teachers are working hard to support the special educational needs of children against these challenging circumstances.  We understand that for many parents it can be incredibly frustrating having to wait for support for your child especially from outside agencies. We are committed to continuing to work in partnership with parents in seeking to support all children and hope that parents can be aware of the limitations that schools are facing which are outside our control.

For further information on this, please either contact your SENDCO at your school or contact the Trust Inclusion Leader at inclusionleader@fierte.org

Additional Funding

Check to see if you are entitled to additional funding for your child. Use the link below, if you are eligible, then your child will receive free school meals (this is really important as this stops once children move to year 3 without the funding. It also allows you to receive holiday supermarket vouchers (315 per child, per week during school holidays). You directly receive a voucher for a supermarket of your choice. 

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Educational-awards-benefits/FreeSchoolMeals/Apply-online.aspx

Activities for Children during November and December

Ongoing weekly activities:

Lego Group: Glascote Library - Saturdays 10am – 11am. This is free of charge and for all ages.

Parkrun – Castle grounds – Saturday morning at 9am. Free entry. All ages and abilities are welcome.

One off events in date order:

Saturday 23^rd November - Christmas Light switch on – Free event 12 noon – 5.30pm. Lots of activities: Bert & Gerts festive market, Barker's Family Fun Fair, Food & drink stalls, Tamworth Round Table's Santa sleigh, Live entertainment stage including: The D-Day Juniors and Tamworth Voices Choir, Tamworth Pantomime Company, The Santa Show Elves, Rory & The Revellers (Youth Battle of the Bands runners-up) – Lights switch on at 5pm.

Sunday 8^th December – Antler fun run – 10am at the Castle Grounds. All ages welcome, fancy dress, reindeer antlers and Santa hats are encouraged.

The Wildlife Trust Tamworth: Friday 20th December: Wild skills 10:30am – 12:30pm SEND aged 6 – 19 years + family members Dosthill Park, Blackwood Road, Dosthill, Tamworth, B77 1LJ *Available to all Staffordshire families* *Bookings close 18.12.24 at 12-noon*

The Wildlife Trust Tamworth: Saturday 21st December Wooden Reindeer Workshop 10:30am – 12:30pm SEND aged 6 – 19 years + family members Dosthill Park, Blackwood Road, Dosthill, Tamworth, B77 1LJ *Available to all Staffordshire families* *Bookings close 19.12.24 at 12-noon*

Saturday 21^st December – Santa Paws - different time allocations throughout the day. Children are encouraged to take their family dog with their parents to get a gift from Santa for their pets.

Saturday 21^st December - Santa’s in the building! – Ankerside shopping centre 11am – 4pm. Visit Santa in his grotto, for children of all ages.

Tamworth Assembly Rooms:

Monday 23^rd December – Elf movie – Tamworth Assembly rooms. Doors open at 9am, film starts at 10am. Tickets are £5 each.

Monday 23^rd December – Polar Express Movie – Tamworth Assembly rooms. Doors open at 4pm, film starts at 5pm. Tickets are £5 each.

Tuesday 24^th December – A Muppets Christmas Carol Movie – Tamworth Assembly rooms. Doors open at 9am, film starts at 10am. Tickets are £5 each.

Sunday 29^th December – Despicable Me 4 Movie – Tamworth Assembly rooms. Doors open at 9am, film starts at 10am. Tickets are £5 each.

Sunday 29^th December – Deadpool and Wolverine Movie – Tamworth Assembly rooms. Doors open at 9am, film starts at 10am. Tickets are £5 each. For 15 years and over.

Running for a limited time:

23^rd November – 23^rd December: Gingerbread trail. This festive season, the Gingerbread People are exploring Tamworth, and we need your help to find them and see what they’re up to! As you explore the town this Christmas, keep your eyes peeled for life-sized gingerbread figures. Can you find all 10 giant gingerbreads around Tamworth town centre. For all ages. This is free.

Reading Homework

All reading is important and counts towards their homework, so please remember to record any reading your child takes part in outside of school. The list below shows the percentage of children in each class who have read a minimum of 4 x each week.

Donaldson-79%

Rosen- 71%

Mckee- 71%

Murphy- 84%

Ahlberg- 85%

Jeffers- 68%

Ross-54%

Child-65%

Grey- 67%

Browne 88% 

Hughes 77%

Lewis 73% 

Fine 68% 

Morpurgo 71%

White 87%

Almond 74%

Pullman 84%

Sachar79%

Shakespeare 76%

Tolkein 46%