Meadow High School Parent Portal - Weekly Bulletin - Issue 24

Dear Families

Thank you for your support on the two days of NEU strike action this week. I am sure you join me in hoping that the Unions and the Government can come together to successfully resolve this conflict so that there is no further disruption to pupils' education.

This week has seen another group of pupils head off for a Pathway 2/3 residential trip to the Calvert Trust in Devon. If you don't already follow us on Twitter, please consider doing so, as we share lots of visuals about the activities and learning that goes on during the school day and in particular this week, what's been happening in Devon! From climbing and abseiling to horse riding and archery, pupils have participated, communicated and bonded during this fun (tiring and dirty) week!

@MeadowHighSch

In May, there will be our second annual residential trip to Centre Parcs. This residential for Pathway 1 pupils is much closer to school so has less travel time, the pupils and staff are grouped together in lodges to ensure good supervision and support of pupils. Also, pupils are encouraged to put into practice all the home skills they have learned at school as well as taking part in lots of fun activities. I was lucky enough to visit last year's group for a day, and we made breakfast together, completed an archery course in the forest and had great fun at the indoor pool complex. I discovered that the pupils were much braver than I am when it came to flumes! In the evening we prepared, ate and cleared up dinner together.

Our Scout group will be completing their first camp at PACCAR this summer, and we are planning that our Duke of Edinburgh Silver groups will also complete an overnight stay as part of their expedition this year.

Our intention is that all pupils, at some point during their time at Meadow, will take part in a residential experience. For many pupils, this will be the first time they have spent a night away from home and family. As well as the physical health benefits, school residential trips have been proven to have a positive effect on children's self esteem and confidence levels, thereby improving their emotional health and well being. This is especially important for pupils who are anxious about being away from familiar settings and people.

We are happy to support families in building up pupils' confidence and resilience so that they are able to participate in a residential school at least once during their time at Meadow. For families where a child is in receipt of Free School Meals, we fund all or part of the cost, and we would rather families speak to us if money is a barrier to any pupil taking part in a residential trip or any other activity.

We are now waiting for our soggy and tired staff and pupils to return from Devon, and we look forward to the many stories and experiences they will have to share with us, their friends and their families. Good luck with all the washing families!

Best wishes to everyone.

Kind regards,
Jenny Rigby

Head Teacher

Dear Parent/Carers,

Pupil Premium and Free School Meals

Given the cost of living crisis faced by many, we would like to remind you as a parent to check your eligibility for pupil premium funding and free school meals.

Pupil premium funding from the government is given to schools to help pupils reach their full potential, regardless of their background or financial situation. It’s provided for pupils who:

Are registered for free school meals
Have been registered for free school meals at any point in the past 6 years
Are, or have been, in care
Have parents in the armed forces

The funding enables the school to enhance or purchase additional resources or intervention to support pupils academically, socially or emotionally.

Your child might be eligible if you access:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on
Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month)

Your child might also be eligible if you’re in a household with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to a maximum income threshold. This is for children of:

Zambrano and Chen carers (non-EEA nationals caring for a British citizen residing in the UK)
British National (Overseas) passport holders
Spousal visa, work visa, or student visa holders
Those with no immigration status
Families with a right to remain in the UK under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights
Families receiving support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 who are subject to a no recourse to public funds restriction
Certain failed asylum seekers supported under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Does my child have to eat the free school meals?

No. Pupils who are registered for free school meals don’t have to eat them. If you’re eligible, but you want your child to have packed lunches you should still register because the school will receive the funding which can support your child in other ways.

How do I register?

You only need to register once at the school.

If you would like to apply for Free School Meals, please provide the following information by emailing it to pheffernan@meadowhighschool.org

Child's name:
Class:
Parent's First Name:
Parent's Last Name:
Parent's Date of Birth: Day / Month / Year
National Insurance Number:
(or National Asylum Seekers Service Number)

More information

For more information about pupil premium go to our website, which contains details of how the pupil premium has been spent in the past academic year and how it will be spent this year.

Best wishes,
Peter Heffernan

Here is a copy of the letter which is being sent home:
PDF: PP Letter