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Issue 21 - Friday 26 February 2021
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Dear Families,
I hope that this bulletin finds you well and enjoying the brighter days.
Covid
We have had no confirmed cases in the community since the last bulletin.
Return to school
As you know the Government have announced their plan for the easing of restrictions. Their first step is that all pupils are expected to return to school from Monday 8th March. To allow schools to facilitate the on site Lateral Flow Testing of pupils (for whom we have permission) we are permitted to bring pupils back on a staggered schedule.
All pupils who are currently attending on site education will continue to do so.
For all other pupils the planned return is:
- Pathway 1 and years 7, 8 and 9 to return on Monday 8th March
- Years 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 to return on Tuesday 9th March
Due to the ongoing pandemic, we have been unable to source work experience placements and, as such, would still be requesting our Pathway 3 and 4 Year 13 and 14 students to study from home on a Monday (year 13) and Tuesday (year 14) (this does not include Pathway 1 pupils). This is to complete their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Please contact Miss Taylor if you have any further queries.
If you anticipate any difficulty in supporting your child to return to school please inform your child's Form Tutor so we can support you to support them!
Lateral Flow Testing
Parental permission letters for Lateral Flow Testing will be reshared next week. The aim of Lateral Flow Testing is to pick up as many cases of Covid in the pupil population as possible. This is because children often do not show any symptoms which increases the spread of the virus. If you haven't already completed and returned a permission slip please seriously consider doing this before your child's return to school.
Uniform
Pupils will be expected to be in school uniform or appropriate 6th form dress on their return. Please visit the school website via this link to see a reminder of these.
Face coverings
If your child is able to wear a face covering, even if they are technically exempt, please provide them with a suitable one. Pupils will be encouraged to wear these on transport, around the school corridors and communal areas and any time they cannot maintain a 2 metre distance from others. Many thanks for your support with this.
Classroom and curriculum arrangements from 8th to 31st March
From the 8th to the 19th March pupils will remain in tutor groups with their tutor group team delivering all lessons. Pupils in exam and/or option groups will still attend these lessons with specialist teachers but in most cases these will be virtual.
From the 22nd of March pupils will resume the 'normal' timetable but with movement around the school significantly reduced.
Thank you so much for your ongoing understanding and support. There will be further communication next week.
Many thanks and please have a very good weekend break.
Mrs J Rigby
Headteacher
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Medication In School
Dear Parents/Carers
If you child is on medication that is given in school, please check that your medication is still in date. If not, please can you replace it, so we are up to date on our full return to school on the 8th March.
Many thanks
Alison Wallington
Welfare Team
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Hillingdon Travel Assistance Application
We have been asked to forward the attached to parents who require travel assistance for their children: This information was received from the Passenger Services Team at Hillingdon via Hillingdon Parents/Carers Forum.
Dear Parents/Carers
As the end of the scholastic year will soon be upon us, we would like to take this opportunity to remind those that require Travel Assistance to submit an application in time for September 2021. The deadline for these applications is June 30th to guarantee Travel Assistance in time for the new school year for all eligible applicants.
In addition, for existing users of the service, please note that should there be any change in circumstances e.g., change in home address or change of educational placement, you are required to reapply for travel assistance in a timely manner, preferably providing a months' notice. This will allow the travel assistance team time to reassess your child’s eligibility and to avoid any delays in your child’s travel provision commencing, should you submit an application after the change in circumstance has occurred.
Please visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/travelassistance to view our policy, review your eligibility and submit an application.
If you have any questions, please contact us using the contact details provided.
Many Thanks,
Passenger Services Team Home to School and College Travel Assistance Travelassistance@hillingdon.gov.uk 01895250008
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World Book Day 2021
Thursday 4 March 2021
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Useful Information - Wellbeing
Mrs Gamble, Welfare Officer, has provided the following information and list of organisations that parents may find useful particularly with regard to mental health and wellbeing.
The following organisations offer information and support on mental health and wellbeing:
Your local library can also provide access to Reading Well: books on prescription, a collection of carefully curated titles for adults, children and young people to support common mental health conditions, or deal with difficult feelings and experiences. Find your local library to join up and borrow them.
Young people can get free, confidential support at any time from government-backed voluntary and community sector organisations by:
- texting SHOUT to 85258
- calling Childline on 0800 1111
- calling the Mix on 0808 808 4994
Resources for parents of children with SEND
We have worked with a range of other organisations to create extra resources for parents of children with SEND:
Kind regards
Berni Gamble
School Welfare Officer
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Shop AmazonSmile at https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1100731-0, and Amazon donates to Friends Of Meadow High School (Hillingdon), at no cost to you.
AmazonSmile is also available in the Amazon Shopping App to all AmazonSmile customers using an iPhone or Android phone.
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Calendar, Lunches & Letters Home
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UPCOMING EVENTS
SPRING TERM:
Wednesday 31 March 2021 - Term ends at 2pm
Thursday 1 April 2021 - Sunday 18 April 2021 - EASTER HOLIDAY
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SUMMER TERM:
Monday 19 April 2021 - Back to School
Tuesday 20 April 2021 - School Photographer - Individual Pupil Photos
To view the school calendar visit the website NEWS/CALENDAR
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SCHOOL LUNCHES
For those pupils currently attending school, lunches will follow the Autumn Winter menu as far as possible. However, it may be necessary to make some changes to the menu during lock-down, due to supply issues and number of pupils having lunch.
Week - 1 March 2021 - 5 March 2021
Week 3 - Autumn / Winter Menu
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News & Events In The Community
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DASH ONLINE PRESENTATION
SWITCHING FROM DLA TO PIP (Children Under 16)
Where a child under 16 receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA), they will be invited to switch to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), when they are approaching, or have just turned 16.
If you would like to know more about PIP, DASH will be presenting a 1 hour Zoom session on 1st March - details below.
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SENDIASS SURVEY
Below is a link to a survey where you, as valued past and current users of SENDIASS (SEND Information, Advice and Support Service) are invited to give opinions on the service and suggest how SENDIASS can change to continue to meet the needs of Hillingdon families.
The survey closes on 8th March 2021.
With thanks in advance from the SENDIASS team:
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The survey takes approximately 4 minutes to complete.
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SURVEY - PARENTS' RESPONSES REQUESTED:
Demand for Physical Activity Sessions in Hillingdon.
Hillingdon borough is assessing the demand for online physical activity sessions for 6-12 year olds with SEND. To assist them with this, they request that you please complete their short 11-question survey using the link below. The survey closes on Wednesday 3rd March: C;ick the link below to complete the survey.
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FREE ONLINE WEBINAR
The Education Health Care Plan
Hillingdon PCF is delighted to offer forum members that are resident in Hillingdon borough, an invitation to join the next free online evening webinar in the series, on the topic of the EHCP. This webinar is suited to all parents and carers of children or young people who have an EHCP or who are considering applying for an EHCP. The webinar will explore what an EHCP looks like, what each section should contain, what to be wary of and how to compose a good EHCP.
Date: Wednesday 3rd March 2021
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Tanya Williams is delivering the presentation and is a parent of 2 young people with SEN, who understands the importance of parent empowerment and this is why she began running workshops, advice clinics and webinars for support groups and other PCFs. After over 20 years working as a litigator, Tanya set up her own business advising families across the UK. Here is Tanya's website: Home | Tanya Williams SEN Advice
Some feedback from previous webinars:
" Tanya simplified comprehensively a very complex area of EHCP procedure. Probably the most inspiring, informative & well presented webinar that I have attended to date"
" Tanya is so knowledgeable and experienced- she inspires confidence and motivation. Tanya is brilliant. I am so grateful she offers these talks. Her confidence is inspiring to many of us who go into this alone"
" Very well prepared and presented. Really helpful that Tanya understands and explains from both a parent and legal point of view." ( Facilitator of local group)
"Tanya's talks are always full of very practical, detailed information on what parents can do to get the best support they can for their child. She has so much experience of helping parents with EHCPs, Annual Reviews, Tribunals etc and her real life examples really help to make everything clear. Highly recommended."
- To register, please put your details into the Eventbrite link here: EHCP webinar You will receive email confirmation that you have booked.
- We will be using GoToMeeting, which is a virtual meeting platform. If you are new to GoToMeeting, download the app now and be ready for when the session starts GoToMeeting app
- Prior to the webinar, we will send you an email containing the link that allows you access to attend. We look forward to you joining us.
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Hillingdon Parent / Carer Forum
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CENSUS 2021
Dear Parents/Carers,
Background
As you may already know the 2021 Census will take place from March. The census occurs every 10 years, and is run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data collected enables the government to understand and plan for future funding and services within our communities (e.g. places required in education settings, public transport, blue badge spaces in car parks etc). As it is so important that everybody is counted and represented, the census is compulsory for everyone in England and Wales.
How it will work initially
Between 3rd - 13th March, every household will receive a pack explaining how to participate. For the first time ever, the census will be accessed mainly online. There will be local centres set up with online access and trained staff to help you, and a contact centre to give support over the phone, in a webchat, webform, email and SMS. There will also be an option to request a paper questionnaire instead. In case of scams, please note that no-one from the ONS or Census 2021 will ever ask for payment to help people fill in their questionnaires.
Additional support
Hillingdon's Census Engagement Manager has resources for community groups and users in different languages. If you or anyone you know, will need census resources in any other language, or a questionnaire in large print, please let us know.
If you would like further information about the Census, please click here for a leaflet about the 2021 Census and / or visit www.cencus.gov.uk
Information provided by Hillingdon Parent Carer Forum
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Free virtual Workshops from MyHealth
Paediatric Asthma, Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes
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MyHealth are offering free workshops (flyers attached) to empower Hillingdon people that have Paediatric Asthma, Diabetes Type 2 or are at risk of Diabetes Type 2, presented by trained NHS professionals. Due to COVID-19, these workshops are offered virtually.
Please book your place by contacting the team here:
Workshop enquiries
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FOCUS GROUP FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
Dear Parents/Carers,
Please get in touch with Jessica Baggaley, a PhD student at Newcastle University, if you would be willing to participate in a focus group being organised for parents/carers of children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.
Details are below and in the attached document.
Kind regards
Hillingdon Parent Carer Forum
My name is Jessica Baggaley and I am a PhD student at Newcastle University.
I am currently recruiting parents and carers of children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy to take part in one or two small (3-6 participants) online focus groups.
Parents of children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy have in the past talked about the difficulties they had in raising concerns about their infants to primary care health professionals.
The aim of these focus groups is to develop a tool that helps support parents in raising their concerns and that helps to identify infants who have Cerebral Palsy earlier.
As this tool is aimed at supporting parents who have concerns about their infant’s development, I believe it is important for parents who have experienced these difficulties to be involved in the development and design.
I was wondering if you would mind forwarding on the attached leaflet to your members letting them know about the study and how they can get involved.
If you have any questions or want to know more, please do email me.
Best wishes,
Jess
Jessica Baggaley
PHD Candidate in Population Health Sciences
Newcastle University
Funded by the ESRC NINEDTP
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Coronavirus Vaccinations - Eligibility
We have received the following information from Hillingdon Parent / Carer Forum:
The NHS link below specifically mentions that those who are eligible for the Carer's Allowance, can book and manage their coronavirus vaccination online. There are 4 other eligible groups mentioned too, please click the link to find out more about the service offered. PLEASE NOTE: If you are not eligible yet, you must wait to be contacted.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/?fbclid=IwAR1KjJ1bJwsSqBGvuGOurLQYQKNl2lWKazi96o5Xvl29nhKezeytgL4rKoc
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Warning after Covid vaccine scam emails received
Scammers have been contacting people claiming they can arrange coronavirus vaccines for a fee.
People around the country have received emails in recent weeks which appear to be from the NHS offering COVID vaccine appointments.
The recipient is asked to click on a link in the email to arrange an appointment, which takes them through to a webpage that asks them for personal and banking details. At present none of those contacted have suffered any financial losses.
The NHS is the only organisation that has access to the vaccine and will never ask for payment. If you are contacted, please do not engage with the fraudsters. The NHS is currently contacting eligible people but if you are asked for money it is not a genuine call, text or email.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud please report to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting: www.actionfraud.police.uk.
Scams can come in many forms and is an incredibly sophisticated crime, making it more difficult to distinguish genuine messages from the fake.
- Do not open attachments or click on links in emails or texts from senders you don’t know.
- Never give out personal information, financial details or passwords in response to an email, text or phone call without verifying that the person is who they claim to be.
- Block any numbers that arouse suspicion.
- Set up spam filters on all of your accounts.
- Always go to a website directly, by typing out the address yourself, when logging into an account.
- Keep an eye out for numerous spelling mistakes in messages, these are normally linked to phishing emails and texts.
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Email: meadow@meadowhighschool.org
Telephone: 01895 443310
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