2015-2016
FAMILY
NEWSLETTER
Friday 27 th FEBRUARY 2015 No 12
Dear Parents/Carers
Dates for your Diary:
March 2015
Thursday 5 th March – World Book Day
Red Nose Day – Friday 13 th March
Last Day of Term: Friday 27 th March
April 2015
Pupils Return to School: Monday 13 th April
Hope you all had a great half-term. Welcome back!
Message from Anne Davies (Finance Manager)
16 – 19 Bursary – We still have some discretionary funding available to help Post 16 pupils in need of financial help to pay for any trips, activities or equipment that they need as part of their programme at Ellen
Tinkham School. The maximum for any claim is £500 per pupil and if you would like to apply please ask the class teacher or Anne Davies for a form or download one from our website. Please note that any equipment purchased using these funds must be returned when the pupil leaves and we cannot pay for activities at weekends or in the school holidays. Thank you
The little BIG book of badness – this booklet on how to stay safe on the internet has been produced by South West Grid for Learning and is aimed mainly at Primary School pupils. It contains useful information to share with young people which although some families may already be fully aware of others may not. As staying safe online is such an important issue these days a copy of the booklet will be sent home with all pupils. For further information on cyber bullying and Internet safety please look at our website which has some really useful information and links to other agencies where you can get help and report concerns. Our website address is: http://www.ellen-tinkham.org
Online Payments – If you would like to register to pay for school lunches, tuck and trips on line and have not already done so please let Anne Davies know so that she can send you details of how to do this.
Teachers 2 Parents – We use the Teachers 2 Parents texting service in school which allows us to send texts to inform parents of important events or school closures in bad weather. We do try not to inundate you with texts but if you would prefer not to be contacted this way please let the school

2015-2016
FAMILY
NEWSLETTER office know.
School Dinner Money – Just a reminder that the cost of school dinner money will be increasing after Easter. From 13th April 2015 the cost of a Junior
Meal will be £2.30 (Rainbows, Red, Yellow, Blue and Green) and the cost of a Senior Meal (all other classes) will be £2.40.
Free School Meals – If you would like to apply for Free School Meals please contact Sue Scott in the school office for more details.
Message from Dave O’Loughlin (Premises and Health & Safety Manager)
Medication:
If there are any changes to your childs medication please let the school know as soon as possible. We cannot be expected to follow any revised protocol unless we are made aware of it. Thank you.
Message from Deb Ward
Applications for Summer Club should be returned to Deb Ward by Monday 2 nd March.
Summer Club is always very popular and places are offered on a first come, first served basis. If you would like a place for your child and have not yet returned or received an application form, please speak to Deb Ward on (01392) 463823.
Message from Ladybird Class
We are looking for donations of wellies and/or all in one waterproof suits ages between 4 and 6 so that the children can access our outside area in all weathers. If any families have any that their children have outgrown, we would be grateful for donations. Thank you
Message from Deb Norman (Inclusion)
If anyone has any suggestions of a good swimming instructor/s, especially good with additional needs, please contact me on (01392) 463823. Thank you.
Message from Claire Courtney (Co-Ordinator for new school Library)
On Thursday 5 th March our new school Library will be open for business for WORLD
BOOK DAY . Huge thanks go to one of our Rural Co-Ordinators, Nicky Love for making all the shelving himself out of Scandinavian Redwood from Southern Timber. We will be having an ‘Official Opening Day’ in due course and will let you know the date. Please see below:

2015-2016
FAMILY
NEWSLETTER
This year special books have been designed which are only £1.00 from any large book retailer
and
!
Here at Ellen Tinkham we are excited to announce the opening of our new library. The shelves are up, the books have been sorted and it is ready to be used! World Book day provides us with the perfect opportunity for an exciting opening day! We are asking all students to dress up as their favourite fictional character and donate £1.00 on
th
All money raised will be put towards our new library to ensure that it is fun, fabulous and full of resources that can be accessed by all of our students! The winner of the ‘Best Dressed’ competition will help cut the ribbon for the grand unveiling of the library in a few weeks as we are hoping to invite a special guest! PTFA Charity No. 1055916
In our Enterprise sessions, the students make beautiful objects to sell. They have developed a wide range of artistic skills and all of our products are finished to a very high standard.

2015-2016
FAMILY
NEWSLETTER
FE Enterprise
The students have learnt how to decoupage, make chalkboards and this term, they have been perfecting their skills at shabby chic.
In addition, the processes involved have helped the students develop their confidence, independence and aspirations of what they can achieve. They take a lot of pride in what they have achieved.
The students have helped to run stalls selling the products at school events. In the summer we had a stall at a charity event in Topsham and sold lots of produce.
We have a display cabinet with produce for sale in the Reception area and can decorate things to individually suit you and your style.
If there is anything on here that you would like to purchase, please send in money with item description. Mark envelope FAO Enterprise (FE1). All items are limited so on a first come, first serve basis.
Student Comments:
“It makes me feel really good when I see something I have made”.
“I made a present for my niece, it made me feel really happy because I had made and she loved it”.
“I think stuff we make is really good. When I finish making something, I feel proud. I like keeping busy making stuff. I would like to do it more”.
“I feel happy with the things I’ve made. Enterprise is fun”.
On the following page are examples of their creations:

2015-2016
FAMILY
NEWSLETTER

2015-2016
FAMILY
NEWSLETTER
On to other messages:
For those of you who have ordered Circus Tickets, please note that they will be sent out to you in April/May.
Throughout March we have Reviews taking place so car parking may be limited. Please try to park in the Visitor’s Bays when coming into school if at all possible. All our meeting rooms are fully booked so please make sure you leave time to park.
RED NOSE DAY: The Student Council are organising various events for Red Nose Day which is on Friday 13 th March. A separate flyer will be sent home for your information nearer the time.
Message from Rose:
Please complete the slip at the end of the newsletter if you would like your copy to be emailed to you. Thankyou.
Thank you
Jacqui Warne
Executive Head

2015-2016
FAMILY
NEWSLETTER
************************
We met for our last PTFA meeting on the 26 th January where a new Chair person (me,
Sarah Potter) and a new Treasurer, Mark Charteris were agreed upon. Since this meeting
I have taken the time to look at this role and what it is the PTFA would like to achieve and its ongoing work. Jennifer Clough has been working hard on submitting funding applications in relation to the continued money required to fund the new hydro pool and also a grant of £20,000 has been allocated to the school from the Claire Milne
Foundation. Fantastic news!! Also new collection boxes have been bought and been taken to Exeter Airport, where we hope the generous public will help donate to the school. The Blue Bag collection scheme is arranged again for May, so any spare clothing and shoes could be saved in readiness for this. Letters regarding this will be going out to parents nearer the time. Many thanks to Vicky Bryant for her support over the last few weeks and passing on her knowledge to me and to all those who have wished me well in my new role as Chair... a big thank you very much to you. I look forward to seeing you all at the next PTFA meeting on Monday 9 th March at 10.30am.
Best Wishes, Sarah Potter
**********************

2015-2016
FAMILY
NEWSLETTER
Other News:
Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre – Open Days
Disability Open day – Saturday 18 th April
Come and try a range of outdoor activities with Haven Banks Education Centre.
The Open Day runs from 10.00am to 6.00pm and registration is online. On the Open
Day we will be launching our Disability Outdoor Club. Bookings close online on the 8 th
April.
Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre, Haven Banks, Exeter, Devon. EX2 8DP.
Tel: (01392) 400150
Email: info@haven-banks.co.uk
*************
World Autism Awareness Day is on 2nd April and, in celebration, extra Autism Friendly
Screenings are being held across the country to help make the cinema more accessible and raise awareness of autism. Further details can be found on: www.dimensions-uk.org/autismfriendly
***************

2015-2016
FAMILY
NEWSLETTER