15th December 2015
Dear Parents and Carers
End of Autumn Term 2015 Newsletter
The end of a busy term at Lighthouse School is heralded by our invitation to parents and carers
to a Christmas sing-a-long with staff and students. A number of parents and carers have
indicated they intend to join in with the celebration as we move towards closing for the
Christmas holidays. Staff and students have been asked to wear their Christmas jumpers, or
come in non-uniform, on the last day of term to get into the holiday mood. This time we are
asking for a donation of £1 that will be collected for the Lighthouse School PTA. There will also
be a raffle drawn at the event on the last day of term
The spring term starts on Monday 4th January 2016 for all staff and students, transport have
been given this information but parents and carers are invited to check with their driver and
escorts, to make sure they have received the information the school has already passed on to
the transport team.
During this time of year it is worth reminding parents and carers about the procedures
implemented in the event of severe weather conditions. The weather conditions may lead to
cancellation or disruption to home/school transport. We will endeavor to keep the school open
as far as possible providing the safety of students and staff can be maintained. We will send
parents/carers a text message if there is a school closure, therefore it is imperative we have up
to date mobile telephone numbers on our school information system at all times to ensure the
messages get through. Radio Aire and Radio Leeds will both be contacted for a message to be
broadcast. There will also be a message on the school website and Leeds City Council Website
as they will have a link to school closures.
During this last half term students have had opportunities to experience a range of activities
enriching their curriculum experience. We have had a number of visitors to the school in recent
weeks. All have commented upon the way our students were engaging and enthusiastic in the
sessions they shared with them.
Our first visitor was Richard Starkings, a graphic artist and author from California who has
visited us in previous years. He did a fascinating workshop discussing the importance of the
story board and engaging the students in designing their own super hero. He also provided a
number of free tickets for our students and parents to attend the Thought Bubble Comic
Lighthouse School, Leeds
Arthington House, Hospital Lane, Cookridge, Leeds, LS16 6QB
: 0113 4570605 Email: admin@lighthouseschool.co.uk
www.lighthouseschool.co.uk
Lighthouse School is a Free School and Company Limited by Guarantee Company Number: 7591868
Convention at the Armory in Leeds. They have become big fans of the students at Lighthouse
and the work we do and Richard is intending to do a return visit in June 2016.
We had a visit from Alan Gardner of the Channel 4 programme ‘the Autistic Gardener’; he came
to officially open the Lighthouse Union Store; as well as visit the school. He had a tour of the
school by one of our year 10 students, met students at break time then went with Sarah Cullen
and Vicky Eustace to work with a group of students in a session to gather ideas for the design
of our sensory garden areas now we have charitable funding. He also did a practical gardening
session with another group of students and our Horticulture teacher Sarah Cullen.
Alan also opened the new store on Otley Old Road during lunchtime where he was interviewed
by BBC Radio Leeds and met parents, our local councillor Sue Bentley and MP Greg
Mulholland amongst a host of other special guests. The new store is an exciting addition of work
placement for some of our post 16 student timetables with two students already working as
trainees; alongside students from West SiLC and Leeds City College. This is the beginning of
our own workplaces to tap into the talents of our students and give them valuable work
experience thanks to the exceptional hard work of the school trustees and charity who opened
the school intent on students being able to gain employment once they have completed their
formal education. There will be more micro businesses setting up over the coming months with
a Horticulture business due to start after Christmas. A job coach works with the young people
in a supportive environment to maximise their talents and build their confidence in the
workplace. An opportunity to hear about all of the exciting developments will be published soon
so parents can find out more from the Trustees who are spearheading this fabulous project.
After the successes of the summer scheme of activities, the out of hours provision has begun
again. Based on feedback from parents and staff it was felt it would be beneficial for the
students to have access to social and leisure activities throughout the year not just in the
summer. Therefore, this year we have reassigned the holiday provision to run in the Easter
break, end of the summer and to have a club running through the school year (see the school
calendar for dates). Shine Club aims to develop social relationships and leisure activities for our
students out of school hours. Students have already had the opportunity to attend a bowling
night at Kirkstall and a twilight trip to Stockeld Park Christmas Adventure which included ice
skating and skiing!
We have continued to build our link with Core Therapeutics; a team who specialise in working
on building emotional development and working on emotional and social wellbeing. They have
been observing our timetabled wellbeing sessions with students and training staff to deliver
future sessions in the wellbeing suite of rooms.
Inclusion opportunities are developing as we have been liaising with our new partnership school
Ralph Thoresby and over the next term will be looking at developing inclusion access for
students particularly in social interaction and peer relationships. We are excited about this new
partnership and the opportunities it brings for our students. A social skills group incorporating
our students mixed with mainstream peers has recently started for a number of students in a
dedicated space at Ralph Thoresby School, led by Lighthouse staff.
In Food Technology a variety of culinary delights have been produced including mince pies and
Christmas cakes, all have been taken home for families to taste for themselves. Parents were
Lighthouse School, Leeds
Arthington House, Hospital Lane, Cookridge, Leeds, LS16 6QB
: 0113 4570605 Email: admin@lighthouseschool.co.uk
www.lighthouseschool.co.uk
Lighthouse School is a Free School and Company Limited by Guarantee Company Number: 7591868
asked to write comments about the variety of food prepared in the lesson by their children and
return their comments to school.
Sports sessions have been enriched by Charlie and Tom from Yorkshire Cricket who have been
working with key stage 3 students in their Sport & Leisure lessons and at lunchtime for all
students.
The second week of next term will include a whole school visit to the Harrogate Theatre to
watch the pantomime Aladdin on Thursday 14th January. The whole school will be out for most
of the day following the successful trip last year to see Cinderella. It is a relaxed performance
suitable for our students to enjoy. The theatre group is the ones who did the pantomime last
year and came in during summer club in July to run a performance workshop.
The subject surgery evening for key stage 4 & 5 students is scheduled for Tuesday 2nd February
2016. Parents/Carers will get a letter to invite them at the start of the new term. A similar event
for key stage 3 students is scheduled later in the year on Wednesday 11th May 2016.
Parents are reminded about the next Parent Hub meeting on Wednesday 27th January, the
main focus of this session is around promoting language, communication and developing social
skills out of school. Our SaLT Consultant Dianne Kitching and the Wellbeing Team will be doing
a short presentation followed by a question and answer session. The following session on
Wednesday 16th March will be held at the Lighthouse Union store and will also be accessible to
our partnership school and links. We will have a presentation from National Citizen Service to
provide information on services they can offer. Alongside other details of leisure activities for
students.
We have recently celebrated with Laura Day one of our tutors who has started her maternity
leave and we welcome back Laura Trembath; one of our Wellbeing Tutors who returns to us
from maternity leave.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support this term and to wish all
students, families and friends of Lighthouse School a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas.
Kind regards
Louise Greatrex
Principal
Lighthouse School, Leeds
Arthington House, Hospital Lane, Cookridge, Leeds, LS16 6QB
: 0113 4570605 Email: admin@lighthouseschool.co.uk
www.lighthouseschool.co.uk
Lighthouse School is a Free School and Company Limited by Guarantee Company Number: 7591868