Dear Parents and Carers,
It was lovely to see so many of you at Parents evening this week and to share with you the learning and the progress the children are making. It has also been great to start meeting the parents of pupils who joined Palatine this year at annual reviews and to be able to talk through in more detail how the children have settled into school and the targets they are working towards. The children have got back into the routine of school well after the holidays despite all the rain! I really enjoyed a conversation with some of our older pupils about their topic and it was lovely to hear how interested they are in it and to hear them confidently ask related and relevant questions about the topic in the lunch hall rather than in a teaching situation. A number of other children have made progress in their communication too; interacting with less familiar adults or increasing their range of vocalisations or in using symbols and signs to communicate with those around them. Some have also started to say words or talk in longer phrases than previously. Children in the Engineers Hub really enjoyed their visit to space this week too (in the hall in the space dome). Lots of good phonics learning has taken place including one pupil who worked hard to correctly spell ‘acorn’ and another who wrote 3 CVC words. Some pupils have shown increased focus with one of our younger pupils working for 10 minutes whilst creating his collaged turtle shell. Another engaged really well with ‘What’s in the Box?’ Another class had a great sensory session focussing on making clouds in different media. They especially enjoyed the bubble clouds that they made in the foot spas. In technology one pupil used a keyboard to play a game and pressed the space bar to make the character jump. Some of our pupils have been learning about the different body parts of sea creatures this week and one correctly labelled three different animals and was able to tell me that an Octopus has suckers. One of our pupils accepted having a shower and having their hair shampooed after a very muddy forest school session! Finally our head boy and head girl helped to create a training video for staff on the pupil leadership team. They spoke really clearly and did a great job!
Fireworks can be great fun for families, not just around November 5th (Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes Night), but also Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year.
However, despite annual safety warnings, firework celebrations still end in painful injuries for too many people, including very young children. Injury figures support the advice that the safest place to enjoy fireworks is at a large public display but if you will be having a firework party at home, you can make the occasion fun and safe for everyone by following the Child Accident Prevention Trust guidance and remembering the following;
- It is against the law to carry fireworks in public if you’re under 18
- Fireworks must not be sold to anyone who is under 18
- It is an offence to let fireworks off during night hours (11pm to 7am), except on Bonfire Night (midnight), Diwali, New Year’s Eve, and Chinese New Year (1am). It is an offence to set off or throw fireworks in the street or other public place. It is an offence to tamper with or modify fireworks
- Only buy fireworks that are CE marked and BS-EN 15947-2015 safety standard. Take care buying from online marketplaces. Remember, online marketplaces are not responsible for the safety of the products they sell.
- Keep your fireworks in a closed box, and use them one at a time
- Light the firework at arm’s length with a taper and stand well back
- Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks
- Never return to a firework once it has been lit
- Don’t put fireworks in pockets and never throw them
- Direct any rocket fireworks well away from spectators
- Make sure that the fire is out and surroundings are made safe before leaving.
Firework categories
All fireworks on sale to the public have to be extensively tested and classified as either Category F2 or F3. These classifications also impose a noise limit, outline how much space should be given when using them, and ensure the firework has a safety fuse and clear instructions on the label.
- Category F1refers to fireworks which pose a minimal hazard and this classification is usually given to indoor fireworks
- Category F2items (sometimes known as garden fireworks) require the smallest distance, which is eight metres or 15 metres
- Category F3items (sometimes known as display fireworks) require the greatest distance which is at least 25 metres.
- Category F4fireworks (sometimes known as industrial fireworks) are for professional use only at organised displays. Many category F4 fireworks are supplied without a fuse and are extremely dangerous to the untrained. If you are not a licensed professional and you are offered Category F4 fireworks, these are being sold to you illegally.
Sparkler safety
Sparklers are often viewed as being harmless but they burn at fierce temperatures, equivalent to a welding torch or five times hotter than cooking oil. Follow these top tips for sparkler safety:
- Never give a sparkler to under-5s
- Make sure everyone handling sparklers wears gloves
- Hold sparklers at arm’s length while being lit and light them one at a time
- Don’t wave sparklers about close to other people
- Never hold a baby in your arms while you are holding a sparkler
- When the sparkler has finished put it in a bucket of cold water.
Should the worst happen and someone gets into difficulty and clothing catches fire – STOP, DROP to the ground and cover face with hands and ROLL. Call for help – 999
Attendance Focus
For the week leading up to half term, the classes with the best attendance were;
- Explorers hub – Llama class
- Investigators hub – Gecko class
- Engineers hub – Owl class
Classes with 100% – Polar Bear class
Diet & Nutrition Workshop
On Monday 21 November, 1pm – 2.30pm, our Family Liaison Officer, Kaarina, we will be holding a diet and nutrition workshop for parents/carers. Kaarina will be joined by specialist paediatric dietician, Molly Brennan and special school nurse, Nicola Clist who will be on hand with expert advice. We know of the challenges some families face when it comes to meal times and diet, so they will hope to offer some top tips and suggestions and answer any questions you may have. We hope to run this workshop in person but depending on numbers and the level of interest, we may extend this to Zoom as well. Therefore, please could you let Kaarina know as soon as possible if you would like to attend the workshop and your preference for in person or virtual. Email Kaarina at kdougherty@palatineschool.org
Don’t forget the Warm Space Hub
With the clocks having changed and colder weather coming, the Warm Space Hub starts on Tuesday 8 November from 4pm – 8.30pm running weekly though until 28 March during term time.
With rising energy prices, financial hardship is very real for many as the cost-of-living soars and it is with this in mind that the Warm Space Hub wants to reach out to families that maybe feeling the ‘pinch.’
Based out of the Old Palace, Glebe Road, Worthing, BN14 7PF, the Warm Space Hub is open to families with children aged 0 to age 10/11 (year 6). Children will be given a free hot meal and a drink and parents will be offered tea/coffee, soup and bread (free). There will not be internet access but there will be activities to keep children entertained and there will be a TV and DVD! This is not a child care provision, and children must be accompanied by an adult but it somewhere warm and safe that families can access once a week.
There is no cost and families do not have to commit to going every week. The venue is able to hold a considerable number of people, however, they do need to know in advance if you/your family will be attending and also details of any allergies for catering purposes. Please let Kaarina know by email (kdougherty@palatineschool.org), phone or in person; if you are interested in accessing the Warm Space Hub with the date, number of adults & children and any allergies.
Help for Households – find out what support is available to help with the cost of living, including income, benefits, bills, allowances and childcare. Click here.
(https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/housing-support/)
Parking
Whilst the building work continues, parking remains extremely limited around school.
We have had to limit parking in school to those with a parking permit in order to keep the car park as safe as possible for all children, including those getting off school buses. Permits have been issued to our families of pupils who have the most complex needs (medical or behavioural).
We appreciate your support at this time with many of you parking on residential streets to bring your children to school. Please can we ask for your continued forbearance and to please be mindful of parking laws when parking on local roads. Please do not park across residents’ driveways preventing them from getting out and please do not park on road corners which is potentially dangerous and could lead to a nasty accident. We also ask that we all treat our neighbours with respect and kindness.
Thank you very much for your understanding.
Have a lovely weekend!
Very best wishes,
Catriona