School Newsletter - February 2016

Tel: 0121 707 3012
Reynalds Cross School, Kineton Green Road
HALF TERM
February 2016
HEADTEACHER’S MESSAGE
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends
January has been and gone and since I wrote last time two members of staff have given birth.
Amy Patrick from (L1) has had a lovely baby boy called James and Jess Court (U1) has had a
gorgeous baby girl named Ameera. Both are well and enjoying motherhood. Hannah Baker has
now returned to school following her maternity leave and being at home with Iris. Hannah has
joined the team in Lower School.
Within school, the two Site Managers, Paul and Jason have now become confident in the pool
administration. However, at the same time, some important parts have finally given up the ghost
so we need to have these repaired. Most of the time, the pool is still able to be used, but if there
is any risk, the pupils do not use the pool – this can be a last minute decision so please bear with
us.
There have been several PE events for Upper School this half-term and I have been so proud of
the behaviour and motivation of the pupils – they give their all. This is consistent with the attitude
in choir and all activities where the pupils represent the school. A visit from the CBSO musicians
reinforced this and all the pupils stayed focused for the musical production for a long period.
(look out for the CBSO article on page 12).
For you as parents, having the right professionals around you is so important. Within the Local
Authority there have been so many recent changes of personnel within the services. However,
there is now a service called Solihull Early Help which offers lots of opportunities – we have
invited them to join us at our Interim Parents Evening on Tuesday 1 st March.
The school has now become part of the Hazel Oak teaching alliance – this alliance enables the
special schools to help develop skills of others to work as outstanding staff in the future.
It was National Internet Day this week and as staff, we are very aware of the dangers of social
networking sites such as Whatsapp and Facebook. The pupils and staff have worked on phrases
to keep each other safe regarding internet usage – here are just a few:“Stay Safe”
“Always treat others how you like to be treated yourself”
“If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing”
“Be yourself, be confident”
Lovely examples we are very aware of the power of the internet; we all try and incorporate this
into our curriculum delivery, dependent upon the youngsters’ needs.
Tel: 0121 707 3012
Reynalds Cross School, Kineton Green Road
HALF TERM
February 2016
HEADTEACHER’S MESSAGE CONTINUED…
Quick reminder: if we have any snow you will be able to find out if the school is closed from the
following radio channels and websites:
Free Radio
Broadcasting times- 24 broadcasting
Channel- 96.4 FM
Website- www.freeradio.co.uk
Heart FM
Broadcasting times- 24 broadcasting
Channel- 100.7 FM
Website- www.heartfm.co.uk
Reynalds Cross School
www.reynalds-cross.solihull.sch.uk
(Please check tweets)
SMBC www.solihull.gov.uk
(please check the above sites first as there is
usually a delay on this one)
PLEASE ALSO NOTE
that if your child receives home to school transport, these companies may decide (after
performing their own risk assessments) that it would be unsafe for them to transport your son/
daughter even though school may be open. Again, please check the school website (Tweet
feed) in such circumstances. It is however, your transporter’s responsibility to inform you of their
decision.
Finally we have had a large amount of flyers and advertisements come through to us so look out
for these on our school website: www.reynalds-cross.solihull.sch.uk
I hope you have a lovely half term and see you next term!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2015-16
FULL TERMS AND HOLIDAY DATES FOR 2015-16 ATTACHED
February
Fri 12th
TRAINING DAY– school CLOSED to pupils
Mon 15th – Fri 19th HALF TERM– school CLOSED to pupils
Mon 22nd
PUPILS BACK TO SCHOOL
March
Tues 2nd
Wed 23rd
INTERIM PARENTS EVENING 3.45-6PM
END OF TERM– school CLOSED to pupils
April
Mon 11th
SUMMER TERM- PUPILS BACK TO SCHOOL
ALL DATES ALSO ON SCHOOL
WEBSITE CALENDAR—DOUBLE
CLICK ON EVENTS TO EXPAND
INFO.
School Site – Parking and dropping off
We are in the process of re-evaluating/designing our parking arrangements at
school, for the busy times when transport are dropping off and
collecting. Can we request that any parents that use the car park for either
dropping off/picking up or visiting, note the new signs that have been
erected, making the traffic island one way. To exit or enter, please use the
island and do not make U-turns. Please also adhere to the speed limit (5mph)
at all times. There will be a member of the Site team outside on duty during
these busy times.
Thank You
Special School Nursing Team – Reynalds Cross School
Debbie Stollery– Children's Nurse
Sarah Kirk– Community Children's Nurse
Maureen Bartlett– School Nurse assistant
If you need to send medication to the School Nursing Team, you must either hand
it to your child’s escort or notify them that your child's bag contains medication.
Please also write a note in the home school diary.
If it is a ‘controlled drug’ you must bring it into school in person. I am sure you will
appreciate that this is for the safety of all our pupils.
You can contact the team on 0121 706 9108– 8.30am– 4.30pm
Key developments within PE at
Reynalds Cross School
We are continuing to support the development of PE skills across school through the
use of the PE Sports Development Grant. This includes Dance and Bike Coaching
and additional resources for PE and Swimming.
This term we are using the "Change for Life" Programme to support physical activity
across school in and out of lessons (including lunchtime and after school clubs). This
is particularly for our less active pupils with a view to improving overall health and
well- being.
So watch this space for more news of exciting curriculum and extra-curricular
activities currently in the pipe line.
On15th January, 21 students in years 7-13 from Red Class, Orange Class, U1 and
Purple attended a Sports Inclusion event for wheelchair basketball and table
tennis at Langley Secondary School. The students and staff had a fantastic
morning and it was a great opportunity to experience new sports and receive some
coaching from the experts. As always, our students were enthusiastic and made us
very proud!
After the event, the organisers selected 10 students to move onto a more
competitive event The School Sports Games on28th January at North Solihull
Sports Centre.
Even the staff enjoyed it!!
Wheelchair basketball
L1- MOONBEAMS
We have been keeping fit and healthy this term!
I enjoy running around
and climbing in soft play
I am learning to swim
with less support
I can walk around the
swimming pool as part
of my physiotherapy
I can climb over and
under the equipment
during my PE lessons
I can stand in my standing
frame for up to an hour
I can work on my
own in a PE lesson
I can briefly interact
with an adult in the
pool
I can be independent
in the water
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Lower School Pupils have been learning about people who help us
in the community both at school and at home. The children had a
special visit by two police officers this term! Pupils learnt about
how the police help us and how to keep safe. The children also
had the opportunity of asking the police officers questions.
The police officers then gave pupils a special treat – they were
allowed to sit in the police car and on the police motorbike!
Advertise your unwanted items/services here in return for
a donation to school.
Enquiries and insertions should be addressed to Paige at:
[email protected].
TOUGH FURNITURE SINGLE BED + MATTRESS

as new—slight mark on headboard (unwanted)

Colour: Light pine wood

Double reinforced

Moulded tray

Foam mattress included (if wanted)

This bed has a long track record of high performance in challenging behaviour
environments, such as accommodation for those with emotional and behavioural
difficulties, learning disabilities or autism.

Cost £430 new

Accepting any offers near £200
ENQUIRIES VIA CLAIRE BENDELL–
Mob: 07590751930.
Disclaimer: any advertisements or For Sale items in this Newsletter are the responsibility
of the private individual or company that placed the advertisement or offered the item.
All enquiries must be made directly with the seller/provider of items or services and not
the School.
Communication
A Talkabout group, based on the model from Alex Kelly, started in
September 2015 for a small number of pupils in Lower and Upper school.
The focus is on social skills to include self awareness and self esteem, body
language, the way we talk, conversation and assertiveness. All pupils have
shown progress which is fantastic and groups will continue to run for the
full academic year.
In addition, the communication team have been busy training staff on using a
signing app, “My Choice”, created by Insance Logic that enables staff and
pupils to instantly bring up Makaton signs during lessons. A fantastic tool to
keep Makaton signing accessible to all.
The Communication Team: Shauna Delaney—Specialist Speech and Language
Therapist and Dawn Rutherford—Communication Assistant
Reynalds Cross School Council
School Council recently gave out a questionnaire to pupils and staff asking for views about
our whole school assembly which recently moved from Friday morning to Friday afternoon.
Questions were designed by School Council members Brad Hannon, George Tootell,
Hayden Newood and Rachel Spencer, then produced these using the Communication-inPrint software program of words and Makaton symbols.
Communication in Print can help pupils develop reading skills by supporting more
independent recognition of words. Council members decided this was the best way to
display questions. Some of our older pupils have been able to read and complete the
questionnaire themselves, whilst others have been supported by staff to participate if
appropriate.
Here is an example of what one of the questions looks like using Communication-in-Print
software.
Hayden, Brad, George and Rachel
thinking of ideas for the questionnaire
ASDAN Accreditation in 14-19
Stage
ASDAN Qualifications for age 14-19 Sudents
Students in our age 14 – 19 Foundation Learning stage (Year 10 – 14) work towards
ASDAN qualifications. Work is undertaken in units, designed to demonstrate
developing skills whilst gaining credits within the national Qualifications and Credit
Framework (QCF).
How ASDAN Accreditation works
Students’ work is assessed and moderated at school by staff with ASDAN standards
training. A proportion of this work is then selected each year by ASDAN who scrutinise
work and verify our assessments; if successful certificates are issued to the students.
What we are doing this school year - Literacy
Our literacy unit this year is Personal Progress : Providing Personal Information.
Students are learning and practising to communicate personal information using their
own preferred method of communication, particularly important as our students prepare
for the future. Towards the end of the year, individual work is assessed within ten
different achievement levels, meaning students achieve success at their own particular
competency level- much like the grading of course work in other educational settings.
Within Providing Personal Information, there is scope for students to become
experienced with a variety of different skills. For instance, some student may focus on
recognising and responding to their name, often with the help of different
communication aids and sometimes songs; others go on to more complex activities such
as practicing what information is appropriate to give on the telephone, include in job
application forms and discuss with others in a variety of situations. The level of
achievement a student reaches for each unit is shown with their ASDAN certificates.
Callum shows skills in recognising his photo and name
on the smart board before using his electronic talker to
communicate with his teacher.
James practises giving personal
information in reception desk role
play, before progressing to practise
filling in an application form.
News from our choir
We welcomed all our choir members back after the Christmas
break and started learning some new songs.
We were invited to return to Solihull Methodist Church to sing for
them and to receive a cheque for over £900 – wow an amazing
amount of money. A huge thank you to them for all their fund
raising efforts.
As usual, all members sang their hearts out to some of their
favourite songs – well done everybody!!!
Joy, Jane, Kim and Mrs Davenport
Drama by the Open Theatre
A big thank you to Richard Hayhow from ‘Open Theatre’ for coming in to give
us a free taster of his fantastic drama sessions. We danced, we wore hats,
we laughed and we played.
FORCS NEWS
WANTED – TREASURER FOR FRIENDS OF REYNALDS CROSS SCHOOL
I will be standing down at the end of this year and so FORCS is now asking for a volunteer to
come forward to take on this role from October. It is not a time-consuming role but you will
need to be able to attend FORCS meetings which take place usually about twice per term
(currently always on Monday evenings, 7 to 8pm). The main job is to produce a report on the
money in and outs for those meetings. So the role involve’s keeping a record of monies
coming in and going out and checking this regularly against the bank statements. It will also
help if you are able to call into school every now and again to collect cash and cheques and to
liaise with Sally in the office. Having easy access to a Lloyds bank for banking will also help.
Please contact me on 07973 523422 if you think you can help and I can provide you with more
information.
Laura Snook
Treasurer– FORCS
Forthcoming sessions– save the date!
Information from SoLO regarding the
Personal Assistant (PA) service they
offer. Information flyer to follow.
Tuesday 8th March 7-8pm
OR
Friday 11th March 9:30-10:30am
(to be confirmed)
Also, look out for our Easter Fun Day flyer
next half term –
information to follow.
Our theme this term is friendship and we have been reading “All
Join In” by Quentin Blake. We have had fun playing instruments
and joining in with our friends to make a LOT of noise in the
classroom!
This term we have been working very hard on our Independence. We have
been using our kitchen area to make some different snacks including beans
on toast, toast with different toppings, noodles and cornflake cakes. Yum
Yum!
Pupils have made lots of progress with their cooking skills and love getting
to eat the food afterwards, there’s just one problem … no one likes doing
the washing up!!
14-19 News from Red Class
Red Class have been working hard on their Asdan Qualifications this term.
They have also started at South and City College- Birmingham, where they are
currently studying Horticulture. So far there have been a few people saying how
cold it has been in the big shed structures!
Several members in Red Class took part in a Sports Event held at Langley Senior
School to try out Table Tennis and Wheelchair Basketball. Following this, some of
our pupils were successful in being chosen to take part in a competition at the
North Solihull Sports Centre.
Red Class have also been working very hard during their Work Experience in
partnership with Touchwood Shopping Centre. They have undertaken jobs such as
delivering Memos on behalf of Touchwood. For this, the pupils had to ask for the
Manager and then ask them to sign to say they had received it. Some pupils also
had the task of destroying all the unused Birthday Voucher cards by using a
shredder. They managed to destroy a very impressive 3,000 cards. WELL DONE!
The pupils are looking forward to their half term break and will be refreshed and
ready to take on the next half term to lead us into Easter.
14-19 News continued…
Orange Class
Active Mondays
Swimming in the morning (when/where possible) and hockey in the afternoon
– phew...this is in addition to our dance/exercise session every morning. We
have been keeping fit and healthy this term!
Sports Inclusion Day at Langley Senior School
Some of our students took part in a sports event at Langley Senior School
for the morning – there was wheelchair basketball & table tennis on offer.
They all enjoyed an active, action packed and fun morning!
Well done to Madison
Severn for her medal
in wheelchair
14-19 News continued…
Orange Class
Science on a Wednesday
In our Science lessons we have been focusing on ‘what ingredients will pass
through a sieve and what ingredients will dissolve?’.
College: Horticulture and Carpentry
Orange Class have been working very hard and getting stuck in at College,
focussing on Horticulture and Carpentry.
We hope you have a lovely half term,
Orange class team: Mrs Patterson, Mrs Childs, Joy, Nicky & Nicola.
Tuesday Enrichment Options Afternoon
Once again our options afternoons began with a “choices” session There are
several new sessions to choose from:
Sensory Musical Instrument Making
So far the group have made a tambourine and a kazoo and enjoyed the different sounds they
made.
Bhangra Burnoff
Some of our students enjoyed this session at the Sports Active day last year, so We invited
him in for our Tuesday afternoon option sessions.
It’s a very high energy session……….
Glass painting
The group have been painting various bottles and jars; they look great and there has been
some very careful painting.
Food Technology & Modern Foreign Language – making dips
The group have been making different dips and discussing which country they
would be eaten in.
Salsa
Guacamole
Hummous
Messy Art
So far the group have made gloop, yogurt edible paint and used cling film for
resistance paint, all exceedingly messy but great fun!
Sensory Music
Sophie once again offered her “musical talent” to the group, so a big thank you
to her.
If you have a skill you would like to share – please get in touch… I would particularly like to
hear from people who can teach some dance – line dancing, country dancing etc……I would
love to hear from you so please get in touch.
Thanks, Joy Grayson
CBSO CONCERT
We had a brilliant time with the CBSO this term. The ‘Little Big Time Band’ blew
our socks off with classics such as Thunderbirds, Flight of the Bumblebee, The
Simpsons and The Can Can. We heard a hose trumpet and milk bottles and pupils
all joined in at the end.
A big thank you to FORCS for making this possible.
Tanya Cronin- London Marathon 2016
One of our parents, Tanya Cronin, is running the London Marathon in April for the National
Autistic Society, inspired by her children Charlie and Emily.
Charlie was diagnosed with ASD when he was 18 months old, however when Emily was also
diagnosed last summer Tanya decided she was going to run a marathon in aid of NAS!
“I had never done any running before but I wanted to give something back to the NAS so
they can continue to raise awareness and support families like ours. I must admit I didn’t
think I would actually get a place but there is no turning back now and I’m really enjoying
the training!”
Charlie (4) is doing really well in Sunshine’s class at Reynalds Cross
School, Emily (6) also started in Sunshine’s at Reynalds Cross however
has now moved to Hazeloak school.
Tanya Cronin has a fundraising page at www.everydayhero.com/uk/
If anyone would like to support her- Any small donation would be very
much appreciated, thank you.
SMBC Special Educational Needs Survey
Solihull Council is currently reviewing the information, advice and support service that is
available for children and young people with a special educational need and/or disability, and
their parents. We would like to ensure that the views of people who might use this service
informs this process.
If you are the parent or carer of a child or young person with a special educational need and/
or disability, we would be most grateful if you could complete our short survey, which can be
accessed via this website https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/
SMBCSENDIASS
The consultation ends on Wednesday 24th February 2016.
The House Garden
Behind Reynalds Cross and Helen Kellar houses is a secluded garden.
For the past 12 months I have been looking after it, with help and
support from Zoe King and Laura Snook.
N Power employees spent a day tidying and painting fences and Solihull
Lions have been really generous in providing nest boxes, apple trees and
planters which students from Newland Bishop Farm helped to install.
Reynalds Cross pupils have also helped by planting and harvesting the
fruit and vegetables or in supervising the grown-ups to do it.
In the past week Country Lane Landscapes have been on site relaying
the path making it suitable for wheelchairs. They are also installing
ground guard matting and putting in a trellis fence to provide a view of
the pond and wild area behind. This work has been kindly funded by
Solihull Lions and FORCS.
As spring approaches, the garden will once again come to life. If you are
able to donate any spare plants, a bird table or garden furniture/
ornaments, it would be much appreciated. Please contact Paige on
Reception to arrange a convenient time to bring these items to school.
Peter Carbin
Parent of ex– Reynalds Cross student