Vranch House is a centre for the treatment of over 2,000 outpatients with physical difficulties, a provider of various therapies throughout Devon and an independent Day School in Exeter for children with significant physical difficulties.

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Last updated: 27/03/2024

Parent's Newsletter June 2013

Parent's Newsletter June 2013

Date added: Monday 8th July 2013
Latest updated: Thursday 23rd February 2023

As part of National Sports Week we held our annual Sports Day on Wednesday 26th June and it was a great success. Therapists and class staff worked extremely hard to plan and implement an action-packed day of games and activities. Thank you to all who helped on the day, especially the pupils and thank you to parents who were able to attend, it was so good to see you all!

Also this term eight of our pupils went on a residential visit to The Calvert Trust where they had a fantastic time. Our thanks go to Chloe Bond (Class Teacher) who was the driving force behind the plan and all the staff who went to support the pupils. Chloe also held a ‘Calvert Trust tea party on Friday 28th June to celebrate the success and share all the pictures and anecdotes.

On 22nd May we were visited by the Otters Wheelchair basketball team and everyone enjoyed this afternoon of fun and activities. We were impressed by their speed, agility and they were just really good fun! Thank you to them for visiting.

Our annual Whizz kidz Week will take place from 1st July, kindly organised by Clare Webber (OT). The children always enjoy this week as they have fun whilst learning valuable wheelchair skills.

As I write this newsletter filming is taking place for a short promotional film about the work of Vranch House School and Centre. Andrew Barge has organised this in order to promote Vranch House and raise important funds and general awareness of the work carried out here.

Many thanks to Moto in the Community who have kindly donated a range of reading scheme books and big books for the children to enjoy. These have been added to our collection in our updated library.

Our Achievement Awards will take place on Monday 15th July at 2pm and will conclude with a Prom party to say goodbye and celebrate the achievements of our seven leavers. Pupils are invited to come dressed in clothes of their choice for this event or parents are welcome to send in ‘smart clothes' for the children to change into after lunch. Everyone is welcome to attend and dressing up is entirely optional! If you plan to take your child home at the end of the event could you PLEASE inform transport of this to avoid buses, drivers and escorts arriving unnecessarily. Thank you.

We recently had an inspection visit by representatives of Devon County Council Education who will be sending a report shortly. The visit appeared to go well and the school received lots of positive feedback and helpful advice and information. Further details may follow in the last newsletter of the academic year, in July.

Thank you to those parents/guardians who completed the 2013 Parent Questionnaire the feedback from this is available to download below.

I am very pleased to be able to tell you that Vranch House School has, for the first time, been included in the Devon SEN Prospectus which was last published in 2009. Copies of the Prospectus can be found online by searching for SEN Prospectus Devon. At the moment we are awaiting publication of the 2013 version but it should be available in the near future. It would be interesting to hear if anyone has come across this prospectus before? Please let us know if you have seen one or been given one in the past. Thank you.

Thank you to Mel our ex-pupil and very valued volunteer who kindly presented our certificates and medals at the recent Sports Day and to Ingrid our OT student who has followed and supported our pupils wherever they have been during the past few months.
Thank you and Good Luck Ingrid!

We also extend thanks to Mark Westaway, the parent of an ex Vranch House pupil, who in August is undertaking a 10.5 mile Lake Windermere Breaststroke Challenge. Mark is undertaking this as a personal challenge whilst also hoping to raise funds for Vranch House. If you would like to know more about Mark's endeavour further details can be found on the notice board in the School's Reception area. Alternatively if you would like to sponsor Mark and are not able to get into school to sign his sponsor form please ring Beverley with your pledge and she will complete the form on your behalf.

For your information details of a One Day Workshop on Total Communication to be held on
the 9th September is linked below.

Jane Parsons
[email protected]

Links to download:

June newsletter

Parent's questionnaire 2013 results

Total Communication workshop