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.

Find out more...

Last updated: 18/03/2024

Parent's Newsletter - March 2021

Date added: Friday 12th March 2021
Latest updated: Thursday 23rd February 2023

To Parents and Carers of pupils at Vranch House

Dear Parents and Carers,

Re: Updates from the Head of Education

Social Media and Vranch House

Despite my best efforts to keep abreast of technology and social trends, I am almost completely in-the-dark when it comes to the world of ‘social media'!  Thankfully, two of our teachers: Chloe and Chelsea are on the case and have breathed new life into the digital presence of Vranch House.   If you would like to all the latest news updates in-between my ‘old-school' HoE newsletters, you can ‘follow' us on the following social media platforms:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VranchHouseSchool

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VranchHouse

Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/vranchhouse/

I know Chloe and Chelsea are working hard on uploading new and interesting content as often as they can to these sites, so please do look us up and ‘follow', ‘share' and enjoy interacting with Vranch House in a whole new way.

 

Medical kit rolls

A Grandparent of one of our Outpatients/Former pupils, Caz Denning, has contacted our Vranch House Nursing team saying she would like to offer syringe holders/medical tool rolls to parents at Vranch House who have children that are gastrostomy fed.  She would like Vranch House to take orders initially and contact her directly with these requests.  Caz has an Etsy account selling these but DOES NOT WANT PAYMENT at all; she would, very generously, like to donate these rolls to our children.  Our Nurses have thanked her and suggested we include the pictures, below, in this newsletter to give you some idea of what she is offering

These are waterproof, machine washable and have space for a number of different syringe types as well as a larger pouch for feeding tubes.

Can any interested parents and carers please put a note in your child's home-school diary stating preferred colour, by no later than Friday 19th May 2021.   We will then pass a bulk request to Caz and she will very kindly make-up two rolls per family.

 

COVID - 19 Testing updates

In line with guidance from the Department for Education (DfE), we have increased asymptomatic lateral flow device (LFD) testing to two twice-weekly for all staff.  Vranch House has extended the use of our LFD testing site to include the Multi-Sensory Impairment Workers (MSWs) and the DCC Transport drivers and escorts of our pupils.  This has been a significant undertaking and I am pleased to report that there have, to date, been no ‘positive' tests among the 98 adults we now test each week.

As parents and carers of clinically vulnerable children and young people, you can apply for free ‘Home-Test Kits' that are similar to our LFD testing equipment.  They are simple to self-administer and log the results on the GOV.UK website.  If you would like to order a Home-Test kit just go to:

https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

and click on the Start now button under ‘Order rapid lateral flow home test kits'.

 

Vranch House Minibus-o-meter!

In these socially-distanced and strained times, I know many of you who will not have passed through our Reception area recently.  With this in mind, I thought I would send you a picture of the ‘Bus-o-meter' that displays our fundraising journey towards a new minibus for use by all our pupils.

 

With amazingly kind donations from parents, local businesses and individuals undertaking various athletic feats in the name of Vranch House, we have already raised an encouraging £4,700.  A huge THANK YOU! to all those who have helped us so far to reach this fantastic current total.

 

Dates for your diary:

Friday 19th March 2021 - Red Nose Day for Comic Relief - Vranch House will not be holding separate fund raising events for Comic Relief this year as we are already embarking on a number of fundraising projects.  If your child would like to wear their Red Nose or a Red Nose Day t-shirt then please do.

Thursday 1st April to Fri 16th April 2021 - Easter Holiday - the school will be closed to all pupils between these dates.

14th May 2021 - 50 Years of Vranch House School - we hope to celebrate this golden anniversary of education provision at Vranch House in style, though this will very much depend on how far the COVID - 19 Lockdown restrictions have been eased by this point and a review of risk to pupils and adults nearer the time.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school a safe place to be and I sincerely hope that you are all staying safe and well.  As ever, please do get in touch with any questions, queries or concerns you may have.

Yours faithfully

 

Ian Norton

Head of Education