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: 03/11/2024

Parent's Newsletter May 22

Parent's Newsletter May 22

Date added: Friday 27th May 2022
Latest updated: Thursday 23rd February 2023

Dear Parents & Carers,

Re: Updates and key dates

Summer Fête – Following on from the hugely popular and successful Christmas Fete, we have decided to hold a summer themed version of this event.  As previously, there will be a wealth of stalls bringing you all the best seasonal gifts and craft items that local craftspeople have to offer.  You can also expect a range of food and beverages on sale, as well as the ever-popular raffle and a selection of games and other entertainment for children and family members of all abilities.

We will also have a ‘Preloved stall’ at this event with clothes, accessories, books, toys, bric-a-brac and more!  So, make sure you visit this stall too and grab yourself a bargain as all profits from this stall will go directly to Vranch House!

If you would like further information about this event or have something you wish to donate, please contact your child’s class teacher or head over to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VranchHouseSchool   

Unform ordering for Sept 2022 – school unform may be non-compulsory at Vranch House, but we know that many of our children (and their parents) prefer to have ‘school clothes’ that help reinforce routines and understanding of school-time versus holiday-time.  If you would like to order any Vranch House uniform items for September 2022, please contact Tracey Ward (at Reception) before the 17th June.  Tracey will be able to advise on uniform item costs and sizing guides.

Orchyd Holidays - ORCHYD is a registered charity which provides an annual residential holiday for children with disabilities. They aim to produce an unforgettable ten days each August for twenty children from around the UK.  The only ‘eligibility rules’ for applications are that the child must:

·         live within the UK

·         is between eight and twelve years of age

·         have a physical disability

·         be able to get transport to/from St Martins Church Hall, Ruislip between 4th and 13th August

If this is something of interest to you and your family, you can find further information and the online application form at:  http://www.orchyd.org.uk/10day_holiday.php

Secondary School Transition Open Event – Zoe Gilbert, Lead Techer for Secondary, has been working with the secondary team to produce a video production and parent/carer pack to showcase the highlights of pupil life in this next phase of education schooling at Vranch House. 

All parents and carers of pupils currently in Secondary, and all parents of pupils due to move-up to Secondary from September 2022, are invited to attend our first ‘Transition Event’ on Thursday 9th June, from 2pm in the main school hall.  At this event, Zoe will show the Transition video production and distribute Transition Packs to all those who attend.

This event will also provide an excellent opportunity to speak with members of the Secondary staff team and other parents and carers of existing secondary-age pupils, over a cup of tea or coffee.  If you would like to attend this event, please contact Zoe at: [email protected]

COVID update – We have experienced no further ‘pockets’ of COVID springing-up in the first half of this summer term.  There is also a local picture of reducing COVID infection and hospitalisation rates in the southwest. With these factors in mind, the Management Team have once again reviewed our COVID Risk Assessment and feel comfortable to reduce some of our infection control measures.

From the start of the second half of the summer term, Monday 6th June 2022, we will:

  • No longer be asking staff or visitors to wear face covering when in classrooms, the Hydrotherapy pool or outside areas. 
  •  Be re-introducing activities that require mixing of pupil groups across the school, such as ‘Play’ and ‘Peer Interaction’

As Vranch House buildings are also used by NHS Outpatients, we must conform to NHS guidelines and insist that:

  • Face covering must still be worn, by all adults on site, when moving around corridors, Reception and other clinical spaces.

FAMILY/CARERS/GUARDIANS NEEDED FOR RISK-FEEDING STUDY – Imogen Keen is a Masters student at UCL looking for family members, carers or guardians with experience of being involved in paediatric risk-feeding decisions and discussions with children under the age of 16.  Her research group are wanting to run a focus group on Zoom to establish what questions must be asked during risk-feeding discussions with families as best practice.

If you would like to take part, or know someone who may be willing to take part, please contact Imogen at [email protected]  with your, or their, contact details and they will send you some further participant information.

Other key dates for your diary

Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June (inclusive) - Half term – School closed to pupils

Saturday 9th July, 2.00 to 5.00pm – Summary Fête – Open to all!

Monday 6th June – Summer term, second half commence – Welcome back!

Thursday 9th June – Transition Event, from 2pm – for parents/carers of current Secondary pupils and parents/carers of all pupils moving up to Secondary in September 2022

On behalf of all at Vranch House, I wish you all an enjoyable half term and look forward to seeing you on Monday 6th June.

Yours sincerely

Ian Norton

Head of Education