& News from Elmwood & Penrose Federation / October 2017

Term 1 - 6th September - 20th October Term 2 - 30th October - 21st December

Term 3 - 8th January 2018 - 9th February 2018 Term 4 - 19th February - 23rd March

Term 5 - 9th April - 25th May Term 6 - 4th June - 24th July

Please remember that term time holiday will not be authorised unless there are exceptional

circumstances. Attendance at school is very important for progress and development.

Penrose News Elmwood News Jean Rees News

Elmwood School/OFSTED Parent Review We need your views to help us improve. Please feel free to go to the

following website, log in and answer the questions for the school your child

or young person attends:

https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/give-your-views

Dear Readers

It seems a long time since the long hot sunny summer days. Autumn is certainly

here! The leaves are now falling from the trees and the days are getting shorter.

We have had a good start to the new school year, we welcome our new learners

at both Penrose and Elmwood Schools and hope that they are settling in well.

We have had a number of new staff begin with us this year, we all welcome you to the Federation

and hope you have had a good start to your time with us.

I am pleased to announce safe arrivals of 3 babies to members of staff who are currently on

maternity leave, Charlie Ennals is pleased to announce the safe arrival of Monty, Sammi Griffin has

shared the news of baby Faith's arrival and Kyomi Chilcott has announced the safe arrival of

Alannah. All mums and babies are doing well and we all wish them well.

Teachers have been busy implementing a revised curriculum since our return in September, focusing

on Maths and English each morning. Learners have settled back to school well and are enjoying a

range of learning activities including fishing, Somerset Rural Youth Project, Horse riding, swimming

and hydrotherapy and Year 10 and 11 have started their link course at Bridgwater and Taunton

College. We have 3 Enrichment Weeks planned throughout the year, the first one will be the week

after October half term where learners will focus on Science and Technology for the week, exploring

a range of activities and culminating in a celebration of their learning.

We have welcomed Gemma from the NSPCC already this term who has launched our 'Keeping

Safe' campaign, teaching learners about keeping themselves safe from abuse. Learners have

enjoyed meeting Buddy - the NSPCC speech mark, watching video clips and completing activities

around personal safety. Gemma will be back later in the year to complete some more work with us

at school. We have been very proud of our learners during Gemma's visits, asking questions and

engaging in the different activities with confidence.

This term we see the launch of our Junior Leadership Team, learners were invited to apply in the

summer term and then invited to an interview with myself and Vicki (Assistant Head Teacher). They

are keen to meet as a team and I am already aware that the uniform is on the agenda for

discussion at their first meeting. I am looking forward to reading about their work in the next

Newsletter.

Please can I remind you about requests for term time leave, unless there are exceptional

circumstances I am unable to authorise these requests, this is in-line with the National and Local

Guidance. We work very closely with the Education Welfare Officer around attendance and we

know that when learners have good attendance at school they make good progress in their

learning.

We are currently looking for a Parent Governor. If you are interested in finding out more about the

role, please contact Nicola Almond (Clerk to the Governors) at Penrose School.

I look forward to seeing you all over the next few weeks, look out for the dates of Stay and Play at

Penrose and Coffee Mornings at Elmwood and The Jean Rees Centre. A letter about Parents

Evening will be coming home soon too.

Helen Farnell

Executive Head Teacher

www.elmwood-penrose-jeanrees.org.uk

INSET Days

Term 3 - Monday 8th January 2018 Term 4 - Friday 2nd March 2018

Term 6 - Monday 4th June 2018 Term 6 - Monday 23rd July 2018

Term 6 - Tuesday 24th July 2018

Inset days give our staff opportunities to access high quality training which supports and

improves teaching and learning for all learners.

Provisional Term Dates 2017/2018

Online Safety - Web, App and Game Profiles Content from Somerset County Council Elim Team www.somersetelim.org

Childnet has published useful advice on key things to remember when helping your child set

up a new profile on a website or game.

Use a family email address

Consider username carefully, avoiding both full names and first

names

Create a secure password

Choose an avatar for the profile picture

Read the Childnet blog for further guidance about each of these: http://www.childnet.com/blog/key-things-to-remember-when-helping-your-child-set-up-a-new-profile

Try using an

avatar maker

like Blue Robot

& News from Elmwood & Penrose Federation / October 2017 & News from Elmwood & Penrose Federation / October 2017

& More News

KS4 OCR Performance Group Theatre Trip Bridgwater Fair

On Wednesday 27th September, Caterpillar class had a lovely time

exploring Bridgwater Fair just before it opened. We all really enjoyed

looking at the rides, stalls and prizes on offer. The pupils

took turns to use the cameras and take photos and

got some great results as you can see. We loved

looking at the horses and were excited to see a horse

and carriage trotting up and down through the crowds. We finished off by

buying freshly cooked Welsh cakes and took them back to school for a

delicious treat!

On Thursday the 21st October , KS4 students studying the OCR performance module were

given the amazing opportunity to attend an Olivier Award-winning dance production by

internationally acclaimed choreographer and dancer Akram Khan.

The show, ‘Chotto Desh’, Bengali for ‘small homeland’, took place at the Brewhouse

Theatre in Taunton. It brought together classical Indian Kathak, ballet and contemporary

dance movements to tell a playful story of a boy who dreams of becoming a dancer. The

show weaved together tales within tales of a son who rebels against the wishes of his

father, and of a mythical child who angers the forest gods by collecting their forbidden

honey. It featured dream-like animations of elephants, crocodiles and swirling clouds of

butterflies, as well as a hypnotic musical score composed by Jocelyn Pook. Chotto Desh

used movement storytelling to explore ideas of homeland and identity, relationships with

our parents and our need to forge an individual path through life.

Following the performance students were given a unique opportunity to have a question

and answer time with the performers and director. They found out all sorts of fascinating

things like how the visual effects were achieved, what the show rehearsal process was and

how many people were involved in the production team. They also asked the dancers

some more personal questions like, who or what inspired them, how dancing made them

feel and where they see themselves in the future.

It was a truly inspiring day and the performance was simply stunning to watch. Students

came away enthused and excited about what they had seen.

Busy, Busy, Busy

In Warhol we have been busy, busy, busy ! With lots of new activities

and learning adventures.

Along with maths and English we have also

introduced exciting projects such as enterprise,

gardening, design and technology, physical

education, fishing and work experiences.

We have enjoyed assemblies at Elmwood – The NSPCC talk on SPEAK OUT,

STAY SAFE, and Boys’ Group with Dy.

We have experienced new adventures at Chilton and

the allotments, providing us with team building skills,

alongside swimming, gardening and fishing, we are getting more

active in the community. As we said, WARHOL has been so busy !!!

Thank You

A huge thank you to the students and staff at The Jean Rees Centre who provided lunch for

Parent Carers attending the Emotion Coaching Workshop held at Penrose School.

Parents attending fed back that the lunch was 5*, amazing with so much lovely food – A

very well done to all involved!

This half term Jean Rees centre have been using Chilton Trinity school sport hall for PE

lesson. I really like PE because it is good exercise we have been doing personal fitness and

circuits. Using the sports hall is different. It is a bigger space to exercise in.

By Josh Carver Year 13

JRC using Chilton Sports Hall for PE

JRC Allotment Group

Students from the Jean Rees Centre donned their

garden overalls, logoed to go and really looked the part.

The Federation allotment had been completely

overgrown since the Summer holidays, so students worked a

whole morning, weeding ,digging, pruning and clearing, to

get it back to a tidy state.

Photos are before and after, showing how amazing

the students were at working as a team. Group shot,

after a hard mornings efforts.

& News from Elmwood & Penrose Federation / July 2017

Visit to Supermarket

NSPCC Assembly

& News from Elmwood & Penrose Federation / July 2017

In September we had Gemma from the NSPCC

visit all of our learners, across the Federation.

Gemma presented assemblies in Bumblebee

and Caterpillar classes at Penrose, as well as

for all the students at Elmwood and The Jean

Rees Centre.

Learners are now working through either the PANTS or 'Stay Safe Speak

Out' Programme. The sessions were excellent and very engaging;

learners met 'Buddy" where the focus is about speaking out to trusted

adults such as parents, carers, grandparents, teachers etc.

Gemma returned a week later to visit the groups working through the

programme and commented "it was a brilliant session, students

recapped everything they learnt in the assembly and I was very

impressed!"

Learners have been working on emotions using physical props and worked on what the

emotion 'worried' looks and feels like, as well as drawing their own faces using mirrors and

iPads. They also decorated their own Buddy and spoke about trusted adults. If Parent

Carers would like any more information, they can visit NSPCC’s website www.nspcc.org.uk

Somerset Rural Youth Project

Learning Resource Centre

Important Notice

As from Monday 9th October 2017

Elmwood LSC will open at the following times

Mondays – Closed

Tuesdays – 9am – 5pm

Wednesday – 9am – Midday

Thursdays - by appointment only

Fridays 10am – 2pm

Contact Tel 01278 411211

Jhumphries@educ.somerset.gov.uk

Remember if you are a member of Resources 4 Learning we can arrange drop off and

collection.

You can call or email for this to be arranged

Some members of Ladybird class visited the

supermarket to support learning in Literacy,

Numeracy and Community Engagement.

The pupils all behaved excellently, did some

great communicating and teamwork and

were a credit to Penrose whilst out in the

community - we can’t wait to go again next

week!

As the new academic year begins, so does our link with

the Somerset Rural Youth Project. SRYP’s workshop

services, maintains and repairs vehicles. The workshop

provides young people with an introduction to mechanics.

This year new students join those already established to

experience working life in a garage. In their time at the

garage the students have the opportunity to spend time

with mentor Rich Hedger; working with him to

maintain a number of different vehicles including cars,

quad bikes, Land Rovers and lawn mowers.

One Year 11 student has worked with Rich over the past year and has

developed a strong working relationship with the project, developing important skills

along the way. This student has impressed Rich with his commitment to work and skills in

the garage. So much so that Rich is considering nominating him for the Somerset Young

Leader of the Year Award.

The workshop provides a real working environment, in which it is safe for them to practice

their skills and prepare them for employment. It also supports young people to identify

employment opportunities within the sector.

JRC - Swimming Swimming at 1610 is my favourite lesson at JRC. We swim every Wednesday. Dan is my

swimming teacher and we need to listen to him to keep safe. We are learning to swim on

our front and back. Swimming is cool!

By Katelyn Prout-Sinclair Year 13

& News from Elmwood & Penrose Federation / July 2017 & News from Elmwood & Penrose Federation / July 2017

Coffee Mornings

Stay and Play - Penrose

We would like to invite you to our coffee mornings, especially for our families who have a

child or young person attending Penrose, Elmwood or The Jean Rees Centre

Held across each site you are welcome to attend any of these shared mornings.

The family team are arranging for specialist staff and guest speakers to attend some of the

coffee mornings which will be held on each site throughout the year, you are all welcome

to attend on any site – Please see dates below. So far we plan to have themes which will

focus on ICT with support from Naomi Prett (ICT Support & Development), Communication

with support from Tara Davies (Communication Lead) and transitions into adult services with

support from Adult Social Care.

We will be holding a variety of workshops throughout this coming year, some of which will

link in with the coffee morning themes. Joining us for the coffee mornings will give you the

chance to have your say on what you would like us to cover during future workshops.

Wednesday 18th October 2017 – Elmwood

Wednesday 22nd November 2017 – The Jean Rees Centre

Monday 18th December 2017 – Penrose

Monday 29th January 2018 – Elmwood

Monday 5th March 2018 – The Jean Rees Centre

Wednesday 18th April 2018 – Penrose

Monday 14th May 2018 – Elmwood

Wednesday 20th June 2018 – The Jean Rees Centre

Monday 16th July – Penrose

10.00am – 11.30am

Come along and meet other Parent Carers, whilst enjoying a drink and a chat.

We will have a different focus and guests for some mornings which we will inform you of.

Contact Details:

Claire: 07855264728 or Jo: 07825054655

Junior Leadership Team Launch

Following a rigorous interview process it is my pleasure to announce the launch of our first

ever Junior Leadership Team (JLT).

Seven learners from across the Federation (all 3 sites), will represent the “student voice” from

Primary to Post 16.

Eleanor O'Connor and Callum Drewett are the ambassadors from

Penrose School.

From Elmwood School we have three representatives, Thomas Pettit, Rhys

Bromley and Edvardas Borodevicius.

Representing our oldest learners are Adam Lang and Katie Rendell who

both are in year 13 and attend The Jean Rees Centre, Elmwood School’s

Post 16 provision.

All the candidates completed an application form and then they were interviewed by the

Executive Head Teacher and Assistant Head Teacher. The JLT will meet every month at

Elmwood School where they will have a set agenda of items to discuss from fundraising to

looking at trips including residential ones. One of the first decisions is looking at the potential

to have a Key Stage 4 Elmwood hoodie as part of the uniform. The Chair of Governors, as

well as Executive Head Teacher will attend meetings over the year. The Junior Leaders will

publish updates through the next newsletter.

Penrose had the first Stay and Play afternoon of the new

academic year on Friday 6th October. These very popular events

are always well attended and give home and school the chance

to make strong positive relationships with each other, share ideas

and information and allow Parent Carers to observe their child in

the school setting. These afternoons are

always great fun and are open to all

Parent Carers of Penrose pupils.

The next Stay and Play afternoon is on Friday 24th November from

1.45pm. We hope to see you there.

Data Protection – Privacy Notices

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into effect on the 25th May

2018 and will cover all the countries in the EU and will be adopted by the UK. Within the

GDPR are rules about informing people about the data we hold about them.

We have recently released a Learner Privacy Notice, which you can find on the websites

under Public Information or by clicking the blue link above.

Headings covered include:

What is your personal data?

What kind of information do we hold about you?

Why do we need your information?

How do we look after your personal data and keep it safe?

Who may we share your data with?

How long will we keep your information?

What are your privacy rights?

For more information on the GDPR, you can visit the Information Commissioner’s Office

(ICO) website:

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-reform/overview-of-the-gdpr/