Notice Board
Keep up-to-date with what's currently happening in school and around our local community. We also share details of local activities, groups and events on our Facebook page.
NEW Parent and Carer Workshops
We’re pleased to announce that we’re going to be running a series of Parent and Carer Workshops especially catered to your needs.
Does your child struggle with sleep or eating? Is it a challenge to get everyone out of the house in the morning? We want to create a program that suits you and your needs.
Our workshops will be run here in Hungerford by Louise, our Play Therapist, and Laura, our Interdisciplinary Therapy Assistant. We also have the option of inviting in guest speakers depending on the topics we would like to cover.
If you’re interested or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Louise at louise.coakley@oaklands-school.co.uk
NEW Support Email for Parents and Carers
We are pleased to introduce a new email address dedicated to parent/carer support and advice:
If you have questions or need support regarding your child, you can now email us directly. This inbox is managed by our Therapy Team, who are here to help with any concerns you may have at home or at school.
Once you get in touch, a member of the team will contact you to follow this up. This might be via email, a phone call or an in-person meeting.
Text Message Alerts
We have set up a new text message alert system to let you know if school will be closed for any reason, such as extreme weather. Messages will come from Oaklands. This is a one way messaging system, so you won’t be able to reply to these messages.
SEND Support Drop-In Sessions
The Tutti Pole tea room in Hungerford's High Street hosts SEND Support Drop-in sessions for the parents and carers of people with additional needs in the town and the surrounding area.
From the w/c 5th January, evening sessions will take place on Thursdays (15th, 29th Jan, 12th Feb, 12th, 26th Mar) from 7.30pm to 9pm, with daytime sessions on Friday mornings (23rd Jan, 6th, 20th Feb, 6th 20th Mar), from 10.30am to noon. For any queries please call 01488 682515.
myHappyMind
We have introduced a programme to all year groups at school called myHappymind. myhappymind is based around helping children to understand how their brain works and to support them in developing positive skills and habits to be their very best selves! Find out more about how we're implementing myHappymind in school.
Young Carers Group
Hungerford Youth and Community Centre have launched their new term time youth session for young carers (school years 5 - 11), which runs on Mondays from 3.15pm - 5pm. To find out more contact Anna at youth2@hungerfordyc.org.uk or call/ WhatsApp 07907236254.
Newbury SEND Parent Carer Café
The Newbury SEND Parent Carer Café offers opportunities to get together with other families of children with additional needs. The café meets on Fridays during school terms, usually twice a month, from 11am to 12.30pm, at West Berkshire Mencap's base, at Enborne Gate. The café is open to all SEND families and they do not need to have a formal diagnosis to attend. Children are welcome, with games and play activities available, but there are no creche facilities, so children remain the responsibility of their carer. Find out more.
Thames Valley Autism Alert Card
The Thames Valley Autism Alert Card provides a simple way for autistic people of all ages and their parents or carers to quickly and easily explain the condition to others, giving cardholders and their families more confidence to go out and about.
Autism Berkshire issues the Thames Valley Autism Alert Card free of charge to anyone living in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes who has an autism diagnosis. More than 5,000 cards are now in use.
The card is intended to be shown if the cardholder finds themselves in a situation where they need assistance or cannot easily explain their behaviour to people around them or to the emergency services.
The card gives the cardholder’s name and details of two emergency contacts, such as parents or carers, so that those shown the card understand they are dealing with someone who is autistic and can find out what they can do to help them.
Frontline police officers throughout the Thames Valley area are trained to recognise the alert card.
The card is now available with a choice of wording on the front – I have Autism or I am Autistic – you can tell us your preference when you apply.
Find out more and apply for a free Thames Valley Autism Alert Card.
Pupil Mobile Phones
Following Government guidance on prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day and to comply with GDPR regulations, we will be asking all our pupils to hand in their mobile phones at Reception at the start of every school day. Their phones will be kept securely during the day and will be returned to pupils just before they leave school to come home.
Read the Government's Guidance for schools on prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the
school day
Find out more about UK GDPR Guidance and Resources by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Read specific guidance from the ICO about Children's Information.
Learn more about keeping children safe online.
Mixed Ability Rugby
Hungerford RFC hold Mixed Ability Rugby for 10 - 17 year olds one Sunday a month. These sessions are inclusive for young people with or without learning disabilities or associated conditions. To find out more email: hungerfordtigers@gmail.com
Thatcham Tornadoes BOBiCats
Thatcham Tornadoes BOBiCats is an inclusive squad offering football coaching for children with a physical or learning disability. Children from 6 to 18 can enjoy playing their football in a safe and friendly environment. There are opportunities for children to take part in BOBi football festivals throughout the season. For more information, please contact David Leno.
Free Workshops for Parents/Carers of Autistic Children and Young People
Autism Berkshire offer a range of free online autism advice workshops to parents and carers who live in Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire, through the Berkshire West Autism & ADHD Support Service.
These evidence-based workshops, developed by Autism Berkshire’s family support team, provide information and support to the parents and carers of autistic children and young people aged up to 18, whether they already have an autism diagnosis or are on the waiting list for a Berkshire CAMHS autism assessment.
Please note that NHS funding rules mean they can only offer places at these workshops to parents and carers who are registered as patients with a GP surgery that is in the Berkshire West NHS area.
Find out more about Autism Berkshire's free workshops.