Post-16 Newsletter Autumn 1
Welcome back!
We are very excited about the new term, here at Ad Astra: our building is looking fab, we have extended our brilliant staff team and we have a new vehicle, complete with microwave and toilet! We are welcoming in our biggest post -16 cohort this September, with twenty-four learners across the three year groups. We’ve got every confidence that it’s going to be a great year.
Staffing
Whilst your young person won’t work directly with all the team members, it’s useful to know who we all are.
Lyz Shaw | Company Director & Safeguarding Lead |
Kate Frankish | Head of Provision and Deputy Safeguarding Lead |
Ingrid McNair | Curriculum Co-ordinator |
Nicki McPhillips | Administrator & Mentor |
Tracey Muress | Pastoral Lead & Tutor |
Tess Wilson | Pre-16 Mentor & Small Animal Care Tutor |
Tim Hodge | Mentor |
Lee Cullen | Minibus Driver & Pre-16 Mentor |
Vicki Hudson | Mentor |
Alan Holliday | Construction Tutor |
Nigel Cram | Mechanics Tutor |
Dave Borlase | Maths Tutor |
Maggie Frankish | English Tutor |
Events
We will be holding a MacMillan Coffee Morning on Friday 27th September, between 10.30 – 12pm. All parents/carers are welcome to join us, for a cuppa and a slice of cake. Younger siblings are also welcome, as are grandparents. This will also be an opportunity to have a look around our new building and chat to the team about your young person.
We are also planning a Christmas themed celebration in early December. As you know, our quirky old building was destroyed on December 5th 2023 and we would like to mark the anniversary in a positive and joyful way, with our learners and their families. We will be in touch with details as soon as we have confirmed the date.
Ad Astra will be in attendance at the SEND Opportunities Fair at Askham Bryan College on October 16th, from 3pm onwards. We will also be visiting Woodland’s Academy in Scarborough, for their Next Steps Event on the 17th October.
Term Dates
We follow York schools’ term dates. The half term holiday begins on Friday 25th October, with learners returning on Tuesday 5th November. We will finish for Christmas on Thursday 19th December and will re-open on Monday 6th January. Monday 4th November will be a staff training day.
Smoking, vaping and mobile phones
Post-16 learners are allowed to vape and smoke in a designated area outside. We had a serious incident last term, whereby a learner required emergency medical attention following the sharing of a vape which had been laced with a narcotic substance. The owner of the vape had his placement ended with immediate effect. Please talk to your child about the health hazards and potential dangers of sharing vapes. If leaners vape on the minibus, we will not continue to transport them to and from sessions and they will be expected to make their own way to and from sessions.
We know that learners and their mobile phones are inseparable, and we’d be fighting a losing battle if we told them they couldn’t bring them! As a general rule, learners are permitted to look at their phones, if the staff member running the session is looking at theirs. At all other times, we expect phones to be kept in bags or pockets. Being distracted by phones is a significant factor in whether learners are able to engage and enjoy their planned learning.
Attendance
If your child is going to be absent, please let Nicki know as soon as possible on 01904 947222. Our attendance average last term was 85%, for both pre and post-16 learners and we routinely expect a minimum of 80% attendance from each individual. Ad Astra is sub-contracted to provide alternative education, which means that your child’s funding comes from either York Learning (part of City of York Council) or North Yorkshire Council. Both authorities check monthly, how individual students are progressing, and this includes an attendance check. If your child’s attendance falls below 80%, it becomes a cause for concern. Last year, the authorities ended the placements of four learners whose attendance fell below the required standard.
Other stuff…
If you don’t already, please follow us on Facebook! We post lots of photos and updates on a regular basis.
Please keep an eye open for communication about learner conduct and medications; we will be sending forms out shortly.
Just to let you know, Greatest Hits Radio will be filming our new publicity video in the building on the 25th and 26th of September.
Very best wishes,
Kate & the Ad Astra Team
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