Our Support for Parents

Supporting the whole family is a huge focus at Orchard Academy. We regularly run open mornings where parents and carers can engage in their child's learning, and find out about parts of the academy that are being developed (anti-bullying, mental health, internet safety).

We have developed a strong link with Kirklees early help team, Northorpe Hall, Locala (Speech and language), Kirklees college, Purple Dog and Community learning to offer a range of family and adult courses, to support parents and carers improve their knowledge around how best to support their children.

If you feel like you would benefit from a course please speak to Miss Fisher or Mrs Elliott and they will support you with a referral.

The courses we have run the last couple of years are;

Top tips for parents (6 week course)
SEN Family Links
Parent Sensory Integration Training
First aid awareness training
Reading friends
Family Arts and Crafts
Practical maths
Wrigleys oral health sessions
Getting kids to listen
Setting rules
All about me
Story sacks.
From some of these courses, such as reading friends, we have now developed a group of 8 volunteers who regularly come into school and volunteer with us. Some are considering further education.
Parent Gym
STEPS
Strengthening Families
Speech and Language open sessions.

Key Adults in School

We run an open door policy where any type of issue can be discussed and supported promptly and effectively.

Miss. Fisher is our Mental Health First Aider and Safeguarding Lead. She can provide support initially for any of your concerns or issues regarding your children's mental health or behaviour. Miss Fisher can offer help with making referrals to other agencies. She can also help to support parents too!

Miss Barker Milner is our SENDCo (Special educational needs and disability co-ordinator). She can support you with any concerns you have regarding your child's communication, social, emotional, academic and physical needs and support with next steps. Miss Barker-Milner runs half-termly parent/carer SENDco drop ins for anyone who has concerns about their child's needs to attend.

Mrs Elliott is our Pastoral Manager and joined us at Orchard in September 2023. Mrs Elliott runs bi-weekly Parent/ Carer Coffee Mornings through the Pastoral hub. These range from 'chill & chat' to workshops from a practitioner at Northorpe Hall.

Please see below information on this year's drop ins:

parent drop ins.pdf

See below a list of useful links for parents of children with Special Educational Needs:

Kirklees Local Offer

Local Offer- Parent Area

PCAN (Parents of Children with Additional Needs Making a Difference in Kirklees)

Locala Sensory- Parent Advice

Sensory Training for Parents

Dyslexia- Information for Parents

Singing Hands- Makaton Videos

BBC Bitesize- Special Educational Needs Support