Parent Support

The Parent Support Group – The Bridge Primary

The Parent Support Group on the primary site was set up to provide a strong and consistent link between staff and parents. The aim of this group is to offer a friendly, welcoming environment in which parents feel comfortable and are able to discuss any concerns or issues outside of school.

The Parent Group that meets on the primary site is available for all parents, not just those with primary age children. This group runs sessions on subjects requested by parents relating to their children’s education. Examples include communication [signing and PECS resource making], Personal, Social and Health Education and Sensory Integration. They also go on trips to such places as The London Eye, Hyde Park, Covent Garden and spend time in school jewellery-making, glass-painting and bag-making.

The Parent Group encourages parents to develop their own skills and to give them the confidence to move forward with their own learning.

The Parent Support Group – The Bridge Secondary

The Parent Group at the secondary site meet six times a year to discuss a variety of topics which include: how to access clubs, after school services and direct payments, communication difficulties and how to overcome them, sex education, looking at behaviour as a means of communication, creating and maintaining friendships, Makaton and PECS and extended school services.

Translators are provided for parents who request this service and where possible a guest speaker or representative from an outside agency connected with the topic under discussion will come and speak at the meetings.

From these meetings many parents have made connections with each other and go on to meet regularly away from school.

The Parent Support Group – Satellite School

The aim of this group is to offer a friendly, welcoming environment in which parents feel comfortable and are able to discuss any concerns or issues outside of school. The Parents Group meets at the Hungerford site and is available for all parents, primary and secondary. This group runs sessions on subjects requested by parents, for example, language and communication, looking at behaviour, sleep, transitions, sensory differences. The School therapists support the Parents Group and are available to give advice and training to the parents when requested.