Letter from Head

Welcome to Beacon Hill Specialist School! I am thrilled to welcome you to our vibrant and supportive school community. At Beacon Hill, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

Our dedicated staff team are passionate about providing a personalised education that meets the unique needs of each child and young person. We believe that every student has the potential to achieve great things, and we are here to support you every step of the way.

We offer a nurturing and stimulating environment where the foundations of learning are built through play and exploration. Our goal is to foster curiosity and a love for learning from the very beginning. We provide a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to individual learning styles of every child and young person. We aim to develop independence, confidence, and the skills necessary for future success, both academically and personally. Our students are encouraged to take on new challenges and explore their interests more deeply. We offer a range of preparation for life experiences designed to ready our students for the next stage of their journey, whether that be further education and training, or a social care route

Beacon Hill offers a wealth of opportunities for personal growth through extracurricular activities, therapeutic support, and community engagement. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and ensuring that every student feels valued and important.

Communication and collaboration with families are key components of our approach. We encourage you to be actively involved in your child’s education and to communicate openly with our staff. Together, we can create a positive and enriching experience for your child. By embracing these principles, we strive to help our students realise their full potential and lead lives that are rich in happiness and fulfilment. We are committed to celebrating every achievement, no matter how small, and to supporting our students every step of the way on their journey to becoming confident, capable, and content individuals.

As you embark on this new chapter, please know that the entire team at Beacon Hill is here to support you. We are excited to see the progress and achievements that will unfold over the coming years. Welcome to the Beacon Hill family!

Kind regards, 

Justina Terretta

Important Contact Numbers and Emails

Main Office -  0191 607 1970

Email : office@beaconhill.org.uk

School Nurses: 0191 607 1970 - Option 5

North Tyneside School Transport Team: 0191 643 8726

Email : hometoschooltransport@northtyneside.gov.uk

Free School Meals:  0191 643 2288

Term Dates

We follow the local authorities (North Tyneside Council) term time calendar guidance. Please see the link for our academic calendar for the 2025 - 2026 school year:

 📅 Academic Year 2025-26

Home school transport

Your child may be eligible for transport to and from school; however, please note that the school does not have any control over transport arrangements, decisions, or scheduling. 

For North Tyneside residents, you must live 2 miles from the school location for Nursery and Primary students, and 3 miles for Secondary and Sixth form. All queries about transportation must be directed to the School Transportation Team on 0191 643 8726. 

If you do not live in North Tyneside you will need to contact your local council to arrange these services as they may have alternative / additional requirements. 

Accidents and Emergencies and Childhood Illnesses

Accident or Incident

If your child experiences an accident or incident at school, a qualified first aider will assess them and provide any necessary first aid. The details will be recorded in an online accident form, and a notification will be sent to you via Arbor explaining what occurred. In cases involving a head bump, facial scratch, or bite, a member of the class staff will also contact you directly by phone.

The message you receive via Arbor will include the following information:

Important - For the Attention of the Parent / Carer

Dear Parent / Carer, [Child’s Name] has had an accident / injury at school today.

They [description of what happened] and have a [description of injury] on their [area of injury].

They received or refused treatment from a First Aider. If they received First Aid this will then be detailed. 

We are very sorry this has happened today and hope [Child’s Name] is feeling better this evening. Should your child suffer any drowsiness, vomiting, impaired vision or excessive pain after returning home please consult your doctor or local hospital. This incident has also been recorded in the school’s Health and Safety records.

If you require further information, you may reply to this message on Arbor, or call the school office. If you would like to speak to the class teacher the school office will arrange a call back.

Emergencies

If we believe your child requires emergency medical attention, we will call 999 immediately and contact you as soon as possible. We will follow the guidance provided by the ambulance service or attending paramedics. Any relevant medical information or care protocols we have on file for your child will be shared with the paramedics along with medication to ensure they receive appropriate care.

Childhood illnesses

Your child will have typical childhood illnesses during their time in school, if they are sick or have diarrhoea they will need to be off for 48 hours form the last bout of sickness

We have created a simple sheet below with some of the most common illnesses and steps to be taken should your child be diagnosed with any of the illnesses listed:

If you are unsure about any illnesses or what to do, please refer to the NHS “Little Orange Book” which has some great advice for parents. If your child has an infectious illness please let usas soon as possible so we can ensure other students or staff who are vulnerable in the class group are alerted if needed.

Communication

Effective communication is key. Please ensure we have your most up-to-date contact details (such as phone numbers and email addresses). If your child’s living arrangements change—whether they’re staying with grandparents or family friends—please inform us, so we know who to contact in case of any emergencies or important matters.

How to Reach Us

Phone Calls: If you need to speak with your child’s teacher, you can leave a message with the office or on Arbor. The teacher will return your call within 24 hours. For urgent matters, let us know, and we will ensure you speak with someone promptly.

In-App Messaging: To send a message to the class team, use the in-app messaging feature on Arbor. Staff will respond through the app and can send up to three messages per week. Regular updates will also be shared by our Admin team.

Evidence for Learning: Keep track of your child’s progress with the Evidence for Learning Family app. Teachers update this daily and share one post with families each week. You can also send photos and comments to the class team through the app.

In-Person Meetings: We will meet with you at your child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) review each year, as well as twice at Parents’ Evenings. If you would like to schedule a meeting to discuss your child’s progress, please arrange a suitable time via the app.

Clothing and Uniform 

Your child will take part in a variety of hands-on activities at school, including outdoor learning, creative play, water play, and Forest School sessions. These experiences can get a little messy — and that’s all part of the fun!

School Uniform

Our school uniform is designed to be comfortable, practical, and inclusive for all children. Logoed school uniform items are available from our supplier:

 Emblematic Schoolwear

 🔗 Visit Emblematic Uniform Shop

 📞 Phone: 0191 270 1449

✅ Branded or Unbranded – Your Choice

• Logoed items are not required

• You are very welcome to purchase non-branded uniform items in the same school colours from any retailer

♻️ Pre-Loved Uniform

We also have a selection of pre-loved uniform available at school which you are welcome to use and are free of charge. Please ask at the school office if you’d like to have a look or if you need any items.

While we encourage all students to wear school uniform, we understand that there may be times when this is difficult. Please don’t worry if your child is not in the mood to wear a uniform on a particular day — our priority is that they attend school and feel supported. That said, we kindly ask that students wear appropriate clothing. Pyjamas or clothing that is not suitable for a learning environment will not be accepted.

Spare Clothing

Please send in a full set of spare clothes (including underwear and socks) to be kept at school.

These will be used if your child gets wet or muddy during the day.

Waterproofs and Wellies

A set of waterproof clothing (jacket and trousers) and wellies is essential.

These can be kept at school so your child is always prepared for outdoor learning in any weather.

Specialist Clothing

There are various companies who make clothing for young people who have additional needs. For example reusable incontinence underwear, bibs, tube feeding clothing, popper vests, or weighted items. Here are few our families have used in the past:

• Fledglings is a not for profit charity who stock a wide range of specially created adaptive clothing suitable for children with a range of specialist needs. 

• Marks and Spencers sell adaptive bodysuits, romper suits and zipped shoes

• Racketys Do a great line in adult size vest with peg access points for tube feeding, incontinence pants and hoodies with rear access velcro

Curriculum and Pathways

To ensure that we are able to meet each student’s needs as specifically as possible Beacon Hill School’s curriculum is arranged into four pathways.  These are the Explorer ; the Traveller; the Adventurer; and the Discoverer Pathway. Students transition into the best pathway for them following the Early Years Foundation Stage. Each curriculum pathway is designed to best meet the needs of the students in terms of the curriculum areas, the learning environment and the teaching and learning approaches. Pathways are not static and students can move into different pathways as their learner characteristics develop and change.

School Apps – What You Need to Know

We use three different apps at school to help keep you informed and involved in your child's education:

Arbor – For school communication and records   

Arbor is our School Management System. It’s where we store your child’s information and send you important messages. You can also view school reports, update consents, and access key documents like PLGs and EHCPs.

To get started:

Go to your app store and search for "Arbor".

Download the app.

Log in using the email address you have registered with school.

Click "Forgotten Password" to set your own memorable password

Evidence for Learning (EfL) – To see your child's classroom progress

This app shows the work your child has done in class, with photos and teacher comments.

To get started:

Go to your app store and search for "Evidence for Learning - Family".

Download the app.

Use the following login details:

• Domain: beaconhillschool (all one word, lowercase)

• Username: your email address registered with school

• Click "Forgotten Password" to create your own memorable password.

School Gateway – For payments

Use this app to pay for school meals, trips, residentials, and charity events.

To get started:

Go to your app store and search for "School Gateway".

Download the app.

Log in using your school-registered email address.

Click "Forgotten Password" to set your own password.

Social Media

Beacon Hill School has both a Facebook and Instagram page, which we regularly update with class photos, events and useful information. We also link to other local interest pages and support networks for families with children with SEND

Facebook - Beacon Hill School

Instagram - Beacon_hill_school

Family Support

Our Family support worker is Emma Paterson, she is the first port of call for advice for the family and can direct you to whoever you need. Emma is happy to discuss any questions in relation to the Early Help Assessment process and can be contacted by calling the School office, she is also available at all of our coffee mornings  

Coffee mornings

We hold two coffee mornings each term for parents. In the last year we have copied topics such as the curriculum, learning through play, Mindful Mandala painting, Friends of Beacon Hill charity fundraising, and the continence team. We are led by the parents who attend and suggest ideas. We are usually supported by the citizen advice team and the Parent carers forum

EHA information

Early Help is vital for improving children’s life chances and delivering better outcomes for them and their families. The sooner we can help families, the more likely it is that they can achieve positive and stable futures. Children and families need to be equipped to adapt positively to challenging life experiences. We know resilient families and communities can bounce back and thrive despite the challenges they face.

While our aim is for children, young people and their families to be confident and independent through their own personal resilience and the support of their networks, this isn’t always possible without some external help. This help needs to be delivered by a variety of partners whose support is available to everyone, such as early years, health services, education, play and youth provision; as well as effective accessible targeted or more specialist services, when they are needed.

Our Prevention and Early Help model is based on the belief that building trusting relationships, providing the right support at the right time and in the right place, will help keep children and young people safe within their families, networks and communities.

Useful Contacts

North Tyneside Children's Social Care

0345 2000 209

Northumberland Children's Social Care

01670 536400

Newcastle Children’s Social Care 

0191 277 2500

North Tyneside Community Learning Disability Team 

 0191 295 2764

Northumberland Community Learning Disability Team

01670 844799

Newcastle Children and Young People’s Service (CYPS) 

0800 6522864

First Contact Team:

For referrals to short breaks, contact the First Contact Team on 01670 536 400. 

Children's Disability Team (CDT)

The Children's Disabilities Team is a small specialist team working in Children’s Social Care at North Tyneside Council.

How to access the service: Telephone Front Door on 0345 2000 109

Transition Team

The Transition Team (TT) is an integral part of North Tyneside Council’s Social Care resource, working alongside the Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT adults) and Children’s Disability Team (CDT), all of these fall under the umbrella of the Whole Life Disability Service. 

The Transition Team can be contacted via CDT admin, 0191 6434151.

North Tyneside Parent Carer Forum: Provides support to parent carers of children/young people aged 0-25 with SEND, including information about short breaks. 

North Tyneside Local Offer: This online resource provides information about universal short breaks, specialist providers, and how to access services. 

Harbour 03000 20 25 25 (24 Hour Helpline)

Harbour provides support for families subject to domestic violence

Acorns 0191 349 8366 or text 07712 862 858

Support for children affected by domestic violence

Local Offer 

The Local Offer provides information for children and young people (from birth to 25 years) with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) and their families.

The Local Offer brings together information in one place so parents, carers and young people can see the range of services and support available in their local area and understand how to access them.

North Tyneside Local Offer

Newcastle Local Offer

Northumberland Local Offer