IMPORTANT SCHOOL UPDATES DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
Important Information letters to Parents and Carers
Reopening of Gosden House School - Monday 8 March 2021
Helpful Video on Covid-19 Testing at Gosden for Parents,Carers and Pupils
General Information Letters to Parents
- Letter to parents home learning 050121
- Letter to parents - Home Learning Offer
- :updated contingency planning - parent info (1)
- Coping with Covid isolation CCH for parents and carers
- GHS Support for physical and emotional wellbeing 2.4.20 (1)
- Free School Meals/Financial Hardship - Help during school Closure Letter from Cindy O'Sullivan
Extra Support and Useful Information
Class pages are located in Current Parent Resources Class Pages
World Book Day Information - Thursday 4th March 2021
As previous years the free books are on offer again this year. The vouchers can be ordered online and downloaded, then when purchasing a book online you can either enter the code or attach the voucher, electronic vouchers can also be used in stores. They can be found here:
World Book Day Digital Book Tokens
Wellbeing guides for Parents
The Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has produced a variety of videos aimed at supporting young people, families and carers during these challenging times. Recognising that the ongoing Covid situation and another lockdown can make children and young people feel anxious, these webinars have been developed for families and carers to look at anxiety and explore ways to understand and support children and young people. Watch: Parent webinars: Resources to help understand and manage your child's wellbeing during Covid-19
There are also a number of videos for young people which focus on dealing with anger, friendships, low mood, anxiety, self-confidence and self-esteem.
This helpful guide from Gateshead Psychological Service is below:
Safer Internet Use Support
Online Safety Storybooks
Useful Parental Support
Useful for discussions with your younger children
Keeping Active
- Secondary bingo- Personal Best Challenges (1)
- Spring Sessions Poster
- Deskercise at Home Issue 1
- Secondary Active Schools Bingo- Active Breaks
Home Learning Support
LEARNING ON MICROSOFT TEAMS ACCEPTABLE USE PROTOCOLS - PARENT PROTOCOL FOR MICROSOFT TEAMS
- Please ensure you child joins his/her session in a in a shared space where you can monitor them. Ideal location is a living or dining room with a blank wall background
- Encourage you child if possible to blur or set their background to an appropriate static picture.
- Your child must not be joining Microsoft Teams from their bedroom.
- No pyjamas, pupils need to be dressed appropriately ready for the day.
- Pupils must not instigate one-to-one video calls with any teachers or T.As
- Parents and children should not be using the student’s login to gain access to the contact details of teachers or other students.
- Parents please be mindful that other pupils might see or hear and anything in the background.
- Parent and pupils must not use Microsoft Teams for any non-school related activity.
- Microsoft is not to be used if your child wishes to ‘chat’ online to a friend outside of the learning sessions.
- Please use the technology we have provided responsibly and respect and support our Gosden House staff as they use this new remote teaching tool.
- Any misuse of Microsoft Teams will be seen as a serious breach of trust and referred directly to the school designated Safeguarding Leads including the Head Teacher.
Education City
Please see document below which supports with Education City Log ins.
Useful Links
Lockdown Learning: BBC puts school materials on TV, iPlayer and online - BBC News The BBC is helping school children keep up with their studies amid the latest lockdown to control Covid-19 in the UK. Primary and secondary schools are closed to most pupils, and from Monday 11 ...
www.bbc.co.uk
The Royal Horticultural Society Useful Support
Introduction and Welcome
A school with a rich history and a bright future
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
Gosden House is an outstanding school for young people with learning and additional needs, from 4-16 years of age. Set in extensive grounds, the environment offers students the opportunity to explore and challenge the potential of learners in every aspect. The curriculum has a strong focus on core learning skills and communication. We aim to develop resilience, creativity and social skills in order to support young people to succeed in the workplace and live rewarding, independent lives.
Learning is tailored to suit the needs of the individual and we work in partnership with families and other agencies to support learning and development for the 'whole child'. We have high expectations, and learners take pride in their achievements.
We firmly believe that children facing the toughest challenges every day deserve the best chance to improve their life outcomes. Our children are lively and enthusiastic about every opportunity they are offered and this excitement empowers them to try new things and to engage with learning. We were delighted to have received Ofsted Outstanding December 2019.
Gosden House is a warm and vibrant learning environment with a clear vision:
Growing lives, building futures.
Cindy O'Sullivan | Head Teacher, BEd, Dip.Tchg, NPQH

We are delighted to have been awarded Outstanding by Ofsted.
Other News & Updates
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- Blog
- Mini News
- Newsletters
- Ofsted
- Updates
- Videos
New Reconnection Coordinator for Gosden
Information Regarding Reconnection Co-ordinator Role at Gosden Please find below some information from Meghan Reddick…
Apple Day Fun
apple day updated picture nov 2020
Support for isolation
Coping with Covid isolation CCH for parents and carers GHS Support for physical and emotional…
Free School Meals/Financial Hardship – Help during school Closure Letter from Cindy O’Sullivan
Free School Meals/Financial Hardship – Help during school Closure Letter from Cindy O’Sullivan
Letter from Our Home School Link Worker – Annie Welch
Covid family support
OUR BIG THANK YOU’S
We are incredibly lucky to have been supported by so many wonderful people and organisations. …
What people say
I just wanted to let you know that this week the Robin class teachers have gone above and beyond to support for our daughter. They know she really enjoys writing and her numbers. So they do the set tasks with all the children but have kindly added some extras to push her a bit more. The teacher had even called a couple of times to have a chat to me about how I can help our daughter with these extras. By them doing this she has enjoyed her learning and is thriving with the learning at home. Myself and my husband are very grateful to the staff for being so amazing and we can’t thank you all enough.
From a parent
“1:1 support where needed is brilliant”
“More structured than last time so it feels as if more is being covered.”
“Lots of choices, flexibility and understanding from the teachers”
“Having the Teams meetings too in between work to show what they have done and the one to one reading is great”
“Seeing the other classmates and teachers is a great help and the classwork is fun and varied. A great job thank you teachers.”
“The teachers are great so supportive and understanding! Work is fun and manageable and no pressure to do everything!”
“I think you've all done such an amazing job and we are so very proud and love our teachers”
Feedback from parents during lockdown
Hi, thank you for all your hard work. and, you understand our children need face to face and practical work. As always Gosden is brilliant. We have loved our first week of homeschool. Having the regular Teams sessions keeps us to a much needed routine and we like keeping busy with tasks. Also loving the TA reading sessions.
From a parent
I am so pleased with his progress and the support from all the teaching staff, Gosden is the most wonderful school.
From a Parent
Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for him. He is very happy here, has friends and feels independent. He talks abot continuing onto college and this is really positive in encouraging him to be ambitious - thank you!
From a Parent
I feel my child is doing really well since he has started and I am pleased with the school.
From a Parent