New Bridge Learning Centre - 23.9.25

Below are Word and PDF versions of a letter for parents and carers of New Bridge Learning Centre.

The text is also copied underneath the letters, where it can be translated using the website's translation tool.

Parent/ Carer Group Letter (Word Version)

Parent Carer Group Letter (PDF Version) 

Translatable Version

Parent/Carers Group meeting - 2-3pm on Monday 6th October 2025 at the Learning Centre.

23rd September 2025

Dear parents/carers,

My name is John Barker, and I am the Deputy Head at New Bridge Learning Centre.

I hope you have had a good summer.

From a personal perspective, I have a 24-year-old daughter who has global development delay, epilepsy, and communication difficulties. She has been through Kingfisher, New Bridge School, the Learning Centre and is currently at Horizons.

I am aware that being a parent of a young person with additional needs can at times feel very isolating. A few years ago, I set up a Parent/Carer Group at the Learning Centre. This was set up so parents could have a group meeting every half term where they could come and chat.

As this evolved it became clear that there were a few common worries, questions and concerns shared by families. As a result, in order to give families more information and to answer their questions we decided to invite a few professionals to come in and talk to the group about pertinent issues. These have run alongside parent/carer group meetings.

Professionals invited to talk included: -

• Trusha Velji (Touch solicitors) re wills, trust funds, lasting power of Attorney.

• Katie Morgan (Miocare) re respite care and support for young adults.

• Point (Parents of Oldham in Touch/ SENDIASS (Special Educations Needs Advice and Support Service).

• Adult Social Services re support for families and young people.

• Toboba Khanam (Senior Social Worker with the Children with Additional and Complex Needs Team) re assessments and short breaks.

• Dawn Smith (Carers Link Officer) re Carers Assessments.

Shamin Akhtar our bilingual family liaison officer, will attend the meetings to help with any translating that may be required.

I take great pleasure in welcoming you to the first meeting of the Parent Carers group for this year.

It will take place on Monday 6th October at 2:00pm at the Learning Centre.

If you are interested in joining the Parents/carer Group you can contact me directly on jkbarker@newbridgegroup.org or alternatively complete and return the attached slip for the forthcoming meeting.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Kind regards, John Barker Deputy Head Teacher New Bridge Learning Centre

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

FAO John Barker

Name of student …………………………………….

Re: Parent/Carer Group Meeting

Class: …………………………..

I would/would not * like to attend the Parent/Carer Group Meeting at the Learning Centre on Monday 21st October at 2.00pm

Signed: ………………………………………………………

*Delete where applicable