Could your child be at risk of exploitation, gangs or County Lines drug dealing?

Free theatre performance at Dame Elizabeth - 4pm on Thursday 11th April in the school hall.

Dear Parents/Carers

As part of our continued commitment to keeping our pupils safe, on Thursday 11th April at 4pm we will be hosting a theatre performance by renowned company Alter Ego Creative Solutions on the very important topic affecting our young people: Child Criminal Exploitation and County Lines. This performance will last an hour and will be for Parents/carers only. There will be an opportunity at the end for a brief questions session regarding the performance and the topic. The performance will be held in the school hall. There will be a safe space in the school canteen for children over 5 years old to be supervised by school staff whilst you watch the performance. Drinks and snacks will be provided.

Some of our pupils during the week beginning 8th April will see the performance in school but we are very excited the company have agreed to put on a FREE parents only performance. This topic is applicable to all our young people, we hope you come with an open mind and enjoy the performance. Tickets are limited to 2 parents/carers per family and will be allocated on a first come first served basis by completing the booking form below.  We have a maximum number of 240 tickets available for this production.

“Child Criminal Exploitation & County Lines gangs pose a significant threat to vulnerable adults and children upon whom they rely to conduct and/or facilitate this criminality”. -National Crime Agency, County Lines Gang Violence, Exploitation & Drug Supply briefing - 2018

In 2017 Alter Ego Creative Solutions were commissioned by the Police to develop an Applied Theatre play to raise awareness around Child Criminal Exploitation - specifically the strand of the County Lines drug trafficking model that sees vulnerable adults and young people living in regional areas of the UK targeted by organised groups and gangs (that have travelled from more urban city locations) to groom, trick, trap and manipulate them into trafficking drugs and sometimes weapons.

If you would like to attend please email r.norton@decschool.co.uk with the following information:

• Number of tickets required (parents/carers only - maximum of 2 tickets).
• Number of children (over 5 years old) requiring supervision during the performance.
• Pupil Name.
• Form Group.

Scholastic Book Fair is coming into school from April 3 - April 10th. Pupils will have the opportunity to visit the Scholastic Book Fair with their English groups during lessons. The book fair will feature brand new releases but also some classic novels that everyone knows and loves. If you would like your child to purchase a book from the fair please send them with a small amount of pocket money. The prices range from £2.99 up to £9.99.

World Book Week is fast approaching! Students are encouraged to dress up as their favourite literary character. If they wish, on March 7th this year. There are lots of things to get involved with over this week including a theatre visit for Years 9,10 and 11 and over 200 brand new books for all Year groups to come down and check out in the library.

We will also have the DEC Book Fair visiting from April 3rd to April 10th. This is another fantastic opportunity to celebrate reading. On the build up to this event students are handed book vouchers to enable them to get some really great deals on newly released books.