‘Playing for Success’
Thu, 19 Jun 2014 15:58:00 BST
The Childhood Studies programme at the University of Huddersfield continues its proud support of children and young people from Kirklees who have gained recognition for their hard work and academic achievement in completing programmes of study with the Kirklees Success Centres.
They have been working at one of the Success Centres in Huddersfield, based at local sports clubs including Huddersfield Town football club and Dewsbury Rams rugby league club. The centres are part of a national Children’s University initiative rewarding achievement and helping to raise aspirations and inspire young people to be the best they can be. The work of the Success Centres includes school literacy, numeracy and ICT study support through extended activities and study support help to narrow the attainment gap and provide more opportunities for those from deprived backgrounds.
The centre provides out of school learning for pupils and other children who need support at school to develop their attainment. Pupils from Kirklees schools attended the centre in addition to school and work through an after school special learning programme which is linked to sporting outcomes e.g. receiving medals for good work. As Jim Reid, course tutor, explained, ‘Through targeted numeracy and literacy support learning mentors, working with individuals and small groups of children to take them through the learning packages. The aim is to build relationships with the children, encouraging them to become more engaged with learning and to develop their aspirations when at school. At the end of the programme the children’s success is recognised with a ‘graduation ceremony’. We invite them into the University for the ceremony to enhance the occasion and also to demystify university for them. The children come with their parents or carers. The children love it, dressing up in graduation ‘gowns’ and receiving certificates from ex-Huddersfield Town footballer Andy Booth or Ann Hough who is a Director at the club. They get a real buzz out of the occasion and their parents get to see their children’s success being rewarded.
This year approximately 65 children from Royds Hall school will be graduating on 1st July with another 65 from Headland Primary School in 8th July. We fully expect to see the children throw their caps into the air in true graduation style and the assembled crowd to be a sea of smiles.
The BA Childhood Studies course can lead to jobs in a wide range of sectors, schools, community and youth settings, social care and early years.
Information on the Success Centres can be found here: http://businesssolutions.kirklees.gov.uk/learning-services/services/success-centres/.
Information on the Children’s University can be found here: http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/.
