‘Playing for Success’
Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:12:00 GMT
Second year students on the BA Childhood Studies course have been helping a worthwhile project whilst on placement.
They have been working at ‘The Zone’, one of the five ‘Playing for Success’ study skills centre in Huddersfield, based at the local football club. The centres are part of the national ‘Playing for Success’ initiative, involving school literacy, numeracy and ICT study support based as sports clubs. This initiative is part of the Children’s University, a national initiative.
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, ‘The students act as 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 invited them into the University for the ceremony to enhance the occasion and also to demystify university for them. The children came with their parents. The children loved it, dressing up in graduation ‘gowns’ and receiving certificates from ex-footballer Andy Booth. They get a real buzz out of the occasion and their parents get to see their children’s success being rewarded.
For our students, they gain real work experience; it develops their skills and increases their employability. The two students who completed their placements there have done more than is required for the degree course; they have retained their links with the centre because they enjoyed it so much.’
At the end of the event the children involved all threw their caps into the air in true graduation style and the assembled crowd was a sea of smiles as everyone present declared the event a resounding success. And the University is due to host the next awards in April 2011, such was the success of the event.
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 Zone http://www.thezone.uk.com/content/pages/index.asp
Information on the Children’s University http://www.childrensuniversity.co.uk/
