Category: News

Over 5 weeks ago, Learning4life-Gy had it’s first official Ofsted inspection since our initial opening. We are now pleased to announce that we have obtained a “Good” Ofsted rating, and are incredibly proud to announce this to you all.

Ofsted said:
Staff are deeply committed to preparing pupils for their futures. Leaders and staff encourage all pupils to be ‘ready, respectful and safe’. The ethos of British values is threaded across the curriculum. Pupils are being well prepared to be successful citizens.

Staff know every pupil well. They are alert to pupils’ feelings and emotions. As a result, they ensure that pupils’ social, emotional and mental health needs are supported well. Pupils say they can go to an adult if they have any worries or concerns.

There is a quiet and calm atmosphere around the school. Staff have created a caring and supportive ethos, where pupils learn about and value differences between people. Relationships between pupils and staff are positive. Staff have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour. Pupils are respectful towards staff and towards each other.

Pupils say that they feel safe at school. One pupil said that there is no bullying in the school because ‘it would not be tolerated here’. Pupils have a good understanding of what equality and discrimination mean and they are sensitive to the needs of others.

Leaders know that there is still work to do in developing curriculum plans and improving pupils’ individual learning plans.

You can read the report Here

Thanks to our Learners, Staff and all stakeholders!

The job market for students leaving school or university can be tricky and now more than ever we need to help them as much as we can to secure the very best opportunities when they enter the workplace. We would like to extend our invitation to you for our very first parent / carers information evening event.

We have leaders from some of the biggest employers in their industry IBM, HSBC, PwC, bp, University of Bath, Clifford Chance & Capgemini coming to talk to you about how your son / daughter or young person under your care can navigate the job market to find some incredible work experience / internship placements as well as graduate and apprenticeship opportunities. We will be sharing some useful tips around psychometric testing, how to prepare for assessment centres, CV’s, and applications as well as lots of information around preparing your child / young person for the workplace / university.

This event is free of charge and it will be running on Thursday 30th September, 6pm – 7:30pm. You will have the opportunity to join this event virtually with your son / daughter / and or young person, ask questions you want directly to leading employers and obtain lots of useful information. The booking link can be found below here.

Booking Link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YP-Insight-Evening

Dear Schools and Colleges,

The summer holidays are almost here and we’re sure you’re looking forward to the break. Just before you head off, we’ve got a couple of things we think you and your parents might find useful.

Click here to view this newsletter online with access to download links.

The Parents’ Guide to Getting ahead in the summer holidays

Suitable for parents of teens – free download

2021 has been another tricky year so far and students have experienced yet more disruption to their studies. As a parent, it’s hard not to worry that the lack of face-to-face schooling has set them back and their thoughts are probably turning to what can be done during the summer to help their teens catch up. Our advice is not to dwell on what they may have missed but focus on using the summer to boost their experience to help them prepare for the autumn term and future applications they will want to make.

The holidays provide a fantastic opportunity for students to think about what they can do to start making their dreams a reality. Depending on how old they are, there’s plenty they can do to help them prepare for the next stage of their life – and they can have fun at the same time! Whether they’re 15 and starting to think about what they might like to do after their GCSEs or whether they’re 18 and making plans for adulthood.

Because this has, in many ways, been another stressful year, we’ve also included a section on mental wellbeing. Click here to access your free copy.

Ofsted report on sexual abuse in schools

In March 2021, the government asked Ofsted to conduct an immediate review of safeguarding policies and procedures in both state and private schools in response to reports of abuse submitted to the website Everyone’s Invited. That review took place during April and May and was published on 10 June; we’ve summarized findings and recommendations in our blog (read more here).

Of the 900 students interviewed, the majority did not feel comfortable reporting abuse, so we continue to recommend that parents make sure the NSCPP freephone “abuse in education” helpline is programmed into their phones, so they can access independent, impartial help if they need it. The number is 0800 136 663.

Moving out?

If their teens are leaving home over the summer to start university (or perhaps an apprenticeship) in the autumn, they might be interested in our free checklist of useful buys so their teen has everything to hand, whether that’s bedding to get a cosy night’s sleep, pots and pans to cook up a storm or paperwork to make sure their bank accounts and proof of ID are all in good order. We’ve also created a pdf version – click here to download.

Virtual Work Experience

We’ve updated our list of organisations offering virtual work experience placements and opportunities for the summer, so do check it out here and share with anyone you think will find it useful.

Articles for parents

We’ve got a number of blogs your parents might find useful, including some suggestions of fun ideas for teens to do. Do share them if you can.

– Preparing for GCSE results day 2021​

– A level Results Day flowchart

– Awarding academic grades in 2021 without examinations

– The ultimate ‘leaving home’ shopping list 

– How stress affects teens and what you can do to help

– Engaging the senses to get more out of life for you and your teen

– Virtual work experience – why your child should take part

Our 2021/2022 guides for parents are available:

Do share our website link www.theparentsguideto.co.uk with your parents so they can find out more about their children’s options after GCSE and sixth form by buying our specialist guides.

If you’d like to share our guides with your parents free of charge, we offer school licences. Please email vanessa@theparentsguideto.co.uk for more information and you can see samples of all of the guides here.

Awareness Themes, Days and Events – July / August

Awareness days, weeks and months are often an excellent opportunity to write to parents, whether in a newsletter, social media post or blog with timely, relevant content that can be planned well in advance. Coming up in June:

11^th July – World Population Day

To focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues

Find out more  >

17^th July – World Emoji Day

We use emojis every day, so why not celebrate them?

Find out more  >

19^th – 23^rd July –  Eid-ul-Adha

30^th July – International Day of Friendship

Through friendship we can develop bonds of trust and camaraderie between people regardless of race or beliefs

Find out more  >

 

12^th August – International Youth Day

Organised by the UK, International Youth Day recognises the challenges faced by young people and the important role they play

Find out more  >

Learning4Life-Gy is please to announce we have a new adult ESOL course starting on the 22^nd May at 10am.

The course is free and is for ladies only. The course includes:

• ESOL Reading

• ESOL Writing

• ESOL Speaking and Listening

• ESOL Computer skills

• You will have the chance to show your skills in cooking your favourite recipes.

• You will have the chance to make a recipe book for local people.

• You will have the chance to learn about jobs in hospitality industry.

• You will have the chance to speak about your future career goals.

The course is free to eligible (non-working) ladies.

All resources needed for the course will be supplied.

• • Books for learning

  • Food for cooking

  • Clothes for cooking

You will also receive a new FREE slow cooker as part of this project.

This course takes place at our main facility on 155-159 Freeman street.

Please call in and save your space.

Prevent Champions,

As we approach what we all hope is the final stretch of significant COVID-19 restrictions it’s more important than ever to be alert to the how the last year may have led to increased levels of isolation for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community.

Whether you’re a community nurse, teacher, probation officer, social worker, PCSO or other frontline worker you all play a significant role in preventing people being drawn into extremism.

So, as the country slowly starts to open up again, your role in identifying changes in behaviour and vulnerabilities which may indicate an individual is moving towards extremism remains key.

To assist with the work you undertake please find attached the 3^rd edition of the Regional Prevent Champions Newsletter produced by CTPNE.

As with all newsletters please read with interest, cascade widely within your teams/departments/organisations and continue to promote the www.actearly.uk website to your colleagues and communities.

Remember, if you’re worried someone is being radicalised Notice, Check and Share your concerns by following your Prevent referral pathway to submit a concern

For more information please check out the newsletter from prevent

Dear parents, carers and students,

We have had a busy week finalising our plans for our full opening following all of the government guidance at the start of last week. We are excited to be welcoming back all students and moving back to full time timetables for all students onsite already.

As the majority of our students have been onsite for the duration of the Lock Down we have already completed the 3 onsite Covid tests that were required to come back to school. Next week in PSHE classes we will be teaching students how to undertake their own Covid tests using the home testing kits that we will then be sending home with every student to start twice weekly testing at home from the week commencing 15th March 2021.

For any students returning to school for the first time next week, we will be conducting one test on their first day of return, one three days after and then one three days after that point.

We understand that the last year has been a difficult one for everyone and we are keen to get our students back in the classroom full time, focusing on their learning. We have a strong programme of support and wellbeing embedded into our school ethos and all of our classes to support students wellbeing in these unprecedented times. The government is clear that they want all students back in school from next week and we share this view.

There is nothing that we want more than having students back in school, with routines as normal, or as near to normal as we can make them with the extra safety precautions and guidelines in place as they have been throughout.
We have worked hard throughout this time to ensure that the school and all staff are adhering to the following expectations:

• Students will sanitise and wash their hands regularly, including on entry to each lesson (sanitiser provided)
• Good hygiene will be encouraged at all times for everyone within the school.
• Following new guidance from the government for the full reopening of schools, we strongly recommend that students and staff wear face coverings when inside the building, including in lessons (where they are not able to sufficiently socially distance) , other than when they are eating and drinking. All students (unless they are medically exempt) and staff must wear face coverings when moving around in communal areas and when moving around the school.
• Students will sit in allocated desks in lessons wherever possible (which are socially distanced)
• Windows will be open for ventilation during break and lunch times as much as possible to minimise risk, so students should bring a suitable coat with them to school if it is cold.
• No mass gatherings inside (such as open evenings, parents evening) until further notice.

The school day will return to its usual timetabled times as detailed below. This is to ensure adequate staggered starting times of groups.

ESOL 14-16 – 9:15am – 2:40pm Monday to Thursday; 9:15-12 Friday
ESOL Group 1 – Monday 1-3pm; Tuesday-Thursday 10am – 3pm
ESOL Group 2 – Monday – Wednesday 10am – 3pm; Thursday 10am-12pm
14-16 Group 1 – 9:15am – 2:40pm Monday to Friday
16-19 Group 1 – 10-3pm Monday to Wednesday
16-19 Group 2 – 10-3pm Wednesday to Friday

Students should attend every day and arrive on time, The school will be open to every student, with attendance expected unless students are displaying any Covid-19 symptoms, in which case they should self-isolate and get tested as per government guidance. As a reminder symptoms to look out for include a raised temperature, a new continuous cough (for prolonged periods), and a loss or change to sense off smell and/or taste.

Finally, we look forward to welcoming back all of our students and moving back to full time timetables, and we would like to thank all of our parents and carers for working with us over the recent difficult times. If you have any concerns or need to contact us for any reason, then please email us on office@learning4life-gy.co.uk.

Best Regards,

Claire Smith

Principal

If you’re a member of a household, childcare bubble of a pupil, student or staff of a school or college, you can get a twice-weekly test:

• through your employer if they offer testing to employees
• at a local test site
• by collecting a home test kit from a test site
• by ordering a home test kit online.

You can find out more about how to access testing for members of your household who do not attend school by following this link to the government website:

Here

We will be in touch next week about home test kits for students who attend the school.

Best wishes and stay safe.