Early years support Recognising the importance of early years education to a child’s overall development, schools have collaborated to provide valuable learning opportunities for young pupils during their formative years. During the nationwide closure of schools from January of this year, Norwich School reached out to some of its closest primary schools to identify ways they might be able to offer their support. Working with the assistant head of Magdalen Gates Primary, the school selected specific topics which Norwich School pupils and staff could produce resources for. Whilst learning remotely, sixth form pupils at Norwich School created several learning materials, covering aspects of history, physics, French and PSHE. These resources were then shared with Magdalen Gates Primary, along with approximately 50 other primary schools in Norfolk.
St Helen’s School, in Northwood, has focused on initiating, establishing and building relationships with local schools this year, working to expand educational opportunities in the context of COVID. As part of its outreach programme, members of the school community – including Year 12 students, who have received training from an EYFS specialist – have been going into selected local primary schools, providing support with phonics recognition and early language development. Bradford Grammar School welcomed more than 340 local primary schoolchildren for two weeks of science and space masterclasses during the month of July. The project was developed in partnership with Tim Rogers of Future Transformation, a STEM ambassador who sits on various technology boards across the Leeds City Region. Working in teams with the technology expert, the children had the opportunity to design their own satellites and learn about high-tech space industries located in Yorkshire. At the end of each session, the children built and launched their own water rockets.
“It’s inspiring to think that we might have lit a spark in the engineers and scientists of the future. The young people of our region have so much potential and we want to show them what they can achieve.” Tim Rogers of Future Transformation 7
