Degrees of
learning 24 page education special
52
Learning
curve
W
elcome to Degrees of Learning - the Local Life guide to all things educational in your local area. Each edition will be brimming with ideas, support, interesting features and most importantly, information to guide you in making the right decisions for your child’s education or enhancing your own. We will be discussing useful topics covering everything from tips to beating the back-to-school costs to dates for college open days and adult education courses. So whether you are parent looking to cut costs when it comes to the kids or parents of a school leaver looking for their next step – we will have the information right here! We will also be bringing you all the local open event information. So if your child is finishing school in July and they’re not sure what to do next, then have a look at some of the colleges that are advertising open events – there are hundreds of full and part time courses on offer from traditional A-Levels to Public Services, Hospitality & Catering and Engineering.
Features 53 Parents ‘oversharing’ on Facebook 54 Individual tuition 56 Dyslexia 58 Beat the back to school costs 60 Village school’s top marks 63 Take 10 to read to your child 67 Follow in Ed’s footsteps 69 Best student bank account 70 WCPSD teaching 71 Apprenticeship schemes 72 St Helens adult course guide 74 Diary dates Pre-School 64 Little Acorns 59 60 61 62
2 - 4 years
Primary School St Teresa’s Crawford Village St Jude’s Rainford Brook
Individual Tuition 54 Haywood House 56 Ed4All 66 Music Projects 65
Secondary School Abraham Guest
55 57 68 71 73
Further Education & Apprenticeships St Helens College St Helens College Wigan & Leigh College Pro Co St Helens College
Teacher Training 70 WCPSD
53
Parents ‘oversharing’ on
Facebook? W
hen a baby or child achieves something fantastic - from taking their first steps to coming top in an exam - it’s hard for many parents not to jump straight on social media to share it with the world.
But have you ever thought about how your post may be perceived by others? New research shows 93% of parents believe social media encourages them to ‘overshare’ about their babies, and more than a quarter say they feel under pressure to keep up every week, with 12% admitting to feeling this pressure almost daily. The problem, it seems, is many social media fans who are also parents feel other mums and dads tend to make claims about their children that are either untrue or exaggerated. This in turn may make other parents feel bad because their child hasn’t achieved the same thing.
54
The top culprits identified in the survey are ‘Super Mum’ posts, unrealistic achievements and new baby milestones. Mum-of-four and parenting author Sarah Ockwell-Smith points out that social media can be a great virtual support network for mothers, building a community on which they can lean on and turn to for advice. “For a lot of new mothers, this is an incredibly positive experience,” she says. “When your baby achieves something, you’ll likely want to shout it from the rooftops, both in the real world or on social media. “However, the comparison with others online can cause some mothers to be overwhelmed by feelings that they aren’t good enough. “Be a more ‘sensitive sharer’, particularly if you’re aware of friends having a hard time parenting or even conceiving a baby.” • Know your audience: Are any of your close friends or family struggling with something, or are there issues that would be better to avoid with them? Consider this before posting on social media - many topics or opinions are better suited to conversations in person, as you can read each other’s feelings much more easily. • Check in with friends offline Sometimes sharing with the masses means we’re lazy at communicating with friends who really matter. Some people overshare as a cry for help, so if you think someone you know might be having a hard time, engage with them directly. • Don’t dismiss friends’ concerns Pay attention - sometimes people just need a listening ear, other times you may want to help them seek professional advice. • Celebrate others’ achievements too If your friend is really proud of her baby for saying his first word, for example, share in her pride.
Individual tuition How does it feel to find a subject difficult in school? Or to feel frustrated at the lack of challenge? A difficult question for a student to answer - until you
ask them to draw a picture! The results can be eye opening, for parent and teachers alike. Whatever the cause of the difficulties, whether it’s a problem with reading, spelling, writing or maths, the result is usually the same. A lack of confidence and spiralling anxiety for the child and concern for the parent/carer. Don’t panic – there is help available in the form of fully qualified tutors and tuition programmes, all designed around each student that will help to meet those gaps in understanding and learning. Whether you choose a national franchise or a local tutor here are a few points to consider: • How well you think your child would respond to tutoring • Has your child got the potential to improve his or her grades • How well you understand the National Curriculum subjects yourself and whether or not you have time to offer extra coaching
Hayward House Tuition
And Dyslexia Services Mary Hayward, PG Dip SEN, Dip SpLd, Cert SpLd, C.a.s.e, Cert Ed, AMBDA Consultant for those experiencing education difficulties and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) anywhere in the UK
Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Screening ‘Thank You Mary. People with your skills and knowledge are hard to find.’ Headteacher, West Lancs primary school, May 2016 ‘Many thanks Mary, we are really pleased with how they have both developed over the last 12 months and you have played a big part of that development.’ Parent, Helmshore, July 2016
Contact through enquiry form on website. www.haywardhousetuition.co.uk or email: haywardhousetuition@yahoo.co.uk
55
56
Tackling
dyslexia
D
yslexic people are likely to find learning skills like reading and writing much harder than other people, but they can be helped by careful, systematic teaching.
That’s according to the Dyslexia Association, a registered charity established in 1971 to provide support for dyslexic children and adults. It says there are well-established methods for teaching reading and writing to dyslexic people, and with patience and hard work, they are effective. A spokesman said: “Dyslexic children learn most easily if their difficulty is identified early, and appropriate teaching methods are introduced, but it’s never too late to start. Dyslexic adults, teenagers and older children benefit from understanding their own individual learning style and pattern of strengths and weaknesses. That way, they can study and work in a way which is most likely to be successful. They can learn strategies appropriate to their learning style.” For more information, visit ww.dyslexia.uk.net
Wigan Dyslexia Centre Now providing
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) support for Dyslexia and/or Autism Go to
www.dsa-qag.org.uk to find your local non-medical helper (nmh): Liz Hiney
For more details... Email: enquiries@ed4all.co.uk Phone: 0786 792 4813
57
58
Beat the back to school
T
costs
he sun may be shining but there’s not much of a warm glow around parents’ finances at this time of year. Not only are we still trying to hammer out the dents in our budget made by entertaining the kids over holidays, but the cost of sending them back to school is also coming up fast.
59
As well as the more obvious purchases, such as school uniforms, stationary and packed lunches, there are ‘hidden’ costs to consider too, including gifts for teachers and parking. Research suggests parents will spend nearly £1,000 on food and drink, around £590 on after school clubs and around £540 on transporting their offspring, every school year. Another £120 a year goes on outfits for proms and parties, as well as £150 on gifts and donations, while sports kits and uniforms often total £290. Year 7 - the transitional first year of secondary school - is the most expensive, costing parents an average of £6,800. Meanwhile, Year 4 was found to be the priciest primary school year, typically setting parents back £6,400. Interestingly, the research found boys to be more expensive than girls. The cost for parents of sending a boy to school was £5,500 a year on average, compared to £3,900 for girls.
Here are some Local Life tips that may help to ease the financial strain: • Buy uniforms early to give you more choice and help avoid disappointment. • Check with the school before buying new technology to find out which devices are actually allowed in the classroom. • Label everything to help your child keep track of their belongings and avoid having to go out and buy the same thing again. • Bulk buy uniform - it could save you money on the initial purchase, and means you’ll use the washing machine less often. • Pay online. Many schools provide a service that allows parents to pay for their child’s school excursions, visits and school meals online - no more sending the kids to school with cash in hand.
Safe & Happy at St Teresa’s... • We are a happy, caring school that will nurture your child in a safe and warm environment. • Our pupils consistently achieve outstanding results that are significantly above local & national averages. • We provide a rich and inspiring curriculum to suit the needs of your child. Every day is Open Day at St Teresa’s. Please call us to arrange a visit. ‘Live life to the full, Love like Jesus, Learn from every opportunity as we grow together in faith’
St Teresa's Catholic Primary School
College Road, Up Holland, Lancashire, WN8 0PY
01695 623 842
www.st-teresas-rc34.lancsngfl.ac.uk/
60
Village school’s
top marks
A local school deemed to be needing improvement just over two years ago has now been classed ‘outstanding’. Crawford Village Primary came out top for leadership and management, quality of teaching, personal development, behaviour and welfare as well as early years provision in a recent inspection. In February 2014, Ofsted inspectors found that the school required improvement - singling out issues such as marking of work, slow progress and instability as a result of management changes. Two years on and Ofsted had nothing but praise - saying the headteacher is “a shining example of inspirational leadership” and that the teaching is
now “outstanding.” Lead inspector Kathleen McArthur added: “Standards have risen rapidly since the previous inspection. Progress is accelerating securely, and many pupils exceed the progress expected of them. Pupils are very happy in school and their behaviour is outstanding. In lessons, they are unfailingly keen, persevere and do their best.” Headteacher Gillian Wilton, who took over in September 2014, said: ““This is a wonderful achievement and is testimony to the unwavering commitment and hard work of a fantastic staff team, supported by a strong governing and parent body. We are extremely proud of our pupils who make Crawford Village Primary a very special school.”
‘This is an outstanding school’ Ofsted May 2016
Places available from Nursery to Year 6
OPEN WEEK ber w/c 26th Septem
awford Village, Crawford Rd, Cr 9QP Up Holland, WN8
61
St Jude’s Catholic Primary School & Nursery
A
PRIMARY SCHOOL OFSTED SEPTEMBER 2015
“Outcomes for pupils are good” “Children are kept safe”
“Children reach a good level of development”
“They enjoy school and learning about new things”
“Children make good progress” “Children are well cared for”
Ofsted (September 2015)
Our Nursery operates every morning from 9am - noon and is FREE OF CHARGE. We have three intakes per year - September, January and April. Children are welcome to start on the next intake following their 3rd birthday. Please contact the school for further information.
For further information, or to arrange a visit to our Nursery or Primary School, please call 01942 204091 OPEN AFTERNOON – THURSDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER AT 2PM Whether you are thinking of applying for a 2017 Reception Class place at St Jude’s or are interested in our nursery, please come along to our Open Afternoon for a coffee and to have a look around our school and nursery. Headteacher: Mr S Barrand, Worsley Mesnes Drive, Wigan, WN3 5AN
62
63
Take 10 to read with
your kids
R
eading is a vital skill that every parent wants their child to learn, yet almost half of UK mums and dads admit they lack the confidence and know-how to help improve their child’s reading at home. National Literacy Trust research has found that less than a third of young people read outside school every day, so it’s joined up with the Premier League to run Premier League Reading Stars, an annual initiative which has enlisted the help of 20 Premier League footballers to use children’s passion for football to motivate them to enjoy reading. Some of the players involved include Frank Lampard, Adam Lallana, Joey Barton and Boaz Myhill. The players have set literacy challenges for participating children, allowing them to unlock statistics, tips and videos from each footballer as they progress through the online programme. Several of the Reading Stars themselves, including Lampard, who is the author of the Frankie’s Magic Football children’s books, are reading role models and have chosen books which they enjoy reading at home to their children. The players are also calling on dads to take an active role in reading to their child and supporting their literacy. Manchester City midfielder Lampard says: “As a dad, literacy is a cause close to my heart - I love reading with my girls, and would really encourage other parents to keep reading with their kids. “Even 10 minutes a day is valuable, and a great time spent with them.” And for slightly older children who need more motivation to read, the Reading Stars programme, hopefully combined with a bit of reading with mum
or dad, could be exactly what’s needed to spark their interest. The Reading Stars programme is aimed at children aged between 7 and 15 years, but parents seeking help to improve the reading of younger children may gain inspiration from the new free online guide How to Help Your Child to Read: 30 Ways In 30 Days. Homework for parents: • Set a daily time to read to your children and try to stick to it. • Hang a family message board in the kitchen. Leave simple notes for one another with plenty of illustrations. • Plan a family book club - everyone reads the same book (or has it read to them). Then get together over popcorn to discuss the story. • As children learn to read themselves, consider allowing them to stay up a bit later as a treat - so long as it’s reading time. For more information about Premier League Reading Stars please visit www.literacytrust.org.uk and for the 30 Ways in 30 Days guide please visit www.leapfrog.com
64
Quality childcare you can trust! Nursery places are available for children aged 2 up to preschool age
Our beautiful rural setting is a happy, safe & vibrant place for your child to be
We are open from 8am-5.30pm and flexible sessions are available All staff members are fully qualified and have excellent knowledge & understanding of child development, care, learning & play
Call today for more information or to make an appointment to come and visit
Ofsted rates us as
‘outstanding’ Little Acorns Nursery Finch Lane Appley Bridge WN6 9DT for more information about Little Acorns Nursery visit our website on www.littleacorns-daynursery.com
01257 252647
01257 252647
65
Open Evening 29th September 2016 @ 6.00pm
Come along to our Open Evening and see how we inspire Excellence in all young people
Inspiring Excellence @AbrahamGuest
@AbrahamGuestAcademy
Abraham Guest Academy, Greenhey, Orrell, Wigan WN5 7DQ Email: enquires@abrahamguestacademy.com
www.abrahamguestadaemy.com
66
67
Follow in Ed’s
footsteps
Local musicians of today and tomorrow can follow in Ed Sheeran’s footsteps thanks to a Wigan social enterprise. The Music Projects is offering accredited music course via a range of different routes. These are performance (develop key individual, band and live performance skills); technology (sequence, produce and record live music) or composition (write a song/ compose a soundtrack). Ed Sheeran, who is now one of the UK’s biggest selling artists, started out studying music in London, and believes it helped him become the star he is today: “It gave me the first push and I loved the freedom. They understood that half of the learning you need for the
industry was outside the classroom with gigs and studio time.” The Music Projects is based in the old EB Cycles shop at 830 Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, with new, second outlet opening up at 57 Market Street, Hindley, soon. Open days are held at the Pemberton base every Wednesday from 6pm-8pm for those interested in enrolling on a course, which starts in September. Visit www.music-projects.com or call 01942 212607 for more information.
68
69
Student savvy bank
P
accounts
icking a suitable student current account can get teenagers’ first experiences of financial independence off to a good start, but what should you watch out for? How can you pick the best student account and manage your finances wisely?
do their best to earn additional income to reduce what they owe.
Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts. co.uk, says: “A sizeable overdraft facility will be a top priority for many. However, while this is a handy cash injection, using it to its fullest will always be an easy temptation.
“While these can prove useful to those who would frequently utilise the benefits, choosing an account based solely on the incentive can mean being stuck with a less attractive overdraft in the process.”
“There is a danger of racking up a significant overdraft and being unprepared when the time comes to pay it back, which is why students should do everything in their power to use it sparingly and
“These accounts are well-renowned for their enticing incentives, such as shopping discount cards, railcards or coach cards that save money on journeys.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that getting a sizeable interest-free overdraft facility is never a guarantee, and as with any bank account, customers will be credit scored.
70
Catholic
schools
Teachers of the future are being invited to a series of open evenings in the area.
W
igan Catholic Primary School Direct and Wigan & West Lancashire Catholic School Direct are coming to a school near you soon! They’ll be looking to recruit graduates who have the potential of becoming teachers in either a primary or secondary school setting. Working in partnership with Liverpool Hope University, WCPSD and WWLCSD are able to develop direct training that will have the academic and theoretical underpinning to allow trainees to become outstanding practitioners within the field of education. A spokesman said: “We are seeking individuals who demonstrate and are able to apply the skills of organisation, flexibility, reflection, evaluation and action to all aspects of the course and their career. Enthusiastic individuals who are able to communicate effectively with pupils, colleagues and parents on a range of levels are essential to our partnership. Trainees can expect to obtain a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) and QTS Qualified Teacher Status by the end of the programme. The PGCE is a 60 credit award that can offer progression, upon successful application, onto a Liverpool Hope University Masters in Education (180 credits in total) for those students who want to pursue further study. It’s a programme that gives you 120 days minimum in school, including a minimum of 12 days at Liverpool Hope University. There will be access to learning conferences throughout the year where you will meet and work with trainees from across
WCPSD and WWLCSD, and placements across two contrasting schools. As part of its training programme, students will also complete the first two modules of the Catholic Certificate of Religious Studies. For more information see the advertisement below.
Do YOU want to teach ?
Then come along to one of our Open Evenings... Tuesday, 10th October & Tuesday, 1st November St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Wigan All open evenings will be 5:30pm - 7:30pm We are looking for graduates who have the potential to become outstanding primary or secondary school teachers of the future. Our School Direct teacher training program, accredited by Liverpool Hope University, leads to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education with Qualified Teacher Status and 60 credits toward a Liverpool Hope Masters in Education.
For further details about primary teacher training visit www.wcpsd.org.uk. For further details about secondary teacher training visit www.catholicsd.org.uk Applications for September 2017 open at the end of October 2016 and can be made via www.UCAS.com (Search for provider codes 2A4 and course code 2XT7)
71
Apprenticeship
schemes
There are many options open to pupils when they finish their GCSE’s. They could choose to study subjects that could lead to University, vocational qualifications or take up an apprenticeship.
1,500 job roles – anything from engineering to boat-building or veterinary nursing to accountancy.
Apprenticeships are a popular choice for people who wish to train while they work. By taking on an apprenticeship, traineeship or supported internship, you can receive hands on training whilst gaining a qualification at the same time.
A supported internship is a scheme just for students with learning difficulties or learning disabilities who want to get a job and need extra support to do this.
This would see you working for an employer and training to do a specific job at the same time. There are over 280 types of apprenticeships for more than
A traineeship gets you ready for work or for doing an apprenticeship. They usually last from six weeks to six months and provide essential work preparation training, literacy and numeracy skills and work experience to get an apprenticeship or other job.
They last for at least six months and are unpaid. You will get work experience and training for a specific job role from an employer – you also get to study for qualifications or other courses to help you get ready to take up a job.
Looking for an apprenticeship? • Animal Care
• Joinery
• Beauty Therapy
• Motor Vehicle
• Brickwork
• Maintenance Operations
• Business Administration
• Plastering
• Engineering
• Plumbing
• Hairdressing
• Veterinary Nursing
Prescott Street, Wigan, WN6 7DD Montrose Skills Hub, Montrose Ave, Wigan, WN5 9XL Central Park, Montrose Ave, Wigan, WN5 9XN Call: 01942 488 500 Email: recruitment@proconw.co.uk
www.proconw.co.uk
@ProCoNW
ProCo NWLtd.
@ProCo_NW
72
Adult course guide
launched S
t Helens College is delighted to announce the launch of its Autumn/Winter 2016 January Adult Course Guide – with more courses than ever before!
The College have a range of adult courses offering the chance to learn new skills, develop existing ones, boost your confidence, gain qualifications or simply learn for fun starting from this September onwards. With courses suitable for everyone, from the absolute beginner, to those seeking more advanced and formal qualifications there’s never been a better time to study. It’s perfect for those who are unemployed, looking to secure a promotion, gain a chartered qualification or want to learn a new hobby with our night school classes; we can help you to achieve your goals. People wishing to return to education in St Helens and across the country will also be receiving a boost this coming academic year with the introduction of new loans for those aged 19 years old or over. The new Advanced Learner Loan is now available to those aged 19 and above studying for qualifications at levels 3, 4, 5 and 6 expanding access to college courses to even more people. St Helens College Principal, Dr Jette Burford commented: “Regardless of your age, past qualifications or future goals, St Helens College is the key to tailoring your education and development to suit your needs.” The St Helens College Autumn/Winter 2016 January Adult Course Guide is available to view and download now at www.sthelens.ac.uk. For free advice and guidance, or to explore what is available or to enrol onto a course drop into St Helens College Adult Enrolment and Information Events on Tuesday 30th August, 9.00am – 5.00pm, Wednesday 31st August, 12.00pm - 7.00pm, Tuesday 6th September, 5.00pm - 7.00pm, Thursday 8th September, 5.00pm - 7.00pm, Wednesday 14th September, 5.00pm - 7.00pm. For courses in Construction, Engineering, Motor Vehicle or Animal Management, drop into Technology Centre Campus, WA10 1TT. For all other courses, drop into Town Centre Campus, WA10 1PP. Alternatively, you can call 0800 99 66 99 or explore our website for more information.
73
74
Diary dates Location
August:
September:
Enrolment Event
25th August
St Helens College
Enrolment Event
26th August
St Helens College
Enrolment Event
30th August
St Helens College
Adult Enrolment
30th August
Wigan & Leigh College
Enrolment Event
30th August
St Helens College
Enrolment Event
31st August
Wigan & Leigh College
Enrolment Event
31st August
St Helens College
Adult Enrolment
31st August
St Helens College
Adult Enrolment
6th September
St Helens College
Adult Enrolment
8th September
Hindley High School
Adult Enrolment
13th & 14th September
St Helens College
Adult Enrolment
14th September
Open Week
W/C 26th September
Abraham Guest Academy St Jude’s Catholic Primary School St Mary’s College St Mary’s College
Open Evening
29th September
Open Afternoon
29th September
Open Event
29th September
Open Event
1st October
ProCo NW
Open Evening
14th October
WCPSD
Open Evening
10th October
Open Events
19th October
ProCo NW
Open Evening
5th November
WCPSD
Open Evening
1st November
Open Events
10th & 19th November
Carmel College
November:
Event Date
St Helens College
Crawford Village Primary School
October:
2016
Carmel College