making links with schools Ultimate Church Visit is a great tool for developing good relationships with local schools, as well as creating an opportunity for teachers, children and even families to come into your church and find out what happens there, and how you support and care for the community. The Extended Schools initiative* means that faith communities and voluntary organisations have even more opportunities to provide support for, and build relationships with teachers, pupils and families. Here are ten tips and ideas for using Ultimate Church Visit to make links with schools and reach out to children and families: 1. Turn your Ultimate Church Visit into a community event by holding a coffee morning or open day following a series of visits. Invite teachers, parents and families to come and see what the children have been learning. Make a display of the pupils’ work and photographs of the visit, and allow the children and adults to explore some of the zones in a less structured way. 2. It’s not usually appropriate to invite pupils to a Christian event, Sunday school, or kids’ club in the context of a school visit. However, it is acceptable to organise a special celebration event or an activity fun day for all the pupils who have taken part in Ultimate Church Visit over the course of the week(s). You could advertise your kids’ club or holiday club at this event instead. 3. Be willing to make Ultimate Church Visit a part of the school’s RE curriculum, and/or offer to run it for other year groups. 4. Offer to lead assemblies/acts of worship… 5. …or help with RE lessons, eg at Easter or Christmas. 6. Start a lunchtime Christian club in the school. 7. Set up a breakfast or after school-club at the school or at your corps or centre. 8. Encourage some of your team/church members to volunteer as helpers on other school trips or to listen to children read (visit www.vrh.org.uk for information). 9. Invite a class to take part in a Sunday meeting (eg Education Sunday) or a carol service. 10. Bake a cake and take it in for the staff! *find out more about Extended Schools by visiting www.everychildmatters.gov.uk
ultimate church visit