Out of School Activities
Out of school hours learning enhances
Enjoyment and motivation | Self confidence self esteem | Improved relationships | Teamwork and problem solving |
Health and wellbeing | Communication and social skills | Raised aspirations | Taking responsibility |
Over the years the Virtual School has offered a range of activities for different groups of children in care. Many of these have been in partnership with other organisations such as Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, Highgate Independent School and the Big Green Bookshop.
Study Club
The study club has been established since 2004 and has contributed and supported the raising of the education attainment of children in care.
A team of teachers and a coach from Tottenham Hotspur Foundation supports the young people with homework, revision and educational activities as well as encouraging them to stay fit by engaging in physical activity.
Games club for children in key stage 1 and 2 based at Wood Green Library 2010-2013 | Visits to London Eye, river cruise and afternoon tea in the Marriott Hotel - 2005-2010 | Study Club | Theatre workshops in partnership with Chicken Shed 2010-2011 |
Annual cinema events children, Carers and children in the household 2006-2013 | Many young people have also been involved in a range of consultations and national events | Mentoring project funded by Rainer 2007-2008 | Big Green Envelope 2007-2013 |
Awards
Since 2004 we have held an annual Education Achievement Awards event at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Stadium. This event is well attended and supported by schools, children and the young people’s service with the attendance of a Tottenham Hotspur Football player.
Partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation
Haringey Virtual School of Children in Care have worked with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation since 2004. This well established partnership has resulted in successful funding applications to deliver the following programmes:
- To Care Is To Do 2008 - 2011. The focus of this project was to offer a range of additional events, activities and opportunities for Haringey children in care. This included education achievement awards, work experience, coach at study club, summer and winter parties and a range of other bespoke initiatives including cooking club
- South Africa project - In 2008 and 2009, 15 selected young people were part of a project working in partnership with schools in South Africa. The young people supported coaching delivery sessions to over 400 children given by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation coaches. They also attended schools and visited the SOS village which have links to THFC. This project continues to provide on-going UK based support for some of the young people
- E18HTEEN (external link) - A project to support education attainment, volunteering and employment opportunities for care leavers in four authorities, funded by the GLA with Haringey, Barnet, Enfield and Waltham Forest.
Highgate Independent School
Haringey Virtual School’s link with Highgate Independent School has included exciting chemistry presentations and development of opportunities to support educational aspirations for children in care.
University taster days for those aged 11+
Through linking in with various Universities and organisations since 2009, Haringey children in care have visited Middlesex and Cambridge Universities. They have been supported to consider a pathway to Higher Education and had the opportunity to meet student ambassadors from a range of Universities. Carers have also been offered support and guidance during these taster days.
Care2work
Care2work aims to identify and share good practice and enable relationships between corporate parents and employers in order to increase the breadth of employability opportunities available to young people leaving care. The E18HTEEN project was awarded the Quality Mark in April 2012.
Big Green Envelope
Throughout the year specific children in care receive a shiny green envelope containing a book in the post. This is to support excitement around reading the creation of the child's own library. For more information about supporting reading visit the Reading is important page.
This is in partnership with the Big Green Bookshop (external link) based in Wood Green.
Additional links:
- Pupil Premium Grant for Children in Care page
- Guidance and Website Links page
- Youthspace (external link)
- Tottenham Hotspur Foundation (external link)
- Tottenham Hotspur Foundation - To Care Is To Do (external link)
Patron of Reading
Matt Brown is an author and is Haringey Virtual School’s Patron of Reading. This means that he will spend time with us and bring reading and writing to life! Matt is also a radio and television presenter – he has been on Nickelodeon, The Big Breakfast and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! He has written three books about Compton Valance, a ten-year-old boy who accidentally creates his own time machine. |