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ContinYou is one of the UK's leading education charities. We believe that every child and young person must have an education that enables them to develop to their full potential.
News
Updated regularly - last updated: 17.02.12
Events
Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam
The British Museum's large new exhibition explores Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. 26 January to 15 April, British Museum, London.
Shaping the future: Race and racism in 21st century Britain
ROTA's seminar series, launched in November 2011 to coincide with the retrial into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, will debate questions about ethnicity and disadvantage and seek to identify solutions to persistent and emerging inequalities faced by BAME children, young people and their families. The four sessions will be held in: Tower Hamlets, 22 February; Hackney, 28 February; Haringey, 29 February; and Islington, 1 March.
Bitesize Finance course
Designed for absolute beginners, each course stands alone. If you book all six, then you get one course for free. The five sessions are: petty cash & volunteer expenses, 22 February; bookkeeping, 29 February; budgeting, 7 March; bank reconciliation, 14 March; cashflow forecasts, 21 March; paying staff, 28 March. Lewisham, London.
An Enterprising Future
Social Enterprise UK and Social Enterprise West Midlands host a one-day business support event for voluntary sector organisations who provide services to children and young people. Free for organisations with a turnover of less than £20,000. 28 February, Birmingham.
Improving Outcomes Through Extra-Curricular Activities 3
Free training day from the Learning Exchange and their partners the UFA on monitoring the outcomes of extra-curricular activities. You must be a Learning Exchange member to attend, but membership is also free. 13 March, Durham; 22 March, Birmingham; 29 March, London.
Children England annual conference: Preaching what we practice
Shining a spotlight on the voluntary sector’s innovative direct practice with children, young people and families. The vibrant agenda is packed with practical workshops, troubleshooting and advice sessions, inspiring speeches and a lively plenary debate. 15 March, Manchester.
Museums and participation: Unlocking the potential of things
This free conference will feature a series of practice-based presentations and discussions on the potential of object-based learning. 20 March, British Museum, London.
Supplementary school weekend at the Hajj exhibition
The British Museum is currently organising some special free events for supplementary schools related to their new Hajj exhibition on the weekend of 24 and 25 March. 
Essentials of Financial management
Voluntary Action Lewisham (VAL) in London is running half-day sessions for community groups about managing money. Christine Wykes Driver, the community accountant at VAL, has done some truly excellent work for/with supplementary schools over the years and really understands the financial requirements and obligations facing community organisations. The five sessions are: financial policies and procedures, 19 April; setting and monitoring a budget, 26 April; introduction to bookkeeping, 3 May; simple year-end accounts, 10 May; financial reports for your management committee, 17 May. To book your place, contact Christine on 020 8314 6576 or christine@valewisham.org.uk
Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice in Teaching in Supplementary Schools
This accredited CPD course will deal with perspectives of how pupils learn - delivered in conjunction with working in a school/teaching context. It aims to introduce participants to and further develop knowledge and understanding of 'learning theories' and 'learning perspectives'. All applicants should already be teaching in a supplementary/school context (paid or voluntary). Enroll now for a mid-September start.
Funding opportunities
Below is a list of funding opportunities with forthcoming deadlines. Those without deadlines are listed on the funding advice page.
The Leicestershire Fund
Between £500 and £5,000 for projects involving or set up by people in the local community. Leicestershire only. Apply by 10 February.
Targeted Interventions to Raise BME Attainment
Bristol City Council has a £40,000 pot for smaller organisations, including supplementary schools, to contribute to raising attainment levels. Apply by 17 February.
Erach & Roshan Sadri Foundation Grants
Grants between £2,000 and £100,000 to support educational and welfare projects that relieve poverty by alleviating homelessness and assisting members of the Zoroastrian religious faith. The application deadline is 1 March.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation Grants
Up to £2,000 for small, local groups in Northamptonshire for new or ongoing project activity that benefits the community in some way. Apply by 9 March.
British Academy Schools Language Awards
Two awards of £4,000 will be given to projects in seven UK regions: one for languages taught in mainstream secondary schools and one for complementary/supplementary schools. A national award of an additional £4,000 will be given to the best overall project. The deadline for applications is 30 March.
The Hedley Foundation
The foundation encourages development and change for young people. Most grants are £5,000 or below, although new innovative projects may be eligible for a series of three grants in a year. Apply by 14 March.
BBC Children in Need grants programme
This is open to organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people who are 18 years old and under. Organisations and projects must be based in the UK and must be registered charities or other not-for-profit organisations. The next deadline is 15 April.
The Nominet Trust
Funding for IT projects that support disadvantaged groups. Apply by 1 May.
Education Endowment Fund
£125 million is available from the DfE and the Sutton Trust for disadvantaged children. Supplementary schools must be working in partnership with mainstream schools to be eligible. Apply by 1 June.
Studies, reports and toolkits
Bright Education Centre - student interviews:
Shpresa's Supplementary School Tookit
Shpresa has made a toolkit about working with mainstream schools, focusing on how to develop and maintain partnerships. See the accompanying Youtube videos about their work.
Harrow Weekend School pilot project: evaluation report
This evaluation looks at both the impact on attainment, the wider impact on families and communities, and the impact on the mainstream schools of the children. It also shows how supplementary schools can form an integral part of authorities’ educational support programmes and extended services. A new project, Stag Lane Weekend School has grown out of the initial pilot and is showing excellent results. Download the initial report below:
NRC Evaluation Report 2007-2010
A report on how the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education has helped support supplementary schools and made a positive contribution to their organisations.
Impact Of Supplementary Schools On Pupils’ Attainment – February 2010
This DCSF report says supplementary schools boost children’s performance and confidence, and that their success is down to the fact they are voluntary and community-run.
Other news
KS3/KS4 qualified/part-qualified English teachers needed
English teachers are wanted at a supplementary school based at Oasis Academy in Enfield, North London. Two hours on Wednesday evenings (5.15 to 7.15pm). £30 per hour for qualified and £20 per hour for part-qualified teachers. Please contact Antoinette on 07812 736 759 or email ilamos2@hotmail.co.uk.
Arabic teacher wanted
Tidemills Arabic and Cultural Club is looking for an Arabic teacher who shares their passion for making learning Arabic fun. Tidemills is based in Deptford, London. Email tidemillarabiclub@yahoo.co.uk, or call 07541 431361 / 07896 486156.
CRB checks - January 2012 update
We've updated our information sheet on Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks. Includes answers to common questions on the system.
Northamptonshire supplementary schools campaign to keep funding
Twenty schools are due to have their local authority funding cut in March 2012, so they have started a petition to stop this from happening.
Sign the petition to save their funding.
Shpresa featured in the Newham Recorder newspaper
The Kosovan programme was featured in the paper twice last month for performances they held in honour of the European Day of Languages.
Tarbiyat School makes music in the House of Lords
Eight students from the Persian school in Barnet performed positive rap music for peers and received medals.
Enhanced CRB check increases in price
The increase to £44 is less than the previously proposed ISA/CRB check under the Vetting and Barring scheme. CRB checks for volunteers will remain free of charge.
Refugees into schools
New guidance from the Employability Forum provides advice to support refugee community organisations (RCOs) to build effective relationships with local schools. 'Engaging with schools: a guide for refugee organisations' contains ideas for activities, including awareness raising, and practical steps to making a visit successful. If you would like more information or a copy of the guidance, please contact info@employabilityforum.co.uk or call 020 7250 8330.
Vetting and Barring Scheme has been updated
We’ve collated the main points in a Word document with everything you need to know about the government’s recent safeguarding announcement.
Language learning must increase to help UK economy
Language skills are becoming increasingly important because the UK job market is becoming more international.
Supplementary schools are saving the loss of languages
BBC News report on how supplementary schools are teaching the mother tongues not catered for in mainstream education and how these extra activities are helping children become high achievers.
Supplementary schools help pupils learn faster
Researchers found that pupils were encouraged by supplementary school staff to believe that ambitious careers were possible if they worked hard.
Special offers
A great offer from StreetGames and CTC's Bike Club
Free Bikeability training for local community groups and schools across England to get more young people cycling for fun, for travel, for health and for sport. If you have enough young people who want to do it, free instructor training for your volunteers and coaches can be arranged. Groups interested in the training should contact Emma Armstrong at emma.armstrong@continyou.org.uk.
Read about Bikeability on the Department for Transport website.
Free websites for community groups
The BT Community Web Kit helps charities and community groups create easy-to-build websites to promote themselves for free. The offer includes free hosting, addresses and enough space for 500 pictures. Non-profit organisations can also get help with creating an online presence from Facebook and Google.
Free courses from Links into Languages East Midlands
Normally £50 per course, the East Midlands region for Links into Languages has opened up a range of its courses for free to all NRC members, including Planning for Sustained Progression in Languages and Classroom Strategies for Teachers of Primary Languages.
Accredited ConceptConnect training (PDF)
The Regional Youth Work Unit and Learning South West are working with ConceptConnect to provide two accredited courses at specially reduced prices. One is on supporting young people with disabilities or learning difficulties, and the other is about safeguarding vulnerable young people.
Free computer courses for adults in Coventry
As part of the government’s drive for a digitally literate nation, Foleshill Women's Training is offering courses both in-house and citywide across Coventry.
The British Museum
Activity days for supplementary schools
The Victoria and Albert Museum
To book a tour for your group (two weeks notice is required), please call 020 7942 2211 or email bookings.office@vam.ac.uk. Alternatively you can email community programmes co-ordinator Harvinder Bahra directly at hbahra@britishmuseum.org. Victoria and Albert Museum, London SW7 2RL, www.vam.ac.uk/schools.
NRC on Twitter
Newsletters
Keep up-to-date with the latest developments in supplementary education with our newsletters:
The Bulletin: published termly, including contributions from academics, teachers, school co-ordinators, LA officers and the DCSF.
E-bulletin: monthly email with updates, news and the latest information.
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