SUCCESS4ALL SUPPORTS 127 CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE IN ITS FREE 2022 SUMMER SCHOOL

Thanks to funding from Newcastle Best Summer Ever, Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland and The Barbour Foundation; Success4All was delighted to once again host its much beloved free Summer School over the 2022 summer holidays.

This year the Summer School welcomed and supported 127 children and young people aged between 5 to 16 years.

74% of those offered a place were in receipt of Free School Meals

Similar to last year, we hosted three free Summer Schools, each running from Monday to Friday.

During each week, we offered a full-day programme which started with breakfast at 8:30 am and pickup at 3:30 pm.

The children and young people enjoyed a range of enrichment activities that focused on nutrition and wellbeing.

With trips out, meditation and daily walks, we developed a programme that would equip our young people with life skills they can depend on beyond our room.

Our programme also included a STEM focus as we also wanted the children and young people to understand how the human body digests and makes sense of the food we consume.

One of the activities the children relished was our toothpaste activity. In this activity, we set up the children with the task of making toothpaste from scratch. This enquiry-based learning activity not only got the children thinking about tooth decay it also got them to think about how toothpaste is made and the reason why certain ingredients are added.

Finally, every student was given a clear introduction to our Skills Builder Framework.

The Skills Builder Framework is a great method for visually displaying how to build essential skills.

It’s a fantastic method that encourages children and young people to identify the skills they have already mastered and it also supports them to visualise the skills they are yet to develop.

In total there are 8 skills within the framework, however in our Summer School we focused on 6; Listening, Speaking, Creativity, Team Work, Staying Positive and Problem Solving.

SKILL BUILDER FRAMEWORK IN ACTION

Whilst at Gibside Park, a group of 5 children wanted to play on a large rope swing together. They communicated with each other and with staff about the best way they could all fit together safely.

Staff member: “I was very proud of this group of children. They managed to problem solve to include everyone whilst also taking into consideration other aspects, such as safety.”

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE TESTIMONIALS

 

“I liked fruit kebabs because they tasted good.”

“I really liked going to the park because I had fun playing with everyone.”

“I really liked Alnwick garden because I enjoyed splashing in the fountains and the poison plant garden.”

PARENT/CARER TESTIMONIALS

“I enjoyed the variety in your daily programme allowing children to experience outdoor and indoor activities. Your programme provided an opportunity for the children to experience trips to different locations. This provided an opportunity to understand the importance of conservation and explore creative aspects within themselves.” ~ Parent

“My 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son both attended the Success4All summer club in respective upper and lower groups. The organisation of daily activities was very efficient. I thought it was a very good idea to have a timetable of activities with allocated times every day as the kids knew what to expect before the day started and this really helps with anxious children.

My children particularly enjoyed the selection of lunches throughout the week and the fact that they were quite healthy was an added bonus.

Taking the children on a trip out every day was the highlight of the day. The kids looked forward to this part the most. The main trip to Alnwick Garden was a delight for the children. I came along to support the staff on this day and it was an exceptional experience.

The staff were all very supportive in every possible way and can not be thanked enough.

Providing access to this summer school has meant so much to my children who would otherwise have been spending most of their time indoors on games, tv etc.”  ~ Parent

 

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

As part of our Summer School programme, we ensure that every child who enrols receives a free breakfast and warm lunch.

Once again, we were extremly lucky to have had Vegan by Goreti deliver our Summer School catering this year.

Goreti and her wonderful team introduced our young people to delicious and nutritious vegan Portuguese food.

Goreti said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to share my love for vegan food with the children and really rewarding to see that they enjoyed the food and came back for more!”

There’s also always fruit available for everyone to enjoy and of course, it’s not Summer School without a summer birthday so it was only fitting we shared some delicious birthday cake together.

Once again, a very special thank you to all of our funders, who without, we wouldn’t have been able to hold our Summer School.