The Community Trust deliver Alternative Provision in the HUB, offering something different to attending school with the aim of engaging with children who are struggling within their education setting.
The provision aims to develop children for the future whilst building their education in time for their exams, using unique and alternative ways of teaching.
Lewis Greenway, who is a teacher on the course, told us more about the project and what it entails.
He said: “The course is aimed at children aged 12 to 16 years old and we basically almost want to rehabilitate them back into schools.
“These children are either disengaged within their schools or they are simply not built for attending school – some children just don’t benefit from the school environment.
“We will take on these children and ensure we teach them in an alternative way. It’s all about ensuring we get the best out of them and doing our best to make sure they leave us as a more well-rounded individual.”
Greenway told us more about he got involved in the programme, saying: “I got involved after my teacher training year.
“I felt like I needed something else to gain more experience before I become a teacher and I found this role which suited me really well.
“I’ve been in this role for over a year and a half and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve done an apprenticeship at the Trust before and I feel that prepared me well. It prepared me to be a teaching assistant and now this role is really throwing me in at the deep end and building my skill set.
“The Trust believe in me and thought they could use me as a teacher and they’ve now built me up and helped me teach more and more.
“It was around six months ago when they offered me this role as they believed in me and what I can do.”
He expressed how he’s found working for the Trust and what it means to him, saying: “Working for the Trust is amazing, I love it.
“Every day is different and it all runs very smoothly, they treat everyone with respect.
“Obviously, sometimes days with the kids can be tough but that’s normal. Every day with the Trust is a calm ocean, I love it here and the Trust is truly great.”
Greenway was keen to express that this course can be difficult to turn kids around but explained how they try to interact with the children.
“Sometimes it’s not about getting them to do the work,” he said. “It’s actually about getting them in the room and talking with them, it’s not all about the workbook.
“Having plenty of conversations with them and engaging with them and then they quickly realise they can continue to have that conversation whilst still doing some work.
“It’s about then engaging them with the work and they do it and sometimes then even ask for more work as they have enjoyed it – simply because they’re engaged.
“They realise they need the work for their exams and they’re then willing to crack on and get it done most of the time.”
Finally, he had a message for anyone who thinks their child may be suited to Alternative Provision.
He said: “There’s no harm in trying something and that’s the key for me. We’ve had students who have come in and literally just done a day with us and then decided it’s not for them.
“Other children have come along expecting little and decided that it’s actually for them and now are with us until they do their GCSEs when that time comes around.
“Don’t be afraid to get involved, give it a go before you rule it out completely. You never know, it might just work for your child and help them in their education and help them develop as a person.”
