Context
Background Information
At Go Well, we have been looking at providing opportunities for pupils and staff at local Alternative Provision educational establishments. We decided to work with the North East Autism Society to see if there were any opportunities for their older students to gain some leadership experience and run a small scale event on their site with pupils from a local SEND school.
What was the aim of work?
We created links with NEAS and Evergreen last year by hosting a primary school multi skills festival on each site and inviting primary pupils from the other site to attend and participate. This was a new link between the schools and staff and pupils and despite being very small scale the pupils really enjoyed the experience. This year we wanted to work with some of the older students to give them some experience of leadership and help them organise a small festival for some visiting primary pupils.
Which outcome(s) did it focus on?
- 4. To support the personal development of targeted young people through youth engagement and leadership
Which expectation(s) did it meet?
- Using local insight and youth engagement to identify young people and schools that would most benefit from a targeted School Games offer.
- Developing a case study to show where you have made the most impact against local priorities, and through effective storytelling share your learning locally and nationally.
- Collaborating with key partners to inform the local and county offer to tackle inequalities and ensuring inclusive and safe practice.
- Identify schools that are not engaged and developing strategies to improve this.
- Co-ordinate and signpost schools and young people to a programme of relevant training of leadership, coaching, volunteering and officiating experiences.
Intent
Overview
The North East Autism Society has a school site in our geographical area and has the following values.
‘Working together to inspire, support, celebrate and equip autistic and neurodivergent people to fulfil their potential in life’
Our Core Values
Across the North East Autism Society, four core values underpin our practice:
- to have our learners and those accessing our services at the heart of the organisation
- to operate a fair, respectful and honest culture
- to strive for the highest quality
- to operate with integrity
We passionately believe that autistic children have significant skills and strengths, which can be developed throughout their lifetime.
Target group
- Behavioural Challenges
- SEND
- A cognitive disability (e.g. problems thinking or remembering)
- A mental health or emotional disability (e.g. problems with mood)
- A communication or social relationships disability (e.g. autism, Asperger's, ADHD)
- Targeted Groups of Young People
Aligns to Schools Games Intents of:
- Build social skills and connections (i.e. sense of belonging)
- Develop leadership, character, life skills
Implementation
Three students at the school in the 14+ section took part in a series of workshops around Leadership looking at the STEP principles. They looked at ideas for delivering a multi skills festival and came up with ideas for games and activities - then delivered them to the other members of the group and took feedback from what went well and how they could improve their delivery.
Three weeks later we invited Evergreen Primary School to bring along a group of Key Stage 1 pupils to the NEAS site and take part in a carousel of multi skills activities. The three leaders from NEAS helped set up the challenges in the school sports hall - including bowling a ball at targets, kicking a football in a goal, throwing snowball (pom poms) into hoops and rolling a ball to land on pokemon spots on the floor. The students explained the games and then demonstrated how each activity worked. They then helped the younger pupils to try the activities offering advice and showing them how to succeed. This was the first time they had met the pupils from Evergreen and the first time delivering a sporting session to anyone. The session last about an hour with the primary pupils moving from one activity to the next. We had a drinks break half way through the event and then a free play time when they choose which of the activities to do.
Impact
Here is a link to the school website and a write up of how well the NEAS leaders did on the day - Aycliffe School learners organise sports tournament
Some quotes from the primary school, Evergreen:
Children's Quotes - "I liked working with the big boys!!"
- " Awh it was really fun !!!"
Evergreen Staff - "it was suited to our children's needs and was flexible enough for us to move on at the pace and time we needed to. The space was safe and not over stimulating for our children and the leaders and pupils seemed to socialise well. Our children enjoyed it very much."
KH - Class Teacher and PE Lead
And from NEAS
"Everyone had a great day. Every child got involved and tried really hard and looked like they had a lot of fun. Josh, Kai and Mickie all explained all the games brilliantly and got really involved with everyone. Really proud of all of them. "
JM - Class Teacher
"As Class Teacher for Kai and Mickie, to have that positive feedback is fabulous. Thank you. The 2 boys alongside Ewan (who was unfortunately absent yesterday) would love to help out on the 13th Friday. We can make either session time work or even do both if required. Thanks for this opportunity." JG - Class Teacher
NEAS Leaders "At first I was a bit not ok but after it was amazing and I liked working with the children."
POST SCRIPT
Two of the NEAS students attended our Year 3 Multi Skills festival last week. This was at a local leisure centre and with 60 pupils from 2 local schools. Having showed the leaders the activities they choose to be in charge of the football station - kicking a ball from next to a spot into a small mini soccer goal. The boys started slowly and then gained confidence helping the younger pupils to score goals and pass the ball back. They then asked if they could help with a different activity - dress the snowman and volunteered to be the snowman as the primary pupils balanced different bits of PE equipment on them. After lunch the activities changed and the leaders looked after the snowball (pom poms) throwing station and took pupils on a sleigh ride by pulling them along on gym mats!
The staff from NEAS were amazed with their two leaders. One in particular was usually non verbal and had arrived at school that morning with his head down and slumped over his desk before they departed for the event. They were very pleasantly surprised to see both leaders taking charge of the activities and increase in self belief and confidence as the day continued. Both leaders then helped tidy up the equipment and handed out certificates and stickers to all of the primary pupils.
Challenges
The students at NEAS were not always present for each of the leadership sessions. New students joined in and others moved on so they had to pick up ideas from their peers - this also made sessions interesting as new relationships needed to be built.
The school has a nice sports hall but little to no sports equipment available - so there were very few opportunities to practice activities between the leadership sessions.
The pupils from Evergreen have a range of abilities and so the activities needed to be flexible and with a range of outcomes. Some pupils were in wheelchairs and had mobility difficulties so the activities needed to be accessible to all.
Sustainability
Having delivered a successful festival on their own school site we would like to invite the NEAS students to one of our whole class Year 3 festivals happening towards the end of this term. They will be invited to attend and look after some of the carousel activities which will be similar to the ones they ran for the Evergreen pupils. It is hoped that this will give them event greater experience of leadership at a new venue with more primary pupils.
Top tips
Top tips
Start small - small groups of pupils and small amounts of equipment.
Use the staff expertise and knowledge of the students to know how confident they are and how they will cope in new environments.
Time and space to have a time out or a rest as the day goes on.
What next?
Where else can these leaders help us?
What other opportunities are there to work in partnership?
