Summer School
Anybody who has ever worked in a classroom will be very aware that many children regress during the summer break. Government statistics estimate that in the first half-term of autumn 2020, pupils in:
Anecdotal evidence also points to children and young people’s mental health having suffered from lockdown and from periods of individual or class isolation, even after schools had reopened fully in the autumn term.
Summer school provision with an academic focus has the potential to support attending pupils to make up for some of their missed education.
Here at Positively You, we strive to deliver a summer school experience which will be both fun and educational, whilst providing numerous opportunities to improve social skills and confidence. These skills are developed through an equal diet of team building, interspersed with catch-up literacy and numeracy, plus coaching students on how to map goals and develop resilience.
We have worked with many groups who are making the gargantuan leap from primary to secondary education, but it’s true to say that students become similarly anxious at the thought of moving to a new year group after the summer break.
At Positively You, we aim to alleviate any fears or worries about dealing with new situations and we strive to make children more secure in their ability to build new friendships.
Transitioning into Year 7 and returning to school after the summer holidays can be daunting for many students in theory, but it doesn’t have to be in practice. Our Resilience workshop, which is applicable for all year groups, focuses on turning nerves into excitement, banishing mental health stigma, stress busting techniques, recognising warning signs and practical coping methods. Students are encouraged to develop a growth mindset and to switch from negative to positive thinking.
Our Year 7 workshops combine learning to learn techniques with spelling and mental maths examples through Creative Approaches to Learning. We also offer Super Speed Study Skills and Mind Mapping for all ages.
Our team building activities have been designed to build confidence, create friendships and to develop, drive and motivate your pupils using a creative and fun approach. Our aim is to leave a positive impact on each student who takes part. This is achieved through the teaching of multiple games with a particular skill base such as juggling, cane balance, ping pong bounce, silent birthday and Dragon’s Den. These activities generate great excitement, as children are driven to help one another to achieve a goal.
These activities, set in the great outdoors, focus on students learning and applying practical skills and techniques, further developing their leadership skills and qualities. Children are presented with an alternative method of developing physical and mental abilities. They are taught skills and techniques which are relevant to their chosen activities and learn to identify ways in which they can improve their own performance, focusing on aspects such as problem solving and conflict resolution.
Last year we experienced our busiest ever summer, supporting more than 2,500 students across 25 different schools and colleges. We provided quantifiable data to each institution through pre and post questionnaires. Here is a sampling of the feedback from one such establishment:
We also asked students if they felt that they had made more friends throughout their summer school experience – 96% said yes!
“They have helped me learn different ways of remembering things, so I think I will remember more of what I learn in school”
“It has benefited me by helping me be more prepared for what is to come in secondary school”
Contact us today to find out more about summer workshops for your school.
A fantastic way for students to consolidate the ideas and techniques they were introduced to during a live workshop.
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