Since the start of the pandemic our wonderful volunteers have been unable to go into various schools across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland where they would usually attend weekly to help children to improve their Reading and Maths skills. Both school staff and volunteers are eager to for these sessions to restart as soon as is possible for all involved.
We were delighted to be able to hold two steering group meetings recently to discuss what has worked really well with NP and GFR in the past, what we could potentially do better when the projects resume and if there is anything we could embed into the projects to get maximum impact for students who have fallen behind during school closures.
The children are always so proud of having contact with a special person from outside school.
Number Partners school co-ordinator, Sparkenhoe Primary School.
We had such helpful feedback from all members of both steering groups which will help us to forward plan, with a view to recruiting and training more volunteers and restarting both NP and GFR in January 2022.
Rapport between student and volunteer was excellent and made a big difference to students’ reading progress.
Go For Reading school co-ordinator, Hinckley Academy.
A massive thank you to all who attended the steering group meetings and to those who could not be present but filled in a short questionnaire. We are looking forward to the next meeting which will take place after the summer holiday when children have settled in to learning and we have more knowledge from schools and volunteer workplaces regarding restrictions being lifted.
If you are interested in becoming a Number Partners or Go for Reading volunteer, please contact Helen@leicestershirecares.co.uk for more information.