Aiming high, starting young
West Earlham Infants has a lottery-funded teacher who works solely with parents. One is starting a degree in September, dispelling myths: “I always thought I was thick, but I’m not.” Today their brand new nursery opened allowing parents access to childcare and support from birth upwards.
The investment’s part of a drive to raise education standards in the area. The school is already “outstanding”, according to Ofsted, while the neighbouring Junior School, on special measures just 3 years ago, also passed a recent inspection with flying colours. From there the children go on to City Academy Norwich across the road, where millions has been spent on a new building.
The new nursery means they can cater for more children, hooking them into education early. For head teacher, Jane Miller, it’s about breaking down barriers with the parents: “We get them to realise the importance of education to themselves and the doors it opens. Then they’re more likely to do it for their children too.”
Since introducing the teacher who works solely with parents, they’ve seen attendance improve and lateness disappear. The number of parents reading to their children at home has shot up from 30% to 90%. Chair of Governors, Doug Gowans added: “What we’ve had to overcome is the problem of parents who the education system has failed. They mistrust the system. It’s about breaking that cycle.”
The strategy, funded by the National Lottery, started with a breakfast club, allowing parents see that school can be a welcoming learning environment. Then they started offering courses in maths, English and ITC, providing a creche for any younger siblings: “We wanted to increase their perceptions of themselves as learners[...] There’s always been an underclass in education and a lack of willingness to address the issue, dismissing children as trouble-makers or as being thick. What has changed is instead of making children ‘school-shaped’, we’re now making schools ‘child-shaped.’
Alison Thomas, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, who opened the new nursery today, said: “This has been a vital project for the West Earlham community, bringing much needed childcare places for local families. I am thrilled that we have been able to create a new nursery class for the school, it gives more children access to a high-quality early education at what is an outstanding school and I am sure if will benefit many generations of youngsters.”
A new head, Binks Neate-Evans, takes over running West Earlham Infants this September.
Comment
