Pre-16 Newsletter Autumn 1
Welcome back!
We are very excited about the new term, here at Ad Astra: our building is looking fab, we have extended our brilliant staff team and we have a new vehicle for the pre-16 groups. We’ve got every confidence that it’s going to be a great year.
Staffing
Whilst your young person won’t work directly with all the team members, it’s useful to know who we all are.
Lyz Shaw | Company Director & Safeguarding Lead |
Kate Frankish | Head of Provision and Deputy Safeguarding Lead |
Ingrid McNair | Curriculum Co-ordinator |
Nicki McPhillips | Administrator & Mentor |
Tracey Muress | Pastoral Lead & Tutor |
Tess Wilson | Pre-16 Mentor & Small Animal Care Tutor |
Tim Hodge | Mentor |
Lee Cullen | Minibus Driver & Pre-16 Mentor |
Vicki Hudson | Mentor |
Alan Holliday | Construction Tutor |
Nigel Cram | Mechanics Tutor |
Dave Borlase | Maths Tutor |
Maggie Frankish | English Tutor |
Activities
Pre-16 mentors plan each half term in advance, using AQA achievement awards to structure the curriculum. Our activities are planned to develop learners’ communication skills, resilience, self-esteem and ability to work with others. This half term, activities include:
Badminton
Swimming
Pond dipping
Visits to local places of interest
Pumpkin carving
Woodland activities
Mentors will let you know in advance if your child needs any special clothing with them, before the session. We know that learners don’t always like the planned activities. However, our aim is to push learners out of their comfort zones in a safe and supported way, working towards our four core values as stated above. We are not a youth club – we are alternative education, therefore the expectation is that learners will attempt all activities.
Some of the AQA Achievement Awards that learners claimed last term include, Introduction to Tennis, Practising Golf at a Driving Range, Introduction to Kayaking and Introduction to Paddle Boarding.
Events
We will be holding a MacMillan Coffee Morning on Friday 27th September, between 10.30 – 12pm. All parents/carers are welcome to join us, for a cuppa and a slice of cake. Younger siblings are also welcome, as are grandparents. This will also be an opportunity to have a look around our new building and chat to the mentors about your young person.
We are also planning a Christmas themed celebration in early December. As you know, our quirky old building was destroyed on December 5th 2023 and we would like to mark the anniversary in a positive and joyful way, with our learners and their families. We will be in touch with details as soon as we have confirmed the date.
Ad Astra will be in attendance at the SEND Opportunities Fair at Askham Bryan College on October 16th, from 3pm onwards. We will also be visiting Woodland’s Academy in Scarborough, for their Next Steps Event on the 17th October.
Term Dates
We follow York schools’ term dates. The half term holiday begins on Friday 25th October, with learners returning on Tuesday 5th November. We will finish for Christmas on Thursday 19th December and will re-open on Monday 6th January. Monday 4th November will be a staff training day.
Smoking, vaping and mobile phones
Pre-16s are not allowed to smoke or vape when they are at Ad Astra. We had a serious incident last term, whereby a learner required emergency medical attention following the sharing of a vape which had been laced with a narcotic substance. The owner of the vape had his placement ended with immediate effect. If leaners vape on the minibus, we will not continue to transport them to and from sessions and parents/carers will be expected to bring them and pick them up.
We know that learners and their mobile phones are inseparable, and we’d be fighting a losing battle if we told them they couldn’t bring them! As a general rule, learners are permitted to look at their phones, if the mentors are looking at theirs. At all other times, we expect phones to be kept in bags or pockets. Being distracted by phones is a significant factor in whether learners are able to engage and enjoy their planned learning.
Other stuff…
Please keep an eye open for communication about learner conduct and medications; we will be sending forms out shortly.
Very best wishes,
Kate & the Ad Astra Team
Kommentit