Abstract
This paper presents data collected in individual case studies that aimed to investigate children and their families who succeeded against the usual 'odds' of disadvantage. Funded as an extension of EPPE 3-11 by the Cabinet Office for the Equalities Review, the study focused particularly closely upon the performance of disadvantaged children from White and minority ethnic groups. The study found that disadvantaged families often have high aspirations for their children and provide significant educational support through 'concerted cultivation'. The paper discusses the implications for policy and for practice and argues that much of the popular criticism of state policies related to social exclusion fail to acknowledge the need to engage with the policy in action as well as in theory. It is also argued that these policies offer significant and valuable contexts for supporting efforts on the part of families and individuals to achieve success in education 'against the odds'.
The Higher Education Funding Council sponsored an all-Wales project led by UWIC which focused on methods
and issues associated with supporting advanced skills in a wide range of public, private and voluntary
sector workforces. It was published as two reports, the first offering policy recommendations and the second
providing scoping and case studies. Workforce Development Project
Study skills
The Open University is one of the most definitive and high quality resource providers for learners from diverse backgrounds. Their study skills support material includes the following very helpful and practical documents and guides:
The STAR guide for adult learners has been prepared by education providers working in the heads of the valleys,
in order to help students, advisers and tutors with learning support methods.STAR guide for adult learners
Coaching & Mentoring
Mentoring has been highlighted as becoming increasingly important in the workplace, community and
voluntary settings. Many organisations are beginning to recognise the benefits of mentoring as a way of
supporting colleagues/fellow students and pupils in meeting individual and organisational objectives and
priorities. There is an abundance of literature on mentoring, much of it linked with workforce development
within successful and large corporate businesses. But we highlight a USA programme which brings together
businesses and schools. This is a massive initiative called Big Brothers Big Sisters - their website states:
"School-Based Mentoring is not a classroom program, and it's not tutoring. School-Based Mentoring is
one-to-one mentoring that takes place in the schools. Of course, some students do talk with their mentors
about class, or do homework, or read together, but it's really all about friendship and guidance. You can
play or jump rope or shoot hoops — whatever you and the student enjoy. You don't need any special training or certification. If you can spend a few hours a month, arranged around your needs and the school's schedule, you may be able to start participating in a School-Based Mentoring program this fall!"
http://www.kintera.org/site/c.diJKKYPLJvH/b.1632621/k.5BFF/Schoolbased_Mentoring.htm
Business in the Community is another large scale operation which promotes mentoring, civic engagement and corporate responsibility. It is sponsored by Prince Charles and provides numerous networks and resources for supporting people - young and old - to develop their skills and build up confidence. BITC has area offices - including Wales. http://www.bitc.org.uk/resources/index.html
Another major international example of mentoring and tutoring is PERACH, based in Israel. This large scale programme links undergraduates with underprivileged children, and provides one-to-one support as well as groupwork. The students act as positive role models, building up motivation and interest in longer term higher education planning.
http://www.perach.org.il/Perach/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=2&TMID=10000&FID=317
Wales has developed an ambitious learner support programme through the 14-19 Learning Networks, within which there is a legal requirement to provide support from Learning Coaches. There is a detailed study of the early cohort of coaches, including the design and piloting of the first training programme covering such themes as mentoring, study skills, referral systems, legislative issues when working with young people, and learning strategies. Saunders (2008) provides a series of case studies which include methods and examples of support. There is also a warning that the popular Visual - Auditory - Kinaesthettic study skills model - whilst very popular with trainers and coaches - should not be taken too literally! The full report is available at:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/policy_strategy_and_planning/learningpathways1419/latestpublications/learningcoaches/;jsessionid=zpGFKtTR77h9TXLhcVSYnSGJjyQJ805f18MTv22N0dQyvWHyRstL!514291769?lang=en
And fortunately there is a summary version:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/publications/guidance/learningcoaches/;jsessionid=zpGFKtTR77h9TXLhcVSYnSGJjyQJ805f18MTv22N0dQyvWHyRstL!514291769?lang=en
Family Learning
First Campus is a partnership between higher education institutions, further education colleges and schools in
South East Wales. Through collaboration they run a series of exciting and challenging activities for a wide cross
section of pupils who are at key stages 2, 3 and 4. Their activities fully complement the curriculum,
enrich studies, encourage participation and are enjoyable for all participants.
Family learning is a crucial support theme for First Campus practitioners, teachers and researchers. Here are some documents recommended by our First Campus team:
- Families Learning Together: A 10 hour course from NIACE for practitioners to deliver with parents of early years learners. The aim is to help parents to develop their child’s language and communication skills while also learning more about the early years foundation stage of their schooling. Families-learning-together-course - NIACE[1].pdf
- Family Learning to Employment (pdf attached): A resource developed by NIACE and their ‘Sign up now campaign’. Practitioners can use the guide to facilitate discussion about progression to employment for parents who have been involved in family learning programmes.Family Learning to Employment - NIACE[1].pdf
Careers Advice, Guidance and Employability
An excellent resource is Careers Wales On-Line - http://www.careerswales.com/server.php?show=nav.5334. It provides resources for people of all ages, although the available material is weighted towards younger learners. There are examples of games, activities, quizzes, interview questions, self-assessment inventories, and case studies alongside guidance notes for portfolio building and writing CVs.
Careers Wales also publish material and resource for the Youth Gateway project, which targets young epople who are not in education, employment or training. An example website for the North Wales area is http://youngconwy.com/index.php?page=youth-gateway&hl=en_GB
Another very helpful and extensive resource, this time for graduates and undergraduates who are
preparing for the world of work and drafting their CVs etc, is the PROSPECTS website: http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/What_jobs_would_suit_me___Prospects_Planner_/Show_login_page/p!eLaXgjk
The First Campus consortium provides a range of activities and resources which support in particular interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). This has come to be known as the Hands on Science programme - details can be found at http://www.firstcampus.org/hands-on-science/
Here’s some website resources provided by the careers team at the University of Glamorgan that cover a
range of issues related to employability:
Careers Talk for Year 12.ppt as a powerpoint for use in general careers talks for sixth formers (year 12) :
http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/What_jobs_would_suit_me___Prospects_Planner_/Show_login_page/p!eLaXgjk – Prospects Planner Career Questionnaire. Good starting point for anyone unsure what they want to do and how their skills and personal attributes relate to individual jobs and sectors.
http://www.pwc.com/uk/en/careers/student/employability_home.jhtml - PricewaterhouseCoopers have developed an excellent range of online resources for students and graduates to address employability from a range of perspectives – highly recommended!
http://careers.glam.ac.uk/videos - Glamorgan Careers Service website range of video resources including advice and comments from employers who have worked with us over the last 18 months.
http://www.careerplayer.com/ - good online careers resource aimed at graduates
http://www.gowales.co.uk/en/graduate/resources/index.html - employability and careers resources developed by Gowales.
A powerpoint presentation on Jobsearch (supporting materials available including 'lesson plan', task sheets etc
if you need them) currently used by the University's Careers Advisers might be of use as a prototype that can be
adapted for individual use. It can be applied either as a bolt on workshop delivered outside
the curriculum or specifically customised for delivery within an award: jobsearch powerpoint.ppt
Jobsearching has also been advanced though the use of social media, as advocated by Syracuse University through using Facebook and other social networks in order to discover more about specific companies and occupations: http://mashable.com/2010/06/01/job-interview-social-media/
Disability
The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities runs the very helpful and accessible SKILL website,
providing detailed advice and information and resourcesfor students and professionals working on disability. It
covers a wide range of post-16 interests, as well as support for younger learners:
http://www.skill.org.uk/index.aspx
A key support area involves the provision of financial advice for disabled students - Bridging the Gap is a very helpful and clear guide for students and professionals BRIDGING THE GAP - A GUIDE TO THE DISABLED STUDENTS' ALLOWANCES.pdf
These are some helpful websites for browsing through documents and case studies:
- · Equality & Human Rights Commission
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/
- · The National Autistic Society
http://www.autism.org.uk/
http://www.scope.org.uk/
- · Mind – For better mental health
http://www.mind.org.uk/
- · British Dyslexia Association
http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/
- · Royal National Institute for Deaf People
http://www.rnid.org.uk/
- · Royal National Institute for Blind People – Supporting blind and partially sighted people
http://www.rnib.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
http://www.dialuk.info/links.asp
- · Communication Matters - a UK charitable organisation concerned with the
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