Parents

Alternative Curriculum

Alternative Curriculum through the EBeBP involves engaging local businesses with students that have behavioural, emotional and/or social difficulties (BESD). Developing the partnership between companies and BESD students is what fundamentally sets the EBeBP aside from other alternative curriculum providers.

To foster the confidence and enhance support for these young people the EBeBP provides a number of teambuilding events, key sessions, confidence workshops and many mentoring opportunities. Please see below for some of the things we offer schools. Please keep in mind that it is up to the individual school to enlist in the services that apply best to them.

 

Extended Work Experience

Extended work experience forms the basis of our alternative curriculum provision. For Year 10 or 11 students it offers the opportunity to experience the work place for one day a week over a longer period of time, thereby instilling a more accurate and grounded impression of work. Students report on gaining genuine work skills through extended work experience placements.

The EBeBP offers two levels of service; either Standard or Fully Managed. Both levels include:

  • 1-2-1 student interviews
  • Finding, securing and confirming placements
  • Pre-placement Health & Safety visit in county with risk assessment specific to student
  • Student placement information sheet

    Plus for the Fully Managed level:
  • Regular monitoring of the student and their progress within their placement

 

Reach Your Potential

Students realising their full potential through a year-long programme of tailored support and activities. This package is set to inspire and engage young people in years 10 and 11 who are struggling in school.

New to 2011, Reach Your Potential will involve a combination of:

  • Extended work experience placement - 1 day per week
  • ASDAN Experience of Work qualification
  • Key Worker sessions
  • Team Building activities
  • Communication workshops

 
Schools Project - SO2 Element 1

The Schools Project engages specifically with vulnerable young people aged 14-16, who are at risk of falling out of employment, education or training; referred to as at risk of becoming NEET.

Please see this recent 2011 BBC article for more on this very subject.

The EBeBP key workers spend the duration of 12 weeks with the young people, working both individually and in groups, to prepare them for the transition from school into employment or continued study.

The sessions focus on a variety of relevant topics, in emphasis of improving the young peoples' confidence, as well as offering assistance with their decisions on their future, post school. Such things include assistance with CV writing, and interview skills techniques, of which local business volunteers lend their knowledge and guidance to equip the young people with the necessary skills they require.

The young people attend team-building days through trips to local businesses and see, first-hand, the business environment and its different sectors, which for most is an entirely new experience.

The concept of working one's way up in the world of work is of essential understanding for these young people, who get to experience this for themselves through an extended work placement within a local business.  

The EBeBP register attendees into the Schools Project upon receiving completed referral paperwork, each young person's level of assessment established through a Rickter Assessment, followed by an Individual Learning Plan. These both provide the young people with goals and targets to work on over the 12-week duration of the Schools Project.



Post 16 Project - SO 1 Element 2

The fundamental aim of the EBeBP's Post 16 Project is to provide 16-19 year-olds with the support they need in either searching for a job, or furthering their learning, whilst assisting them in the improvement of relevant skills.

The young people engaging with the Post 16 Project are most often vulnerable through health or learning difficulties, behavioural/social and emotional difficulties (BESD); are teenage parents, truants, offenders or ex-offenders, or those leaving care to start independent living. The EBeBP key workers provide help and guidance in relation to the students' individual circumstances and are assisted by local business volunteers or organisations such as the East Berkshire College.

The key workers concentration is on developing these young peoples' personal and employability skills through assistance with CV writing, interview skills and job hunting. Other essential elements covered are benefit issues, confidence-building tips and many other aspects of daily life that are specific to the young peoples' situations.



Summer Project - SO 2 Element 2

In the EBeBP's Summer Projects, key workers and local business volunteers engage with young people who have recently left school over the summer holidays and have applied for college, jobs or extra courses. The main aim of these Summer Projects is to keep young people focused over the 6 weeks of summer and provide the support and motivation they require for moving on to their next destination successfully.

Some topics a Summer Project may focus on include positive approaches to drugs, sexual health, smoking, and graffiti, involving volunteers from organisations such as NHS and the Slough Borough Council. Team-building days are also included, with physical activity days in association with the British Army, and various trips out to places such as Oakwood Youth Challenge.

For these young people, engaging in a Summer Project maintains their motivation and encourages them to make new friends and broaden their social skills. Without this contact over the summer period there is greater risk of these young people becoming NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training).

The EBeBP are here to provide information on relevant topics these young people may need assistance with, or we can refer them on to specialised organisations for them to gain more in-depth support on specific issues.

For more information on these projects please contact your child's school and they will be able to assist you on where to go from there.