1. Highlands Primary School
Welcome Club
Isobel Madhani

2. Welcome Club: why Spring term 2016.
Small group of children struggling to settle despite good systems and high quality teaching already in place.
KS2 children (9 children from Y4/5&6; 5 target children and 4 ‘role models’.
Pressure of SATs Y6 (started small until SATs were over).

3. Presenting concerns Poor attendance
Difficulties separating from carers
Limited parental involvement
Behaviour difficulties e.g. anger management, self harming, attention needing
Anxiety
Low Self Esteem

4. Underlying problems
Attachment issues (children separated from parents during move to UK)
No prior schooling / disjointed education
Children attending more than one primary school in the same family
Difficult journey to school
Temporary housing / lack of stability
Cramped / unsuitable accommodation
Prejudices
Lack of understanding of the education system
Parent difficulties with literacy / access to internet / benefit system

5. Safe settled and valued:
Already in place at Highlands PS;
Induction policy including welcome interview, buddy system and follow up review
Nurturing classrooms
Provision mapped intervention
Passport
Differentiated parent/carer meetings
Transition systems including transfer form, visits, transition groups and transfer of records.

6. Partnership with parents/carers
Shared goals and priorities.
Extended time for consultations.
Structured conversations
Identifying and removing barriers.
Use of translators
Informal opportunities
Regular contact

7. Welcome club: what we did
Practical activities that were accessible and levelling e.g. cooking, games of chance
Trips to local amenities
Oyster / library card applications
Fund raising letters and bake off
Supporting transition (to new class and Secondary)

8. Impact Fun Group identity Friendships Improved attendance
Improved relationship with parents (mostly through the informal regular contact letters)
Support network in the playground
Parent support network

9. Pupil voice

10. Learning Reviewed and made changes to intake forms
Revised prompts for safe settled and valued
Valued interview with parents/carers.
Developed learning profile to support transition to secondary school and for transition to new class.