In addition to our core service of training volunteers that we recruit, we also offer a course where we train volunteers that the School has chosen – these are usually parents, grandparents and “friends” of the school.
The Parent Helper Training Course consists of 2 full day sessions (each 5 hrs). The course is very interactive, using video clips, discussion and role play to help volunteers understand how they can help children to succeed and enjoy reading. We also talk about confidentiality and safeguarding which is very important when having volunteers in a school setting. It is expected that participants attend the whole course.
The School provides the venue, refreshments, resources and printing of handouts. There is also the option of having further half day training either half way through the year or each term. The course also has a team building effect and we have found that the school usually ends up with an effective volunteer team at the end of the course.
What do the volunteers do?
Our model is that the volunteers go into school usually twice a week and spend half an hour with each child. They work with two to three children over a complete term/year. So it is important that the volunteers are prepared for this commitment.
The children they work with are usually those who need confidence building and are under performing in their reading.
The volunteers have their own resources and usually work outside of the classroom so that their work does not impede on the class teacher. The volunteers become more like mentors over the year and we have found that most children generally make good progress.
In 2012 67% of the children our volunteers worked with made more than two sub levels of progress in reading over the year.
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Course content
The course is interactive, and uses a range of activities.
The topics included are:
Session 1
Qualities of volunteer
Confidentiality
Learning to read
Why some children find it hard to learn to read
Reading in school: phonics, group reading, questioning techniques
Working with children -DVD clips and general discussion
Reading for meaning activities
Paired reading
Practising some of the techniques (role play)
Picture books – sharing a story
Session 2
Reading all around us
Safeguarding
Why we play games clomid and a chance to try some out – discussion and practical experience
Making books and games with children
Planning–
Sessions for different children
The first session
Volunteering in school – Hints, tips and some FAQs