Learning Mentors
We have now had Learning Mentors in place for over four years in our schools. They have demonstrated impact in many ways in our schools. Head Teachers say they are the most valuable part of the BIP programme. A recent survey of the management of Learning Mentors in schools defined what makes good practice in the work of Learning Mentors by saying that effective practice:
• ‘fosters the participation of pupils in the social and academic processes of a school
• seeks to enable pupils to become more independent learners
• helps to raise standards of achievement for all pupils.’
One of our tools for demonstrating this impact, and for sharing good practice, is our annual evaluation of practice. The reports are below.
2005/06 Evaluation
Learning Mentors in Camborne, Pool and Redruth CPR Success Zone “Learning Mentor provision has made a valuable contribution to the raising of standards in our schools and colleges- as the results of Ofsted and national evaluations have shown” : DfES, 2003
Four children at St Day and Carharrack indicated the Learning Mentor had helped with studies and they were all able to state they had been helped as a person through “being able to understand friends, helped in circle time and by getting them to school”.
St Meriadoc Infant staff all agreed the role was useful to the school. Reasons included having time to work with individuals and the parents, improved attendance, a flexible role that enables the school to deal with issues when they arise and time to put strategies in place. I wish to acknowledge the work of Learning Mentors, their Line Managers and the Head Teachers in CPR Excellence Cluster. I would also like to thank the children, the young people and their parents for their contributions to this work. They did so in an excellent sense of collaborative partnership and working. Contact Gwen Gilmore if you have any questions the work of our Learning Mentors. P.S SMART – refers to Schools Multi-agency Resource Team – a resouce developed to support Swift and Easy Access to extended services in the Success Zone.
Learning Mentor Audit Tool LINE MANAGER handout for meeting 6th March 08 of Line Managers. This summary is supported by a SEF for Learning Mentor work. This can be accessed on this link. We suggest you don’t try to do all of the work this might entail but put a plan together to do a two year review of the most relevant sections for you, your school and context.
The Local Authority has been funded for similar work called Parent Support Advisor (PSA). The role and the training is similar with some aspects of work that many of our Learning Mentors currently do. Guidance on the PSA is on the TDA website. The strategy is being rolled out through Extended Services Clusters. Guidance on the role and the link with Learning Mentors is available here. A shorter summary is available here.
Other interesting bits and pieces
To view the paper written by Professor Brigid Daniel of University of Stirling on Nuturing Resilence click here.