Schools win funding to help disadvantaged children
Friday, July 20, 2018
A teacher from Salford has won funding to develop young children's communication and language through storytelling, in the Let Teachers SHINE 2018 awards.
Around £15,000 has been awarded to 13 teachers from schools across the country for projects to help disadvantaged children succeed in education.
The 13 winners of the Let Teachers SHINE 2018 competition were announced at an event held by education charity SHINE and the Young Foundation this week. Let Teachers SHINE is an annual fund for the most innovative teachers in the country.
The competition is free to enter and open to any qualified, practising teacher working in England.
This year, SHINE has chosen winners who have developed early years projects to improve the school readiness of children during the Reception year, with a priority focus on language and communication skills develop children’s communication and language skills to ensure they are ready for school.
Among those that have received a full grant under the 'Ready for School' theme is Jessica Howley from St John’s Church of England Primary School in Salford (pictured) for a project to improve children’s school readiness to develop communication and language in the early years through storytelling.
Her project aims to develop children’s early communication and language skills in the local community before they start school, and engage parents in the development of early literacy skills. Jessica will invite parents and children to fun-filled storytelling sessions in the school’s ‘Bubble Pod’. Families will also be provided with story sacks containing props, puppets and other resources to bring the magic of storytelling to life.
Other successful projects include a school readiness project to develop communication and language through visual phonics.
The charity was also looking for ideas to bridge the gap between vulnerable children and their peers, and support high attaining students, aged 9-14, as they progress to secondary school.
Of the winners, seven received full grants, while six are being supported to develop their ideas further as a basis to apply for Let Teachers SHINE next year.
Fiona Spellman, chief executive of SHINE, said, ‘We received so many applications for Let Teachers SHINE this year and it is so inspiring to see just how many teachers want to go that extra mile to help disadvantaged children achieve their potential. We’re delighted to be able to support these teachers and we’re looking forward to working with them to develop their projects so they can reach many more children in the years to come.’
