Tag Archives: school

Charity & CSR, Logistics, News

ArrowXL Delivering Solutions for the Next Generation at the Read School

On 31st March,  ArrowXL, the leading two-person delivery company, supported The Read School in Drax, (North Yorkshire) with the delivery of a large consignment of office furniture donated by a local business which was closing its local operations.

A team from ArrowXL’s Doncaster base spent the day loading and transporting the goods from the donor to the School, with support from Read’s sixth form students who ensured all of the goods were delivered to the correct departments ready for re-assembly and future use.

The Read School’s mission is to create a warm and welcoming school for pupils of all abilities and walks of life.  It has strong links with local and national businesses through its excellent careers department.  Following a virtual careers fair and through networking events with parents, the school secured the furniture as part of a local green project to recycle and provide benefit to the pupils and other users of the school’s facilities.

Head Ruth Ainley said: “We are incredibly grateful to ArrowXL for giving up their time to deliver this extremely generous donation.  The team worked tirelessly with our sixth form students to ensure all of the furniture was delivered to the correct departments.  We feel very proud to be part of such a fantastic community and to be part of the recycling project.”

Craig Kavanagh, Sales Director from ArrowXL said: “It was a pleasure to be involved in such a great initiative.  ArrowXL are committed to innovation and continuous improvement, and we were very glad to be part of this repurposing project.  The Read School is an important part of our community and we were delighted to be able to offer them our services.”

For more information about The Read School, please visit www.readschool.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Education, News

10 expert tips on how to homeschool children while working from home

With a third national lockdown closing most UK schools, many parents will once again have to balance homeschooling while still doing their own work.

So how do you balance home education and working from home? Oxford Home Schooling, one of the UK’s leading home education providers, has given its ten top tips on how to do just that.

1. Don’t worry about recreating the full school day

When they’re at school, children aren’t learning from the second they arrive until the hometime bell – they walk between lessons, have breaks and spend time settling into classrooms. So don’t worry about making them work non-stop from 9 to 3:30. One-to-one teaching is more efficient than normal group lessons anyway, so even a couple of hours can be really valuable, and these can fit in around your work.

2. Make use of online resources

A great way to keep your child engaged is to utilise the amazing variety of resources available online. Too much screen time is unhealthy, but technology definitely has a place. The BBC, for example, has recently launched an incredible array of educational content on BBC Bitesize and your child can work through the exercises on their own.

3. Encourage independent learning

This is most relevant for older children, but you simply won’t be able to get your own work done if you are supervising your child all day. Whether you invest in workbooks or make use of content their school sent home with them, find some tasks that your child can complete independently. Check-in occasionally, but trust them to get on with it. This helps with self-sufficiency and time management, while also giving you the opportunity to work.

4. Be in the moment

Quality not quantity is the way forward. When helping your child, you need to be completely focused and in the moment, not answering emails at the same time or checking your phone. Give your child your undivided attention and then you’ll both get the most out of that time. Otherwise you’ll spend longer having to re-explain tasks and answering questions.

5. Help them communicate with their friends

There’s more to school than just work and your child will undoubtedly be missing their friends and the social side of normal life. So help them reconnect by setting up video calls. They can catch up, have a laugh and chat about how they’re finding everything, all while you’re being productive.

6. Share responsibilities

This might not be possible in all households, but if there is more than one person capable of overseeing the homeschooling, take it in turns. Split the day up between you so you each have a few dedicated hours where you can get your own work done.

7. Be flexible

One of the benefits of homeschooling is that there’s no strict time schedule, so there’s nothing forcing you to teach your child during normal school hours. If you work 9-5, maybe teach them for an hour at 8am and then do a couple of hours after you’ve finished. Or perhaps do a couple of hours at lunch and push your work back slightly if possible.

8. Talk to other parents

There are millions of parents in the same boat as you so chat to each other and compare notes. See what’s working for them and share tips on how to make the most out of the situation. They may even be able to virtually supervise your child for a while, before you repay the favour.

9. Make lists

Make a to-do list every day of the things you want to achieve before you go to bed, both homeschooling tasks and your own work. This helps you prioritise throughout the day and ensures you at least get the most important things done for both you and your child.

10. Play to your child’s strengths

Your child is more likely to keep themselves entertained if they are good at the task they are doing. So when setting independent activities, tailor them to their strengths, whether that’s reading, writing or drawing.

Dr Nick Smith, Director at Oxford Home Schooling, said: “Homeschooling is still a relatively new experience for many families and, while the routine will certainly take some getting used to, there are lots of benefits and hopefully our tips show that parents don’t need to sacrifice their own work to help their children learn.”

For more advice on how to get the most out of homeschooling, visit: https://www.oxfordhomeschooling.co.uk/revision-techniques/improve-memory-concentration/

Charity & CSR, Construction, Education

RGB choose Exeter school as its latest Community Fund recipient

Exeter’s Ladysmith Junior School has been voted as the latest winner of RGB Building Supplies’ Well Built Community Fund and now has £1,000 to spend on tools and building materials at RGB Exeter.

The school received the most votes following a public poll where it was up against Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society and the UK Wild Otter Trust in Umberleigh.

Ladysmith Junior School has been gifted a Plymouth City Bus, which it’s planning to transform into a useable area for children to sit and have quite reading time during breaks, and for teachers to use with smaller groups outside of the traditional classroom setting.

Mark Wilkinson, Headteacher at Ladysmith Junior School, commented:

“Our talented Site Manager Andy Hawkins will be taking on the majority of the work, so we’ll be using the money to purchase new tools, in particular a belt sander and table saw, for him to use, and also some materials needed for the project. It’s an amazing opportunity for us to create something unique for our pupils, and I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for us. Thank you also to RGB for the generous donation.”

Paul West, Branch Manager at RGB Exeter, visited the school to see the bus and meet some of the pupils who will be using it. He added:

“Well done to Ladysmith Junior School; I was delighted to visit and learn more about how the donation will be used. I wish them every success with the reading bus project and look forward to returning to see the transformation.”