The C.Y.P.A was established in 1986 in Peckham London and has delivered social and formal educational services to the black and minority ethnic community in London for 35 years. The services have included; Holiday Play schemes for children from low income households. The Alphabet Preschool, working with children 2-5 years whose parents participate on the Teachers Aide Scheme. The Teachers Aide Scheme, designed to give students practical and theoretical experience in Teaching and Child Development. After School Classes, for school aged children where Teachers Aide students would gain experience. The Face To Face Connections service with classes in Numeracy, Literacy, Computers, Sports Leadership and Careers Guidance. Designed for students aged 13 – 19 from across London who are Not in Education, Employment or Training.
Holiday Play
In 1986 C.Y.P.A saw the need for quality holiday play provisions for children in the community and this was our first service.
After seeking advice through community organisations it was agreed that we would organize a Holiday Play scheme. Holiday play schemes enabled parents to have children catered for across the day for what would be normal school hours (9 am – 4 pm). Parents were able to rest assured that their children were in a safe and stimulating environment.
Children who participate on the scheme benefit from regular activity play sessions along with craft sessions in badge and kite making also swimming and gymnastics classes. Regular outings included Fruit Picking, Go-carting, Roller Skating and trips to the Theater. It quickly became clear that the children not only needed quality play provisions, but that they also needed support with their educational development.
Holiday Play schemes were directly responsible for the development of After School Classes.
After School Classes
In recognition of the importance of a rounded educational curriculum, assistance through the associations ‘After School Classes’ have been made available to the community in 1990.
Subjects include; English, Reading, Math, Computers, Gymnastics and Swimming.
The classes proved successful in helping children to maintain standards in particular subjects whilst also overcoming individual difficulties in others. For each child, in all topic areas, progress is regularly assessed.
By providing an atmosphere, where both children and parents alike feel able to discuss their weaknesses and fears without embarrassment, the children are able to adopt a sense of achievement in relation to their own individual capabilities.
The support and active participation of parents is encouraged at all times, as is the need to liaise and integrate with the areas mainstream schools.
Throughout the years of social and educational provision in this area, it is undoubtedly clear that most benefits from services offered have been derived by children from black and minority groups.
Teachers Aide
The Teachers Aide Scheme began as a pilot in 1990 when C.Y.P.A sought to redress the racial imbalance in the teaching profession, by increasing the level of black and minority students choosing teaching as a career.
C.Y.P.A recognized that the repeated failure of the local education department to recruit and retain black teachers is demonstrated by the behavior, performance and problems displayed daily by black children in the areas schools.
The Teachers Aide Scheme was launched in 1991 following a successful pilot period.
The pre-access level training provided to wholly unqualified local trainees wanting to attain practical and theoretical experience in Teaching and Child Development.
Each Trainee follows a ‘Personal Development Plan’ whilst training on the one year full time course, including placement in a local school.
More than 50% of the students recruited went on to local colleges to commence a four year B.A. in Teaching Studies leading to Qualified Teacher Status.
The Alphabet Preschool
The Alphabet Preschool aims to provide children 2 – 5 years with enough opportunity to explore their environment and themselves, by using the specially designed curriculum.
This we believe will give the children a sound foundation which they will be able to use on entry to their primary schools.
The education of a child at every stage is a partnership between the Preschool and the parents, who are the prime educators at this stage.
The family is an important support unit and we view close co-operation and communication with parents, in understanding and encouraging the development of their child, as fundamental..
The Aim of The Alphabet Preschool curriculum is to encourage learning and development, but not only through educational play. TAPS have developed an approach which encourage children at an early age to be;
1 – Problem Solvers
2 – Decision Makers
3 – Independent
The Subject Syllabus includes;
- Number Work (1-20 and beyond)
- Basic English (including spelling)
- Reading
- Languages
- Art
- Science
- Swimming (A.S.A Duckling Award)
- Gymnastics (B.A.G.A Award Scheme)
- Educational Play
Face 2 Face
The Face 2 Face Connections Project works with young people aged 14-19 who are outside of mainstream education. Some have been excluded and some have recently arrived in the country and are unable to find an educational place. For these young people we offer an Alternative Education Plan which includes IT, English, Math, Science and offsite training sessions. All topics are assessed and accredited through OCR and City & Guilds. There is also an offsite activity outing each term which has included, Paint-balling, Quad Biking, Ice Skating, Trips to Theme Parks and Football Matches.
The aim of the full time education project is to provide classes to meet the educational needs of young people referred by schools and other agencies. Subjects include the core areas of basic skills Literacy and Numeracy as well as IT & Science. Where appropriate, we offer reintegration back to school for young people on the project. Further support includes Careers Guidance sessions for Year 11 pupils onto post-16 provision We provide regular reports on the progress of young people whilst on the project. We liaise with partner agencies including Education Welfare, Y.O.T, and Social Services to support the needs of each young person on the project.
We ensure all training leads to recognized accreditation (presently available from Entry Level – Level 2 & G.C.S.E) Online – Education works with young people aged 16-19 who are disaffected, have dropped out of education and are currently out of work. The service provides training as detailed below and support through Careers guidance sessions to reintegrate them into education or training, including work-based training.
Nails Hair & Beauty
On an NVQ Course you will perform practical and written work on a variety of hairdressing tasks such as:
• Assisting hair stylists
• Shampooing and conditioning the hair and scalp
• Reception duties
• Removing colours from the hair
• Neutralising hair
• Health and safety regulations
You will also be gain many other practical skills in hair styling, cutting and colouring hair. In addition, you will gain vital skills to support your practical work including Information Technology and communications, apprentice hairdresser, taking a Hairdressing NVQ level 1 training course.
If you answer ‘yes’ to the following questions then an NVQ training course in Hairdressing is for you.
Junior Sports Leaders Award (JSLA)
The young people attending on the Face 2 Face Connections Project required physical recreation and CYPA needed this to be in the form of accredited learning. Following some research planning and negotiation, it was agreed that with support from Southwark Community Games. Physical Education sessions would take place twice weekly. The sessions would take place at the Damilola Taylor Centre.
It was agreed that the local Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) would also have some of their young people participate in sessions. The sessions proved to be very enjoyable for all the young people who took part.
The sessions were delivered by Southwark Community Games coaches Pablo Blackwood and Sayce Holmes-Lewis. The course syllabus also included Emergency First Aid and an opportunity for young people to put what they had learned into practice. The Level 1 Award in Sports Leadership is a nationally recognized qualification that enables successful candidates to lead small groups in sport and recreational activities whilst under the direct supervision of their tutor.
Learning Outcomes & Assessment Criteria
Unit 1 – Planning, preparing and assisting, a simple sporting activity
Unit 2 – Basic communication skills for leading a sporting activity
Unit 3 – Principles and practice in delivering a basic health & fitness session
Unit 4 – Understanding fair play in sport
Unit 5 – Understanding the role of the sports official
Unit 6 – Understanding the scope of local sport and recreational activities.
Unit 7 – Demonstration of leadership skills in sport.
The Level 1 Award in Sports Leadership complements many other agendas.
Level 1 SL & KS4 National Curriculum for Citizenship
Level 1 SL & BTEC First Diploma & First Certificate
Level 1 SL & Every Child Matters
Level 1 SL & Healthy Schools Agenda
Level 1 SL & KS4 National Curriculum for PE