Emotions were high for parents as their children finally returned to school after what must have seemed like a very long winter.

It has been and continues to be, a particularly challenging time for staff and students in the district’s schools. With constant planning and adjusting to all the ongoing changes. Particularly for those at Thomas Keble, which has been unable to reopen fully because of structural defects, discovered in the main building.

For The Door this time has also opened up new opportunities to provide much-needed support to these school communities:

We have been commissioned by Thomas Keble to provide an in-school mentor for 2 days a week, and by Archway to provide a number of after-school sessions. Our youthworkers and volunteers have been helping with Lateral Flow Testing programmes in secondary schools across the district. 

And we are currently developing a short programme of video-based and face-to-face sessions for a number of primary schools. Helping Year 6 students prepare for transition into secondary school this year.

Looking ahead

It’s great to be working closely with schools, and at the same time seeing our opportunities for youthwork expanding with each step in the government’s roadmap.  Since 29th March we’ve been able to deliver outdoor sessions with unlimited numbers, and our youthwork team are getting stuck into their busy Easter holiday programme.  Then from 12th April, we’ll be able to resume COVID-Secure indoor sessions too.

So as opportunities open up for us, we’re really looking forward to opening more opportunities for young people and parents, and unlocking their potential.

Dr Graham Gill – Chief Operating Officer