Project News

Spike's surprise hospital visit

29 June 2007

The children’s wards at Sunderland Royal Hospital today welcomed a friendly face to brighten their day.

Children were excited to see their special visitor, Spike, the infamous Every Schoolday Counts mascot, who aims to promote good school attendance across Sunderland.

He paid children a visit to show he was wishing them well and to give each child a copy of his latest newsletter along with a 'get well soon' card.

The initiative was derived by Sunderland City Council’s Attendance Team to ensure that children still receive all the news and offerings from Spike and Every Schoolday Counts, even though they can’t be in school due to illness.

*Newsflash-8th May 2007*

SATS Competition

Every Schoolday Counts has another exciting campaign for all children taking KS1 and KS2 SATs this May.

The 'Can you?' campaign aims to encourage children to be in school every day during SATs week - 14th-18th May 2007.

Children in Year 2 and Year 6 will each be given a postcard, on which they can monitor their own attendance for each day of SATs week and if they achieve 100% attendance they will be entered into a draw to win an iPod Shuffle or one of 83 runner up prizes!

The postcard also gives children some handy hints and tips to help them prepare for their SATs.

*Newsflash - 9th October 2006*

100% Celebration Event 2006

For the third year running, Every Schoolday Counts secured sponsorship from SAFC Foundation, to ensure the annual 100% Celebration Event went ahead.

The event took place on Saturday 2nd December 2006, when the Black Cats took on Norwich.

Those children who achieved 100% attendance for the academic year 2005/6 received their 'event packs' in November, via their primary school. 

Packs contained two tickets, one child ticket for the 100% attender plus one ticket for a parent/ carer (adult over the age of 18).

Every Schoolday Counts and Spike would like to congratulate all children on their huge acheivement!

If you have any queries regarding the event please contact the team on 0191 553 5431

September 2006:

Improving school attendance for one of

the most vulnerable groups

Children in looked after care across the city will soon be able to reap the rewards of good and improved attendance, thanks to a new initiative from ESC.

After four succesful years working in primary schools across the city, ESC is currently developing a programme to ensure that as many young people as possible can attend school, enjoy and achieve. 

A partnership between ESC and ACE (Achievement through Choice and Engagement Project) will see a newly appointed Support Worker working in partnership with schools, social workers, young people, children’s homes and foster carers to put strategies in place that promote, encourage and celebrate improved school attendance achievements – no matter how small.

For more information contact the team on 0191 553 5431

September 2006:

Every Schoolday Counts – even in Nursery!

The Project has a new approach towards even earlier intervention.  This will see ESC working in four pilot nursery schools to promote the importance of regular attendance in early years education to children, parents and carers.

This follows consistent messages from primary school Headteachers that early intervention is needed with pre-school children and their families. 

Establishing good patterns of attendance from an early age will have an impact on the achievements of children when they reach key stage one….

The Project will continue to use the power of the well-known ‘Spike’ attendance mascot as well as many other strategies used to ensure children attend, enjoy and achieve.

Nurseries, children and families will receive exciting new incentives and are enthusiastic about the new approach to early intervention.  Headteachers have also welcomed this initiative.

Pat Clough, Headteacher at Hetton-le-Hole Nursery commented:

‘We are delighted that ESC are piloting this initiative in nursery schools.  This will certainly help in supporting some schools in their post Ofsted action plans, where attendance and punctuality have been highlighted.’

The four pilot nurseries are:

• Hetton-le-Hole Nursery
• Millfield Community Nursery
• Pennywell Early Years Centre
• Usworth Colliery Nursery

 

July 2006:

Spike’s World Cup Attendance Challenge

All targeted schools were invited to take part in ‘Spike’s World Cup Attendance Challenge’.  Children were encouraged to strive for 100% attendance over the course of four weeks, which was the duration of the World Cup. 

Every school was also allotted a team from the World Cup to represent.   Each child that achieved 100% attendance each week scored a ‘goal’ for their school and received a small reward for themselves.  Every week the results of how every school fared were displayed on the project’s website.

The school with the highest percentage of 100% attenders at the end of the World Cup tournament (Easington Lane) won a visit from the Black Cats bus.  Professional photographs were taken of every class with Samson (the SAFC mascot) and Spike in front of the bus.  Each child then received a copy of their class photo.

Head Teacher Quote: This friendly ‘school vs. school’ competition has really worked!  I would like to thank Every Schoolday Counts for their excellent support this year.’

June 2006:

ESC Attend MELA Festival

Every Schoolday Counts had a great day at Sunderland's Annual Unity MELA Festival held at Cliffe Park in Seaburn on Sunday 11th June 2006. 

The Mela is traditionally a South Asian festival where people come together to enjoy various activities.  The day provided visitors with the opportunity to experience local, national and international culture and traditions. 

ESC staff raised awareness about the importance of school attendance and asked parents and children for their views on Every Schoolday Counts.

Here are some of the replies we received:

"I like Spike and I like the magazine."

“It’s fun!”

“Spike is fun and cool.”

“Spike came to my school.”

“If you are in school everyday you won’t lose education and you will learn more things.”

December 2005:

New Interactive Games!

The Every Schoolday Counts website will soon have its very own interactive games for kids!

The Project has linked up with students from the University of Sunderland to produce a range of games for all the family to play.

In December 2005, a group of children from Dame Dorothy Primary School in Sunderland were consulted about games they like to play and what kind of things they like about games.  Examples of games from the world wide web were played on a white board.

Children recorded their after-thoughts to help the students from the University to produce games to suit their needs and abilities.

Watch this space for more news!