Stride 360 - Mentoring & Alternative Provision

The big social media ban for under 16s was the topic of conversation for most of our students and staff today, with views ranging from strongly against to strongly for. In English, this student wrote to Keir Starmer to express his perspective, whilst younger students drew up lists of the pros and cons of social media.

The use of rhetorical questions make this letter even more persuasive… We wonder if the Government will take these views on board? 🤔 💭

There’s something especially peaceful about watching the fish swimming 💙🩵

You know what they say about not waiting for the storm to pass…? Some of the Evolve boys decided yesterday’s brief hailstorm was the absolute perfect time to test how waterproof they are ☔️ ⛈️

🔧🌉 Our young engineers have been hard at work today!

Our Thrive group learned about Isambard Kingdom Brunel and explored what it means to be an engineer. Working in partnerships, pupils tackled challenges, shared ideas, and used their problem-solving skills to design and build their own bridges.

It was fantastic to see such creativity, teamwork, resilience, and determination as they tested their designs and overcame obstacles along the way. Well done to all our budding engineers! 🌟👏

Mike set our Year 5 and 6 students the challenge of improving their writing by using a wider range of adjectives, and our secondary students couldn’t resist getting involved in the experiment too!

While making slime, one of our Year 6 students confidently explained the process using sequencing words such as first, then, and next to give clear instructions.

The activity also inspired plenty of descriptive language, with adjectives including slimy, gloopy, sparkly, sticky, watery, fun, and disgusting perfectly capturing the experience! ✨

A fantastic example of literacy skills being developed through hands-on learning. 🖋️

Busy bee, busy bee, buzz all you like but don’t sting meeee!

How lovely is this student’s bumble bee? There were lots of opportunities during creating this little guy to practise sounds such as the “zz” sound in “buzzzzz” 🐝

We’re so proud of how hard this student tried to form his letters, too! 💙

Some of our students worked with their mentor to help the Supermarine Rugby Club restock the soft drinks fridge behind the bar to get a feel for the hospitality industry.

Not only do they plan to open a nail and lashes bar together, they are now also planning a bar next door, talking about where they can deploy their staff to make sure both businesses can run at once 💪 We’ll be keeping an eye out for when you achieve the dream, ladies, the fruity slushies you’ve designed sound amazing and we hope you’ll be offering delivery to your old mentors having pedicures next door!😋 🍍 🥤

A reminder to stay safe in the water during the heatwave!

Experts have issued blunt warnings after five tragic teenagers drowned over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The family of a 15-year-old boy who died in a lake have spoken out amid their grief to urge others to be aware of the dangers of open water.

Declan Sawyer was discovered during a search of Swanholme Lakes near Lincoln on Sunday while the UK was recording record-breaking high temperatures.

There is torment too for the family of another teenage boy who "went missing in water" while cooling off at a popular country park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Bank Holiday Monday. Police have this morning confirmed that a body has been recovered after an overnight search.

Abbie Carmody-Pepper, also 15, lost her life while bathing at Burrow Beach, Sutton, Dublin, this weekend. Her death came hours after the body of a teenage girl was retrieved from the water at Kingsbury Water Park in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. Yesterday, a 13-year-old boy, named locally as "Reco," was pulled from the water after he drowned in a reservoir in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Declan's father Carl paid a heartbreaking tribute to a "funny and outgoing young man" and doesn't want any other parents to go through the same ordeal with the heatwave set to last until the weekend.

"He had a very cheeky smile and the personality to match. He was very much loved by his friends and family, and will be missed dearly by many," he said.

"We would like to raise awareness about children playing near any rivers or lakes in the hot weather. Please can all parents, friends and family make their children aware of the dangers surrounding water."

A fire service has pin-pointed the dangers about swimming in open water following a surge in deaths in recent years.

Robert Hulatt, the head of prevention at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, warned that people must not assume that because they can swim in a swimming pool, they can cope with the challenges of rivers, lakes, quarries and waterways - and says the "hidden dangers" make them perilous.

"Even on a warm day the temperature in open water can remain very cold, causing cold water shock, a physical reaction which can make it difficult to control breathing, cause panic and make it difficult to swim," the group commander said.

"We want everyone to enjoy themselves around water, but it's crucial to remember that water can be unpredictable and dangerous. By following some simple safety tips, we can significantly reduce the risk of drowning."

What to do if someone is struggling in water

- Call 999 and ask for the fire service - they are best trained to deal with a rescue
- Shout and encourage them to float on their back - let them know that help is on the way
- Find a rescue aid such as a life ring, throw line or reach pole. If there is no public rescue aid equipment, throw anything that will float
- Don't be tempted to go in. The water might be cold, which will limit your ability to swim
- Before pulling someone out of the water, get down on one knee or lie down so you don't fall in
- Keep sight of the casualty to help the emergency services locate them more quickly

✍ Sam Elliott-Gibbs

A couple of times a week, all students and mentors meet up outdoors and take part in group activities, aimed at practising our teamwork skills, including tolerance and being supportive; emotional regulation and communication skills.

Watching the unlikely friendships build between students gives mentors so many warm, fuzzy moments. From our littlest students deciding some of our eldest students are their new best friends in the whole world, to some of our older students becoming role models and teaching their younger peers skills and coping strategies (without mentors asking them to!), the sessions really are filled with a very unique type of learning 💙

Sometimes, it takes introducing young people to situations they wouldn’t usually come across to see what they’re really made of and, today, we saw a lot of very kind hearts!

Lashes ✅
Nails ✅
Make-up ✅

Is there anything our aspiring beauty and hair therapists can’t do?!