The Youth Voice Spotlights are an opportunity to share good practice youth voice in our learning settings.
Green Meadows Academy
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Opening: student council meeting (monthly).
Opportunity: Staff at Green Meadows work with the student council to agree what the school would like to focus on within the school and support them to develop campaigns.
Obligation: Child Friendly Leeds wish 3, 4, 5, 9 and 10.
Outcome:
- Students have led assemblies to raise awareness of their culture and communities. The assemblies have given students a greater understanding of everyone’s differences and have given them a sense of belonging.
- Students have created a poly tunnel and planted vegetables. The poly tunnel has given students a sense of achievement, and understanding of where food comes from.
- During Autism Awareness month students led assemblies about autism and what it means to them. Students have a raised awareness of autism.
Ownership: Green Meadows Academy.
North East Primary AIP
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Opening: six students.
Opportunity: Children took part in The Tree of Life activity. The children were asked a serious of questions for each area, over a period, and their responses were then transferred to the tree design.
Obligation: Child Friendly Leeds wish 3, 10 and 12.
Outcome: All the children a clearer understanding of themselves and their needs. Staff have a more detailed knowledge of the needs of the individuals and what areas of support is required. It has helped to develop and concrete the secure and safe relationships that the children have with staff have been.
Ownership: North East Primary AIP.
West AIP (secondary)
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Opening: individual pupil voice.
Opportunity: individual meetings with pupils during their time at the provision (beginning, middle and end)
Obligation: Child Friendly Leeds wish 3 and 10.
Outcome:
- Based on student feedback the following changes at West AIP have been made:
- Changes in lunchtime meals as pupils stated they didn’t enjoy them. At West 11 pupils vote for their favourite dishes to have in the week.
- At West 14 pupils wanted a rotation of meals so they had consistent dinners each week. This has now happened and communicated on a weekly menu
- Pupils requested increased visits from their roll school. Frequency of visits is discussed with the home school during initial and review meetings.
- Pupil passport evolved so pupils needs and strategies can be implemented at their roll school once transition is undertaken
Ownership: West AIP (secondary).
Springwell Academy Leeds - school council
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Opening: student council (10 representatives from each site, 30 students in total).
Opportunity: Student Council meetings are held with representatives from each class to discuss key issues that have been raised by pupils in their class. The student council has previously organised party food to celebrate specific events as well as put forward proposals for new equipment for the school. Student council reps have had the opportunity to discuss their ideas directly with school leaders.
Obligation: Child Friendly Leeds wish 3, 4, 5 and 10.
Outcome: The student council has provided pupils with a platform to have their voices heard within school by ensuring a continual dialogue between students and staff/leaders.
It has given some pupils the opportunity to be a representative and spokesperson for their class.
Ownership: Springwell Academy Leeds
Springwell Academy Leeds - votes for schools
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Opening: weekly votes - 350 students.
Opportunity: To supplement the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural curriculum, all classes engage in a weekly assembly which covers a whole range of topics including current nationwide/global issues. Each week, pupils have the opportunity to vote in relation to that week’s vote topic. Their votes are forwarded on to relevant organisations to have their voices heard - these organisations will often then feedback their response in the following weeks.
Obligation: Child Friendly Leeds wish 3, 4, 5 and 10.
Outcome: Votes for Schools provides all pupils with a platform to, firstly, engage with key areas of the SMSC curriculum, but also have their opinions and voices heard on a nationwide scale. Some classes have even experienced their opinions being used and discussed in subsequent assembly resources.
Ownership: Springwell Academy Leeds
Penny Field School
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Opening: school council (7 students)
Opportunity:
- Pupils meet every half term.
- At each meeting two pupils chose to press the big mac switch with our school council song on. Students sign and sign the song.
- Each students shares feedback from their class i.e. favourite thing about the school, and what they would like to happen in the school. Most classes are looking for more support with trips out in the community.
- Resources mentioned such as new programmes on eye gaze, the sensory pod and toys for the celebration station.
- Activities and fun day’s, pupils enjoy visitors coming to school.
- Performances, animal visitors, sporting events (LUFC/Rhinos), Easter bunny etc were all noted as memorable events and pupils are looking forward to more of the same this year. Here are the minutes for the meeting
Obligation: Child Friendly Leeds wish 3, 6 & 7
Outcome:
- Resources being bought
- Virtual reality headsets for school. including a 12 week well being project for pupils from each class to use headsets and complete questionnaires before and after.
- Classes accessed local park this half term.
- One class visited ice skating rink on a school trip.
- Planned events including Northern Ballet visit, Penny field’s got talent, easter/teddy bears picnic and a carnival.
Ownership: Penny Field School.