An essential guide to starting a supplementary school

Extract from NRCSE manual ‘How to deliver quality supplementary education’. The step-by-step approach below provides an essential guide to how to set up a supplementary school

Starting out

• Become a member of the National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education. In doing so you are agreeing to the Code of Practice for Supplementary Schools, see page 58, and will receive access to the members-only pages of the NRCSE website.
• Complete your self-assessment and compile your Bronze Management File.
• Once you have completed a Bronze Management File for your school get in touch with your local Quality Framework Mentor or directly with NRCSE to book a school visit.
• NRCSE runs regular ‘Developing and managing a supplementary school’ training to help new supplementary schools. Local authorities and community and voluntary sector support organisations can also help you. Better still, ask an experienced supplementary school for help.

Using the Code of Practice to help new community groups start a supplementary school

You can use the Code of Practice statements in any order. The order suggested if you are starting from scratch was suggested by two very experienced supplementary school co-ordinators, but you need to make your own decisions depending on what stage you are at in your school’s development.
The checklists are taken from the other chapters in the ‘How to deliver quality supplementary education’ manual.

Firstly, do your research – what else is available? Who can help you?

Standard 7: Find out about other organisations with similar aims, and work with them whenever possible.

Secondly, decide on your aims

Standard 5: Set out what the school aims to achieve for children, make plans and keep them under review.

Thirdly, find safe and suitable premises, and plan how you will make sure that children will be safe when they are there

Standard 9: Make sure that children and adults are safe at all times when they are in the school’s care.

Fourth: get the money right

Standard 10: Budget effectively, manage finances wisely and account openly for all income and expenditure.

Fifth, find your staff

Standard 8: Recruit staff and volunteers openly and fairly, and give them the support and supervision they need to do their jobs and carry out their roles effectively.

Now you are ready to plan for the children and their learning, and start your supplementary school

Standard 1: Create a well organized environment in which everyone can work comfortably and there are clear expectations of behaviour that supports learning.
Standard 2: Agree what pupils need to learn, and teach them in a way that engages their interest and enthusiasm.
Standard 4: Provide teaching resources that are well matched to the pupils’ needs, and of the highest possible quality.

Finally, make sure you keep records

Standard 3: Keep a record of what they have learned, celebrate what they have achieved.

And get everyone involved in evaluating how well you did in your first year and planning in how to make next year even better.

Standard 6: Ask pupils, parents and carers, teachers and volunteers to help us judge how well the school is doing, and plan how to improve the service.

For more detailed information purchase the NRCSE manual ‘How to deliver quality supplementary education’ or download this free extract – An A4 guide to starting up a supplementary school