The Assist Programme is a chance for Sixth Form students to work with younger students in the school.
Year 12 students are assigned to a class by the class teacher in either the Early Childhood or Junior Section. The teacher then decides upon the activities which require assistance. It may be reading, helping out with class work, playing educational games as well as IT and Mathematics!
How does everyone benefit?
Year 12 students develop a number of skills which they may not have realised they had. They certainly enjoy the sessions (read more on that later) In addition it provides additional information for their personal statements when applying to universities.
Staff enjoy the support and interaction with older students and often comment on the range of new and interesting ideas and skills that the students bring to the sessions.
Younger students…just love having older ones helping…they cant get enough!
Everyone involved in the programme enjoys the interaction, contributions and development of relationships within the school.
….Staff Feedback.
The Early Childhood Section looks forward every year to having ASSIST students from the Sixth Form Section of the school. The children who volunteer to work with young children have been highly motivated and seem genuinely to enjoy the experience aiding, in the teaching of Maths and Language and helping out with reading and writing. The more artistic of the ASSIST programme participants have brought new ideas to our daily art sessions. There is always a scramble to be chosen to work with the ASSIST mentors and I am sure that the ASSIST programme benefits all involved. Many thanks for all their hard work in the Early Childhood section.
Ms Susan Ansell
Head of Early Childhood
ASSIST programme – Year Five
This year, 5H have had the assistance of Cyrus, one of our year twelve students. Cyrus is a keen mathematician and offered to help the students during their numeracy hour. Cyrus leads whole groups through their activities with patience and care. He is very popular and well respected among the class. The children are encouraged by Cyrus’s enthusiasm and look forward to his weekly visits. As the teacher of the class I have found Cyrus’s help invaluable. He has shown himself to be dependable, diligent and a good communicator, personal skills that will serve him well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his hard work and wish him all the best for the future.
Mr Herron 5H
“ I believe the ASSIST programme is invaluable in developing the skills of Sixth Form students in supporting younger children within the school. The children who are supported by the students also benefit as they are guided by a good role model who is an older role model in the school.
Sixth form student, Natalie Lai Lam supports year 4 children aged 8-9 years in Literacy activities including reading, writing and role play. The children respond very positively to Natalie and are motivated by the support she gives them.
This programme has helped Natalie in developing a good relationship with all of the children within the class. Through this programme she has demonstrated that she is a reliable and conscientious student who takes this role seriously and is enthusiaistic in supporting the children in any task requested of her.
May I take this opportunity to thanks Natalie for giving up her time each week to support the children within my class”
Bernadette Marchetti.
The ASSIST Programme:
“We are very fortunate to have four sections in the school and it’s an ideal opportunity for students from the Sixth Form to interact with much younger students. It also enables them to develop a number of skills, as well as discover new ones they didn’t realize they had. The staff form the other Sections also get a helping hand and again see the students in a different role. Many of the staff have commented on the support received during the sessions and have valued the input from the students.
I think it’s great, and there’s nothing better then to walk in the playground and see very young students clamped to the legs of the Sixth Form students!
Keep up the great work my Sixth Formers!
Mrs Kennedy.
The ASSIST Program: Student’s perspectives
‘I think ASSIST is one the best things in the Sixth form. Its really fun and more often than not amusing. I also am more aware of the mistakes that young children make and how to go about ensuring they learn from that. I really enjoy my ASSIST times and look forward to it every week.’
Amirthavalli Pillay.
“As part of the extra curricular activities, the Sixth Form takes part in the ASSIST programme. We are each assigned a class at a specific time on a specific day every week.
We assist the students with their learning. In my case, I have been working with the reception class. And the programme has been the bearer of many good fruits. It has taught me to be patient (which you have to have to be with younger students) and to be responsible. But, above all, the programme is a fun experience; the children are very cute and loveable and give so much back in return. I love it!”
Marie Helene Lai Lam
“When I started the ASSIST programme I found myself really comfortable with the younger kids and I was really delighted because I never thought that I could come to adore such little kids!! Over time I have established a good relationship with them and the teacher. I am really happy helping and hope to continue with it a bit longer”
Carlos Larue.
“ Every week I have dedicated one hour of my time to the programme. This opportunity allows me to interact with the younger students and staff who normally I would have no contact with in the other sections. It has been really enjoyable though exhausting requiring much in the way of patience and personal responsibility. I’ve really enjoyed it!”
Ivan Leong
“I am still relatively new to the ASSIST programme but what I’ve experienced so far is promising. It is an entirely new experience and I look forward to every session”
Samuel Ramkalawan
“I help the Yr 5 children with mathematics: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It has really helped me to develop patience and social skills.”
Cyrus Karkaria
