Wider learning
Arts, Sports and Culture empower children and can have remarkable benefits for our care experienced children. It is fundamental to their development and can improve a child’s potential. Taking part in such activities promotes and encourages creativity, innovation, resilience, and empathy as well as enriching their life experiences, making them healthier and happier.
Staffordshire Virtual school are dedicated to finding opportunities within Arts, Sports and Culture for our children to access. These are usually offered termly and will be advertised through e-pep. Please share these with your care experienced children and encourage participation wherever possible. Each event is risk assessed and appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place.
Staffordshire Virtual School Arts and Sports events calendar 24-25
Arts Award
An amazing way to encourage creativity, instil confidence, make new friends, improve attendance and engagement whilst building self-esteem for our children as we celebrate their strengths and achievements. Arts Award is an accredited qualification and we have 2 colleagues within the Virtual school, who can assess the work.
The Levels start at a Discover Award- for anyone aged 6yrs + who is learning and developing a new skill. To the Silver Arts Award for those 16yrs +, where evidence is collated in a portfolio to show their improved skills in an art form, sharing what they have learnt to others and going on to plan and deliver an event.
We have over 50 children who have successfully achieved their Discover Award and more who are working towards the next level – Explore. Arts come along in many different forms- so please do not feel that if drawing is not your passion it’s not for you! Music, digital media, photography, fashion, drama and many more elements can be covered in completing an Arts Award.
Artslink
The West Midlands Virtual Schools are delighted to bring you Artslink.
This is an online programme, which provides at-home arts and cultural activities specially selected and commissioned for care experienced children and young people. We know that the arts can present a hugely important opportunity for connection and creativity for care experienced CYP and their key adults during this isolating time, as well as helping to continue their learning.
Have a look and give it a go! – you will find creative challenges, artist demonstrations, career pathways and a gallery to showcase some of the work produced. Arts awards from Explore up to Gold level award can also be completed and there is support offered by 2 of the Virtual school advisors who are trained to facilitate this. Please get in touch with us to find out more.
Follow us on Instagram: @vsstaffordshire
Informative video from Performing perfectly to be shared with professionals and those who support our children: https://vimeo.com/913739079/1cdbfaefab.
Search for Activities | Together Active (activityfinder.net) use this link to search for sporting activities and clubs that are on in your area – covering Staffordshire and Stoke
Invitation to entrust music lessons – contact your Virtual School team to discuss free music lessons
Aspire to University - University of Wolverhampton (wlv.ac.uk) - information about the A2U (Aspire 2 University) programme we are involved in and have some of our children in care enrolled to.