Learning & Development Centre Supplementary School
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Background & Mission

Learning & Development Centre was established in 2001 in the name of Research & Development Centre for Ethiopians in Britain (RDCEB) and was reformed in 2010 in the name of Learning & Development Centre (LDC).
LDC is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee.

The purpose for the establishment of the ‘old’ RDCEB in the early years of 2001 – 2010 was to address the immediate needs of Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers in Britain. The purpose of the reform for the new LDC in 2010 is to address educational & social needs of local children/young people & families as the majority of the refugee community members become settling as British citizens and new generations become emerging that forced LDC to replace the immediate needs of refugees with a long term educational and social needs of children & young people that includes other local ethnic minority children & young people regardless of their race, ethnicity & backgrounds.

Statement of Vision:

The main vision of Learning & Development Centre Supplementary School is to build a long-life learning Centre that enable local disadvantaged children & young people to have real opportunities for Curriculum Subject classes (Maths, English & Science), Extracurricular activities (Life Skills) and Home-language (Amharic) lessons.

Statement of Objective:

The main objective of LDC supplementary school is to:

  • advance & enhance educational performance & attainment of children & young people by providing curriculum subject classes;
  • Create & develop better chances for extracurricular activities (Life skills: ICT literacy skills, physical activity and nutritional education (development of sporting & healthy eating habits) among children & young people to tackle poor health and be active in their future lives & careers;
  • build stable families and communities that can create opportunities for children and young people in developing life skills, self-esteem, moral & ethical values that enable them to be responsible citizens and have better life in their future.
  • Provide home-language lessons aiming to enable children & young people of Ethiopian origin to connect themselves to the Ethiopian heritage & culture and to promote sense of integrity within the British society:

Why Supplementary Education is needed for ethnic minority children & young people?

In the post Millennium, huge demand for the supplementary education, particularly for curriculum core subjects (Maths, English & Science) has been growing fast among disadvantaged & ethnic minority school children. As a result of the demand, several private tuition providers have been emerging to respond to the demands. However, low-income families/parents are not able to benefit from the private tuition providers, as they cannot afford the tuition fees.

The aim of our community-based Supplementary School is therefore to address the needs (gaps) of disadvantaged children that are from low-income families. Because, if children have no good attainment & performance with such compulsory core subjects at their regular primary & secondary schools, they are likely to be unsuccessful in their further education/qualification, as well as in their future employment opportunities

Delivery of Classes:

  • Lesson is provided on a group or an individual basis. Pupils are classified on the basis of Key stages (1, 2, 3 & 4) or school year (Y1 – Y11).
  • One-to-one support with particular needs, homework and coursework,
  • Preparation of exam for GCSE (if they are in-need of it),
  • Lesson is provided on a group or an individual basis. Pupils are classified on the basis of Key stages (1, 2, 3 & 4) or school year (Y1 – Y11).
  • One-to-one support with particular needs, homework and coursework
  • Preparation of exam for GCSE (if they are in-need of it),
  • Lesson is provided on a group or an individual basis. Pupils are classified on the basis of Key stages (1, 2, 3 & 4) or school year (Y1 – Y11).
  • One-to-one support with particular needs, homework and coursework
  • Preparation of exam for GCSE (if they are in-need of it).

Delivery Time:

The curriculum classes are running on weekends/Saturdays and weekdays after school for 2 hours (1 session) or 4 hours (2 sessions), if the number of learners is more than 30 per session, for 11/12 weeks per term and 35/36 weeks per year.

Registration:

  • All students /learners are expected to register in the first term, however, any student or learner who is not able to register in the first term, may register at any time of the school year, if there is a place available.
  • If there is no place available, the student’s name is placed on the waiting list.
  • A registration or application form must be completed and signed by the students themselves or by parents or guardians if the students are under 16 years old.
  • It is the responsibility of both the students and parents/guardians to inform LDC of any change in circumstances: address, phone numbers, school etc.
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Class Requirements:

Learning & Development Centre has been making great efforts to provide effective and focussed teaching methods for users at the Saturday Supplementary School.  For the achievement of the planned actions, parents & carers are expected to ensure that their children bring the following educational materials to the Saturday Supplementary School Classes. 

  • Practice & revision books given by the Supplementary School
  • Supplementary School writing/exercise/note book
  • School home work (if they want to do it at the Supplementary School)
  • Pens & pencils.

These requirements are useful to increase the quality of services and identify the day-to-day progression of beneficiaries, as well as to incorporate the lessons of the Supplementary School into each student’s regular school lessons.   

Table of Contents

Homework:

  • LDC believes that regular homework given by the mainstream schools and the Supplementary School reinforce students to focus on their core subjects at both home and Saturday School.
  • Teachers have to check that the assignment or homework/class activities have been recorded in the student’s homework diary.
  • Parents/carers should check the diary when the student comes home each week from the Saturday School. If no homework has been recorded, the parents/carers should immediately inform the LDC office Coordinator.
  • The Saturday School homework is based on the work covered in class. Students who attend the class regularly and listen attentively can do it easily.
  • The Saturday School homework & class exercises’ marks can be counted towards 40% of the final result of the term.

Tests:

  • LDC believes that regular progression assessment test at the end of each term helps students, teachers and parents/guardians to measure any progress or improvement made to each student throughout the Supplementary School year.
  • Tests in each subject take place at the end of each term (Term1 = December, Term2 = March or April and Term3 = July).
  • Tests will be based on the work covered in the class.
  • Progress assessment tests’ results at the end of each term can count towards 60% of the final total result of the term.

Attendance:

  • Students and parents/guardians are provided timetables of the year, which shows the dates, times and classes of the Saturday School. The programme enables students to plan and co-ordinate their activities of the year.
  • LDC requires 90 -100% attendance in normal circumstances from each student.

Punctuality:

  • Students must arrive before the start of classes.
  • Students who make a practice of arriving late repeatedly will be given oral or written warning.

Absence:

  • Students should inform LDC office in advance, if they are unable to attend the class.
  • Except in exceptional circumstances, a student who fails to attend regularly will be asked to bring his/her parents/guardians who can discuss the matter with the Coordinator.
  • If a student is absent, it is her/his responsibility to make arrangements to collect homework/assignments and any notices distributed on that Saturday. This may be done with the help of a classmate, or by making an appointment to collect the material from the office during the weekdays.

Behaviour:

  • LDC is community based on self-respect, co-operation and consideration for others. LDC also aims to project a positive image of all ethnic groups in general with great emphasis in working together and learn from one another. LDC students are therefore, expected to bear this in mind in their interaction with their teachers, fellow-students and the wider community.
  • Before and after classes, students are expected to help willingly in the setting-up/clearing-up process.
  • Students should not eat or drink during classes (including gum).
  • Students should do their best to ensure that their surroundings are kept clean and tidy. Litters should be put in litterbins.
  • Teachers can give students who engage in disruptive behaviour in class a verbal warning or ask them to leave the class and serve a punishment; a note will also be made in the student’s file.
  • If behaviour continues in a disruptive manner, a written warning will be issued to parents/guardians.
  • If the above fail to end persistent disruptive behaviour, the second written warning will include a request for the student to withdraw from the Saturday School.
  • Once a student has signed in attendance register in the learning centre on Saturday, s/he must restrict her/his movements to the designated area only.

Food and Drink:

  • Students can bring healthy snacks and eat them only during break times.
  • Those who bring their own snacks should not share it with other students who suffer from food allergy.
  • Students are encouraged to have healthy foods and drinks.

Dress Code:

  • Students can wear their own clothes, not uniform. They should feel free to express themselves through their clothes, but should make sure they look decent. Any student wearing inappropriate clothing will be advised or warned in the first instance and sent home in the second count.
  • Students should remove their winter jackets in the classroom.

Lost Found:

  • LDC Saturday school is a community based on trust and honesty.
  • Students are expected to look after their communal property of the organisation and ensure that it remains safe and secure. Students must understand that writing or drawing on the tables & walls is not allowed.
  • Each student is responsible for looking after her/his belongings.
  • A student who has lost her/his own property should report the loss to the Coordinator or a teacher on duty.
  • If students or staff members find someone’s property, they should hand it over to the Coordinator or the teacher on duty.
  • LDC takes no responsibility for personal lost property. If any personal property is left behind and collected by LDC will be returned to the owner.

Progression Report:

  • The results of the progress tests and class performance of each term should be reported and explained to the students & parents/guardians by the teachers.
  • The overall progress results of each term and the final school year shall be reported to the Board of Directors/Trustees of the LDC and relevant regulatory agencies and funders.

Awards:

  • LDC Supplementary School can award encouraging prizes for students, who show good behaviour, attendance, progressive efforts in the class and good results in their class/homework performance and termly progression tests by the end of each Supplementary school year.
  • LDC Supplementary School can also consider special awards to selected staff members/teachers and volunteers for their outstanding performance and progressive efforts in all teaching & learning activities of the LDC Supplementary School.

Links with Students’ Regular Schools:

  • LDC provides educational services within the National curriculum.
  • LDC works as closely as its limited resources allow with other supplementary and local mainstream schools.
  • LDC may make written or telephone correspondence with student’s mainstream school, if parents request and the correspondence is important for the students’ educational improvements. However, personal information will not be discussed with the school.

Meetings and Events:

  • LDC holds meetings and events quarterly or annually.
  • The participants of the meetings/events can be teachers and parents who are important for consultation on the learning & teaching progress.
  • Events may include trips, sports, workshops, etc.

Complaint Procedure:

  • If anyone wants to complain against his/her classmate shall first make a complaint to the teachers on duty.
  • If a complaint is against a teacher/volunteer, he/she can make it to the co-ordinator.
  • If a complaint is against the co-ordinator or is not dealt with your satisfaction, it can be addressed in writing to the LDC Board of Trustees. (For more details, refer to complaint policy and procedures)

Communication:

  • LDC Supplementary School is committed to make regular communication with teachers, students and parents/guardians.
  • Important information, such as changes to the LDC programme, closing & opening school days and forth-coming events are communicated orally to students and text messages are sent to parents/guardians
  • Teachers and the Coordinator can communicate and discus with students and parents/guardians regarding their progression or difficulty by the end of each term or at any time if that is necessary.
  • Parents/guardians and students can contact the LDC Co-ordinator through telephone, text and email if they need any support or help.

Feedback:

  • LDC believes that evaluation & monitoring is vital to understand and measure any progress or improvement made to beneficiaries, as well as to learn from mistakes.
  • LDC needs to know what is going well and what is going badly. Feedback from students and parents/guardians really helps LDC Supplementary School to improve its services.
  • Students and parents are expected to fill in evaluation questionnaires at the end of each term, and particularly at the end of the school year. They are also encouraged to express their views & make comments during the completion of evaluation questionnaires.
  • Both positive and negative feedback are welcome, as they are useful to improve our future services.
  • Parents/guardians and students feel free to contact the Co-ordinator or designated person, if they are happy or unhappy with the services provided by the LDC Supplementary School.