Schoolfriend Etc
The grant recipient
Schoolfriend etc (formerly "CATZ Clubs") is a registered charity and provider of after-school care clubs with integrated learning opportunities – etc: education, training, childcare.
The programme
What it aims to do
Schoolfriend etc aims to:
- provide access to after-school clubs which include integrated learning
- develop a blueprint for the clubs and a strategy for nationwide rollout
How it works
Schoolfriend etc clubs run every day after school and provide an environment in which children can work on the Schoolfriend online individualised learning programme (Schoolfriend.com).
The SHINE grant paid for clubs to be set up and run for 120 children aged between 7 and 11 from schools in Islington, Southwark and Lambeth.
Results
- the Schoolfriend programme tracks and reports on the progress made by children in each national curriculum topic and has consistently shown an improvement in the performance of those who use the programme regularly
- an independent evaluation of the SHINE-funded Schoolfriend etc clubs was carried out by the Institute of Education at the University of London in 2004/05. It concluded that: "The pupils using Schoolfriend have made significant gains in reading and aspects of mathematics... The support systems and policies provided by the clubs are clearly effective... Most importantly, pupils enjoy attending the clubs"
The funding and large scale expansion
SHINE made a grant to Schoolfriend etc to fund:
- the first five clubs
- an independent evaluation
- a Schoolfriend etc blueprint – a business, financial and operations model
Following the initial SHINE grant, Schoolfriend etc successfully secured a £2 million investment from the government’s Futurebuilders fund. This was given to support the organisation in establishing itself as the leading national provider of 'educare', with a sustainable England-wide network of safe secure childhood places on school premises.
Funding: £94,855 to Schoolfriend etc, over one year (2004-05)
Visit Schoolfriend etc’s website: http://www.schoolfriendetc.org
