More high school holiday activities ensure smooth start in big school for pupils

Eleven year olds in Wythenshawe and Moss Side have given up part of their summer holidays to go back into the classroom in a bid to better prepare them for high school.

They are spending two weeks taking part in maths and English booster lessons and other activities, all aimed at giving them a flying start when they move up into high school in a few weeks' time.

The 'Smooth Start' project is taking place this week and next at the new Manchester Enterprise Academy in Wythenshawe (Parklands High School) and in the Children's Centre in Alexandra Park, Moss Side with the aim of easing transition for the pupils from primary school into high school. Although the project is targeted mainly at the Year six leavers from local primary schools, children aged from 9 - 11 are taking part in the sessions. The projects will culminate next week in celebration events for everyone who has taken part and for parents and carers to go along and help celebrate their children's achievements.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member, Children's Services, Manchester City Council, said: "Moving up into high school can seem a bit daunting to pupils fresh out of primary school, but this project helps take away some of the anxieties that children can feel.

"The booster sessions in English and maths obviously help give children more confidence in these key subject areas, and being able to take part in other activities too in their new high school over the summer is a great, lively, and fun introduction to their new school that will stand the pupils in good stead for this next stage of their learning."

The project is being run by Manchester mentoring charity ReachOut! with funding from Manchester City Council and corporate sponsorship from other local organisations.

ReachOut! Chief Executive Xavier Bosch, said: "The project is proving to be a great success and the young people who are taking part are doing so with real enthusiasm and will, I think walk away from the project feeling very positive and confident about what awaits them in high school."

The 'Smooth Start' sessions run until next Monday 29 August from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm.

The Wythenshawe sessions are open to young people aged 10 - 11 years, and the Moss Side sessions are open to children and young people aged 9 - 13 years. The sessions are free to attend and places are still available. Anyone wanting to find out more information about the courses should call Xavier Bosch on tel: 0161 226 7633 / 07950 020117.