On Tuesday, 6th February we are starting a new NRCSE Effective Teaching Course. The course entails the following topics and spreads over 10 weeks. Each week we meet for 3 hours and participants have to do a lot of research and write essays. The  course is funded by the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and delivered by the ANSS. 

Effective Teaching Course - Overview
1 Understand the education system in England and the role of the supplementary schools 
2. Understand the responsibilities of the teachers in supplementary schools 
3. Understand different learning styles and the effect on learning 
4. Understand the requirements of lesson planning 
5. Understand different assessment methods
6. Understand what constitutes an effective learning environment 
7. Know how to evaluate your own teaching 
8. Presentations and Micro- teaching 
9. Presentations and Micro-teaching 

On Saturday, 18th November 2017 the Association of Northamptonshire Supplementary Schools’ (ANSS) Award Ceremony took place at Caroline Chisholm Academy. Supplementary Schools are community run schools that endeavour to keep the language and culture of their country of origin alive. 

240 people attended the event and celebrated the achievements of young people, teachers and volunteers. 97 children and 34 teachers and volunteers were award achievement certificates.

On 14th & 21st June, volunteer teachers from our member supplementary schools attended two workshops delivered by James Underwood, Department of Education from University of Northampton.  He delivered workshops on storytelling and class management for 21 volunteer teachers.  The classes were an opportunity for these teachers  to learn some new skills whilst meeting volunteers from other schools to exchange views and ideas.  Both workshops were a great success and we are very grateful to James for delivery these workshops for us. 

On Tuesday 30 May, 8 young people from 8 of our member schools took part in a 4 day music project delivered by Pedestrian.  The project was called 'Concept' and enabled young people to create, produce and record their own songs, and to make a album based on a concept or theme.  The children chose 'memories' as their theme, and were led by a group of professional musicians to create their own songs based on this theme.  They also were supported to complete an arts award qualification.  The album is being finalised at present and will be launched later in the year.  We are very grateful to Pedestrian for providing this opportunity for our supplementary schools children.

On Saturday, schools from Northampton and Corby took part in our annual supplementary schools concert.  Performances included songs sung in mother tongue languages, traditional dances, traditional music and a specially written poem.  The children were amazing, delivering confident performances demonstrating the language and culture they have been learning throughout the year.  We were pleased to welcome Mayor Wellingborough Cllr Malcolm Waters and the Leader of Northampton Borough Council Cllr Jonathan Nunn to the concert, as well as the parents and friends of the children performing.  As part of the concert, schools also had stands displaying information about their schools and also provided traditional food for all to try.  We were also pleased to have stands from Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue, Autism Concern, NHS Changing Minds and The Voice. We also presented Phoenix Performing Arts School and Northampton Gujarati School with their NRCSE Silver Awards.  

From January to March 2017, ANSS delivered the NRCSE Effective Teaching Course for 15 participants from our member supplementary schools.  This course provides tools for teachers to effectively managed and run lessons.  The course covers lesson planning, class management, the English education system, assessment and learning styles.  All participants had to prepare a micro lesson and deliver it to the other participants and also complete course work.  Course work is currently being assessed and we will announce the results when they have been published.

On 27 January 2017, volunteers from 4 supplementary schools, along with Ute Nannini the ANSS Development Officer, visited Magdalen College in Brackley, to take part in their International Day.  This day was an opportunity for the school's Year 7 to find out about different countries and cultures, and ask our volunteers about their home countries and cultures.  It was a fun day for all involved.