CouncilOut of school hours learning (study support)
Tower Hamlets is committed to ensuring access to study support opportunities that enable young people to achieve highly and to become skilled, confident and motivated independent lifelong learners.
The team responsible for the development of out of school hours learning study support (OoSHL) across the borough has been in existence since 1993. Since 2004, the service has been streamlined and is currently operated by two advisers, who also serve as joint heads of service, and two administrative assistants.
The service provides leadership and strategic direction for study support across the borough. It is responsible for ensuring the delivery of the Local Education Authority’s (LEAs) commitment to out of school hours learning by supporting schools to uphold the principles that underpin it. It also works with schools and community providers of study support to achieve quality standards.
For full details of out of school hours learning activities in schools and community groups across the borough, visit our web site at www.ooshl.org.
What we do
The core functions of the service are as follows:
- To advocate study support as a means of raising achievement and promoting positive attitudes to learning
- To maintain the status of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets as a leading edge authority in the field of study support
- To promote quality assurance of study support and provide support for schools and other centres in the twin processes of self-evaluation and evidence collection
- To ensure schools, community groups and local education authority (LEA) teams and colleagues are informed of local and national developments in study support, including best practice
- To secure and manage additional funding for the provision of study support in the authority
- To co-ordinate the collection of data in relation to the provision of and participation in study support activities and make accessible both within and beyond the LEA
- To ensure young people are part of the mechanism for quality assuring OoSHL (Study Support) provision.
Guiding principles
The following four principles inform school development planning, the work of the OoSHL (Study Support) Service and the wider policies of the LEA in relation to out of school hours learning:
- Every pupil can access study support at school and in the community
- All schools value study support as a strategy for raising standards and include study support within their school improvement plan
- All schools deliver a study support programme as part of their wider extended school provision
- Schools and other providers deliver quality study support that is enjoyable, inclusive and raises achievement.
Quality standards
Tower Hamlets has defined a quality study support programme in terms of ten standards.
- The purposes and goals of the study support programme are discussed with key stakeholders
- Young people, staff and parents are consulted regarding their needs, interests and expectations
- Centres know who is benefiting from provision by keeping accurate attendance registers
- Young people are actively involved in the programme other than as learners
- Centres create a welcoming, informal but effective, learning environment
- Young people can access a range of human and physical resources through the programme
- The programme is co-ordinated and managed by a named person.
- The programme is publicised and promoted
- Tutors are selected according to the needs of the young people and the purpose of the activity
- The programme benefits from partnerships within and beyond the local authority.
Contact details
tel: 020 7364 6343
email: info.ooshl@towerhamlets.gov.uk
website: www.ooshl.org
Related services in Tower Hamlets
- Extended schools
- Community language service
- Junior youth service
