Enrichment Wednesdays
Wednesday afternoons are dedicated to holistic development at each Pilgrim base. Sessions are facilitated by PSWS and Learning Support staff and cover all nine areas of the personal development schemas via a variety of sessions.
Pupils are placed into groups according to need identified by holistic assessment. Groups may change each term.
WOW
WOW (Wellbeing on Wednesday) are a series of individual lessons over a term focussing on a theme (such as nature) which cover all areas of the personal development schema. The program is planned over the course of a year and can be repeated multiple times as pupil's knowledge and experience grow - each session allows for differentiation of learning to cater for pupils at all levels from encountering through to mastering levels.
Sessions are a mix of in-house activities and adapted existing pre-written resources (e.g. iFred Hope, previous in house 'Resilient Me' program) and are carefully planned to cover a wide range of knowledge needed to develop holistically. Learning outcomes are often implicit and crafted by skilled questioning of the leading staff and clear lesson planning. This enables pupils to feel safe within the sessions and to contribute more as confidence grows.
D of E/Lifeskills
D of E is many things to many people - A life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.
14-24 year-olds can do a D of E programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition.
Alongside D of E we also run a Life skills programme which incorporates various areas such as recycling/upcycling, gardening projects, food hygiene/cooking, washing, ironing, sewing, finance, budgeting along with trips and experiences showing life in the working world.
Transition Preparation
For Year 11, pupils between September and February, a range of sessions focussing on transition preparation with post-16 visits, careers talks and travel training.
Volunteering
When opportunities are available, small groups of pupils can be supported to offer their services to care homes, local animal shelters, food banks or recycling projects.
This can be in addition to individual work experience placements.