Right to Read
Volunteer Placement Pack
Useful Information
You may find it useful to fill this page in to keep a record of important names, numbers and times for your placement.
Day of placement:
Time of placement:
School:
Address:
Tel:
Email:
Link Teacher:
Tel:
Email:
Class:
Class teacher:
Tel:
Email:
York Cares
York Cares
c/o Careers
The University of York
York
YO10 5DD
Tel: 01904 323482
E-mail:
Web:
Your role as a volunteer
As a Right to Read volunteer you are providing much needed one-on-one literacy support for primary school children in York. You will be volunteering in one of York Cares’ oldest schemes and now a national programme. York Cares currently supports around 80 volunteers in 18 schools supporting over 240 children across the city.
The opportunity to read with an adult is not necessarily common place for children and so your time is vital. As a volunteer your role is very specific. You are not a teacher or teaching assistant and as such should not be in charge of discipline or behavioural issues.
Key Responsibilities as a Volunteer
Attend a two hour training session
Complete a DBS (disclosure and barring service-formerly CRB) check
Attend an induction session at the school in which you are placed
Make a regular (usually weekly) commitment to volunteer for around an hour each week for a minimum of one academic term
Inform the school, with plenty of notice, if you cannot attend their regular slot for any reason
Discuss with the class teacher whether they would like feedback on pupils’ progress and what form this should take
Inform the school and York Cares if you can no longer continue their placement
Inform York Cares if you plan to continue their placement beyond the first term
Discuss with the class teacher or link teacher at the end of the first term whether you would like to continue
The school’s responsibility to you
All of our schools are very grateful and accommodating to volunteers for the time and effort they provide. As a volunteer you have made a commitment to the school to undertake your placement but they too have made a commitment to you and as such have some key responsibilities.
Provide an induction for new volunteers to include a tour of the school and any specific information relating to reading within the school
Assign each volunteer to a class, introduce them to the class teacher and ensure a convenient start date and time is arranged
Inform the volunteer of the best method for contacting the school and/or class teacher
Inform the volunteer if their class will not be available one week i.e. due to school trips
Provide an appropriate place in which the volunteer can read with pupils i.e. a designated quiet area
Ensure the volunteer is fully supported in their placement e.g. provide background information on pupils where appropriate; assign pupils to volunteers for each session; provide guidance and feedback
Discuss with the volunteer the possibility of a permanent placement at the end of the first term
York Cares’ responsibilities to you and our schools
We will provide you with the support to complete a placement that runs for a minimum of one academic term.
Recruit volunteers
Organise volunteer training sessions
DBS check volunteers
Organise inductions with the school and volunteers
Track and support all volunteers at the school
Monitor volunteer activity. Maintain a city wide overview of the project
Help to resolve any issues should they arise
We would love to think that all of our volunteers could carry on reading in their schools for the duration of their time in the company. However we are aware that workloads are constantly changing and that as a result you may not be able to continue past one academic term’s worth of volunteering.
So what next?
Take a look at our key points about what to expect next in the Right to Read process
Training
Volunteers learn the recommended government procedures for helping children to read and cover the necessary safety and child protection protocol.
DBS checks
Volunteers will complete a DBS check at the training session.
Induction
Volunteers meet the school link teacher, class teacher and arrange a start date.
Placement
Volunteers attend school once a week or fortnight for a minimum of one academic term.
Mid-term review
York Cares will contact volunteers to review progress.
End of term review
The school link teacher should discuss with volunteers whether they would like to continue the placement into the next term and should make arrangements directly. York Cares will contact to review progress and support where needed.
A guide to working with schools
Introduction to the Education System
Key stage 1 – Year 1 (age 5-6) and Year 2 (age 6-7)
Key stage 2 – Year 3 (age 7-8), Year 4 (age 8-9), Year 5 (age 9-10), Year 6 (age 10-11)
National Curriculum
Framework used by all state schools to ensure that teaching and learning is balanced and consistent
It sets out: the subjects taught, knowledge, skills and understanding required for each subject
The School Environment
Lesson times – a bell may be used to signal break times
The staffroom – this is often a teacher’s refuge. You will probably be invited to help yourself to tea/coffee in here.
Teachers – be mindful of the time pressures they are under
Health and safety – ensure you familiarise yourself with the fire alarm, fire exits and assembly points, first aid procedures
Child Protection
DBS checks – all volunteers working with children must have a valid DBS check
Be aware of safeguarding policies and confidentiality issues; do not share anything seen or heard in class or in the staffroom with anyone outside the school. For more details on safeguarding policies, please see
Code of conduct:
- consider the language you use
- watch out for suggestive comments
- be aware of personal space (yours and pupils’)
- avoid physical contact
- try not to single people out
- avoid being alone with pupils wherever possible
Working in the school
Schools are very busy places. You may not always get a chance to speak to the class teacher but there should always be a clear system in place as to which children you will read with.
Although they ought to alert you to any changes in timetable be aware that this may not always be possible. If you arrive at school and find your class is away, speak to reception as there may well be somewhere else you could help for that day. If you encounter this problem regularly please discuss the issue with your class or link teacher.
Take guidance from your specific school with regard to dress, footwear and behaviour. Please ensure your mobile phone is switched off
Ensure you refer to teachers using their title and surname (eg. Mr Smith) when in the presence of children, and establish whether the school would prefer you to introduce yourself using your first name or title and surname
Be aware of any children who might have SEN or English as a second language
Be aware of signing in policies such as ID badges or stickers