We run a supplementary school to assist children with their school homework, maths, English, Science, etc. We also organise outings and trips for children and young people during school holidays.

(NOTE: This has been restricted by the lock-down rules and regulations)

Dadihiye Supplementary School Programme continues to run in partnership with West way Development Trust’s Supplementary Schools Partnership Resource Centre.

The school exists to help address the low academic attainment that currently faces the Somali community.

 The school works within the national curriculum. The school runs for 39 weeks each year from 5.30pm to 8pm so that children can be helped with homework but also with other areas of the curriculum that the children might need help with.

Parents are encouraged to take an interest in the school to enable better understanding of what is required; the educational system; how school/ the curriculum works; how their children might feel and what a difference the supplementary school can make. Thus they gain confidence, are able support their children at home and help to improve their academic success.

Trained staff and volunteers attend the school. Lessons are conducted in English so that the language is being heard and read during the schools hours so that the children are constantly absorbing the language. Children are very versatile and they learn dual languages on the whole quite easily so it is English at school and Somali at home. It is good that the children retain their language not only to converse with family and friends but as part of their cultural heritage.

Benefits of supplementary school

  •  Pupils and parents: feel more comfortable as the majority of children that come to our classes have similar backgrounds to them.
  • Children and parents understand each other better.
  • Parent’s benefit by discussing each other’s children and learning from each other.
  • Pupil’s behaviour improves because they are in an environment where they don’t feel isolated.
  • Children benefit by learning to comprehend and converse in more than one language.
  • The London Metropolitan University research commissioned by The Department for Children, School and Families found that dual language heritage is a good thing.
  • The children seem to adapt and enjoy their class; they take full advantage of the help that is being provided (smaller numbers allow more teacher / pupil time).
  • They are usually enthused.
  • Children feel more at ease because they are in a similar environment to their home environment.
  • Pupils evolve and grow in confidence compared to when they started the supplementary school.
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Overall the children that attend the supplementary school have developed positive attitudes and visits educational places like museums. They are more attentive, have greater motivation during classes, good behavior and continue to progress towards greater academic achievements. They developed greater self-esteem and a more positive identity. During quizzes and other class activities, children have shown a greater confidence in answering questions as well as asking them. They are also more aware of which goals they need to set for themselves in order to overcome their limitations.