This eduaction centre based in Walsall but open to Wolverhampton youngsters provides educational support for up to ten pupils a day , most of which split there time between here and mainstream school. We join the Wolverhampton Mayor to find out more.
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00:00So we're here at Community Footprints Walsall and of course we know the Wolverhampton Mayor,
00:05Linda Leach in the middle. Hello Mayor. And who have we got next to you? Go on ladies.
00:09I'm Stacey Anquist.
00:10And what is Community Footprints?
00:16So we're a part-time alternative provision that provides education for key stage four children
00:23on a part-time basis in hair, beauty, childcare and health and social care.
00:27And then we embed functional skills, English and Maths, and I say to you that as well.
00:32So these are pupils that have not been getting on great in mainstream school for the most part, yeah?
00:39Yeah, so it could be like due to mental health, social emotional difficulties.
00:46Schools have got a really large setting and we're a very small setting so it's more of a nurturing environment
00:53where we can adapt our lessons to suit the students' needs.
00:59And how many pupils do you have on average each day here?
01:02So we only have ten, ten a day and we feel that we can manage with the ten and get the best possible qualifications for them.
01:10And the reasons that pupils are coming to you, like you say, it can be, I mean, there's a lot of interesting stories out there, isn't there?
01:20I'm sure they come from colourful backgrounds, don't they, some of them?
01:23And I'm sure when you kind of delve into their stories you understand why, perhaps mainstream isn't there?
01:27Definitely, definitely.
01:28So they come to you generally one, two days a week, how does it work?
01:33So they come two days a week and three days in school, and then they choose, obviously we choose programmes to suit their interests, their needs.
01:42Yeah.
01:42And the best possible outcome for them to go on to further educational employment.
01:47And you've had some good stories, haven't you? Just talk to us about where some of the people that have come through your doors have kind of then gone on to.
01:53So some of the people that have come through our doors have then gone on to obviously a university, some have gone on into the army.
02:03Yeah.
02:03Some have gone on to level three hairdressing qualifications in colleges in Sandwell.
02:09Wasn't there a lad you mentioned? He's doing particularly well, isn't he, with his hairdressing?
02:13Yeah, he's doing absolutely brilliant, yeah.
02:14He's doing his level two diploma here and he's gone to Sandwell College and he's now doing level three.
02:21Yeah.
02:21And from feedback, he's doing exceptionally well.
02:24Awesome.
02:25I'm very proud of him.
02:26Yeah, I was going to say, you must be like proud mums really when you see them come through and then move on.
02:30Yeah, definitely.
02:32So, Madam Mayor, we're in Walsall, but this facility is open to Walsall and Wolverhampton now, isn't it?
02:38Yes, it is.
02:39Hence why you've come kind of sussing out what's going on.
02:42What have you thought about what you've seen today?
02:45I'm really impressed to be fair. I mean, obviously, you know, I come from a hairdressing background myself.
02:49I've had my own business for many years, so it's really good to come to a place like this to see
02:56what facilities they've got, how they work and the encouragement that they have from the trainers.
03:04Yes, it's really good.
03:05And I'm impressed that they have the maths and English as well as the hairdressing and beauty,
03:10which is really important today.
03:12And I just had, there was a couple of girls who got the level two in maths.
03:17I mean, that's fab, because they're still at school and they've already got a level two in maths.
03:22Yeah, that's good going.
03:23I think that's brilliant.
03:23Yeah, so how are you funded? Where does the money come from to kind of run this place?
03:27Okay, so what we'll do is, the school, we have an interview process, so the school will approach us,
03:33or the council will approach us. We'll do an interview process with the child, the learner,
03:40the parents, and the school, and then the school will pay for the child's advice, so yeah.
03:47Yeah. So you've been going how long?
03:50Ten years.
03:51Ten years! Tenth year! Happy birthday!
03:54Don't look a day over nine!
03:57And you've got a few pupils that we can meet today as well, haven't you, on the course,
04:00so we'll have a look, we'll have a chat to them as well. Thank you guys, thank you.
04:05Do your name young lady?
04:06Tacoma.
04:07And what are you studying here then?
04:08Childcare and beauty in maths and English.
04:11Wow, yeah. How are you getting on?
04:13All right.
04:14Yeah, yeah. And how many days do you come here?
04:17Three.
04:17Three days a week?
04:18Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
04:20And how old are you then?
04:21Sixteen.
04:21Sixteen. So, how do you feel at this facility? Is it kind of really, is it what you need?
04:27Is it, you know, is it looking after you?
04:29Yes.
04:29Cool. And how long until you kind of get your qualifications, how much more studying do you have to do?
04:35A lot.
04:36A lot?
04:36A lot.
04:39Cool.
04:40Yeah, that's right.
04:41Yeah.
04:41Oh, cool.
04:42Well, good luck.
04:42Good luck in your future career then, in that young lady. Thank you.
04:47So, ladies, introduce yourselves. What's your names?
04:49Dottie.
04:50Dottie?
04:50Sophie.
04:51And?
04:52Carly.
04:53So, Sophie, you actually came here initially as a student yourself.
04:57Yeah.
04:58And now you're a teacher.
04:59Yeah.
05:00So that's a bit of a change, isn't it?
05:01I know.
05:02And what is it you girls are studying here?
05:05Hairdressing.
05:06Hairdressing, yeah?
05:06Hairdressing, I mean.
05:09Cool.
05:09And how are you getting on?
05:10Good.
05:11You've already got your English as well, haven't you all been here?
05:14Yeah.
05:14Yeah, my love, yeah.
05:15And my boyfriend.
05:16And her maths, yeah.
05:17Yeah, yeah, the lady said you're pretty much on for your maths there as well.
05:20So, what is this place doing for you girls then?
05:25If this place didn't exist, how's it changing your life?
05:28Do you know what I mean?
05:28I think it's better because we have more, erm, what, more opportunities for you girls.
05:37Yeah.
05:40And you can go to college, you know, and not have to redo all the bits that you did.
05:42Yeah, because you've already got your college preparation here.
05:47So it's been really important in your life, kind of?
05:50Yeah.
05:50Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:51Dolly, how would you say this place is helping you?
05:54I always struggle to school and this blog, college, I can try a lot more.
05:58Yeah.
05:59What is it about this place that's different to school?
06:01Is it kind of the, the way the, er, is it, is it the smaller scale that there's just a few of you?
06:06Yeah, it's smaller and it helps out a lot.
06:10If, if you ever have a problem, they'll always speak to you and they'll help you out.
06:14Yeah.
06:14And, look, you're never turned away.
06:16Awesome.
06:17So good luck, ladies, in your future careers and well done for progressing from learner to teacher.
06:22Yeah, thank you.
06:22Yes, I hope very much you're visiting us.
06:26Of course.
06:26Gosh, thank you so much.
06:28They're the beautiful, aren't they?
06:30Hi, man.
06:34Thank you very much.
06:35Oh, thank you.
06:36Well done.