National Literacy Trust’s Post

Turner & Townsend celebrates 10,000 grant milestone for vulnerable children Leading global professional services company, Turner & Townsend, announces a significant achievement with the delivery of 10,000 grants through its Education Fund in partnership with Action for Children. These grants play a crucial role in providing essential school uniform and equipment to children across the UK that need it most. The organisation established the Education Fund when it launched its partnership with the UK leading children’s charity in 2015. Action for Children, through the Education Fund helps tackle the attainment gap and improve engagement in education in vulnerable children. The grants from the Education Fund empower families by enabling them to purchase essential school items such as uniform, warm coats, shoes, PE equipment and stationery. Each grant has a value of £40, which will increase to £50 per child in April, further enhancing its impact. There are currently 4.2 million children in the UK living in poverty. Families grapple with financial constraints, making it challenging to provide basic essentials for their children’s education. The lack of proper materials or a decent uniform can often hinder a child’s learning experience at school, sometimes making them feel excluded or different from an early age. Over the past seven years, Turner & Townsend’s unwavering commitment has resulted in raising over £830,000 benefitting thousands of children and young people across the UK, ensuring they have the tools they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond. Click link for full news story https://lnkd.in/eSA5Ugfd or to hear how these grants help change the lives of families across the UK watch Haleema’s story: Haleema’s Story (youtube.com)

👨🏫📋🏫🎒 1. **Independently Managed**: Charter schools are publicly funded but operate independently of the traditional public school system. They are often governed by nonprofit organizations, community groups, or for-profit entities, under a charter or contract with a sponsoring authority, such as a school district, university, or state education agency. 2. **Flexibility**: Charter schools have more flexibility than traditional public schools in terms of curriculum, hiring practices, budget management, and instructional methods. This flexibility allows them to innovate and tailor their educational programs to meet the specific needs of their students. 3. **Autonomy**: Charter schools have autonomy in decision-making, allowing them to implement unique educational approaches and programs. This autonomy is intended to encourage experimentation and innovation in education. 4. **Accountability**: While charter schools have autonomy, they are also held accountable for their performance. They must meet academic and operational standards outlined in their charter agreements, and they can be closed if they fail to meet these standards. 5. **School Choice**: Charter schools offer parents and students an alternative to traditional public schools, providing greater choice in education. Families may choose charter schools based on factors such as academic focus, teaching philosophy, or extracurricular offerings. 6. **Public Funding**: Charter schools receive public funding, typically based on student enrollment, similar to traditional public schools. However, they may also seek additional funding through grants, donations, or partnerships with private organizations. 7. **Open Enrollment**: In many cases, charter schools are open to all students regardless of their neighborhood or district boundaries. They often use a lottery system to admit students if there are more applicants than available spots. #talentserve TalentServe #charterschools

Quality education should be accessible to all, yet traditional methods of delivering education content often fall short. At the Global Teacher Charity, they believe there is a better way to provide education to all. Their innovative approach is designed to make education accessible, regardless of location or circumstance. ✅ See how we’re working together with them to make this a reality. Read more ➡️ https://orlo.uk/Y0CTE

I am the Director of the Unitive Justice Whole School Program, based in Richmond, VA. We work in the US and in Uganda. Empathy High School will be built in a part of Uganda where there is no school or opportunity to get an education beyond year 6. In Uganda, corporal punishment of students is illegal. It is still in place in most schools and causes fear and yes, sometimes children are beaten to death. Trey Jr. School in Uganda is the first Unitive Justice (UJ) School in the world. There has been no corporal punishment from the first day it opened. The children have thrived academically. Empathy High School is the next UJ School to be implemented in Uganda. Again, there will be no corporal punishment allowed. It costs $130,000 to build the entire school including science labs etc. This is a mere fraction of what it costs for education in the US and will educate hundreds of students. Please, please support this effort. Going to school is something we take for granted in the United States. In Uganda, when there is an opportunity to go to school children really want to go, even with the corporal punishment. Please give a little, or give a lot! I am so grateful for any help for Henry Katinda who is the young man working on this dream for his home. Henry has secured the land for the high school and the architectural drawing of the school is attached. Eventually it will be able to educate 300 students in the 6 years of high school education required in the Ugandan system. He hopes to open the school in February, 2025, which is the beginning of their school term. We are working hard to have our UJEd Whole School Program training available online so the Alliance for Unitive Justice can train all of the staff in the high school before the school opens--the first step in making it a fully Unitive Justice school. Henry must raise $30,000 in order to break ground for the high school, an effort which he began recently, and he has raised $1,100 to date. I am writing to ask if members of my community on LinkedIn are willing to donate to the ground-breaking fund. Here is the link to the website for the Empathy High School project: https://lnkd.in/gTVdcP89. The non-profit, Dear Future, is facilitating the project fundraising, as they did for Trey Junior School. I am happy to answer questions, and you may also contact Henry at [email protected]. Small donations from many people will make it possible for Henry to break ground and then begin the building process, one building at a time. This is a big dream, but one that will make a big difference--an opportunity for human agency (us) to impact the course of history. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Molly Soeby https://lnkd.in/gTVdcP89

This week, we have been celebrating 15 years of Ormiston Academies Trust. Academy trusts come in all shapes and sizes. Ormiston Academies Trust has a long and unique history. It's humbling in my first year as chief executive to look back at this origin story. The Ormiston story started with tragedy. Our founder, Peter Murray, created the Ormiston Trust in 1970 in memory of his sister, Fiona Ormiston Murray, who a year earlier, had died in a car crash on her honeymoon. The trust was established as a tribute to Fiona’s evident love for children and in the belief that every child deserves the best chance to thrive. In 1980, Ormiston Families was created, to deliver charitable programmes across East Anglia in support of children and families. In 2009, Ormiston Trust sponsored its first academy in Essex, followed by Birmingham Ormiston Academy, before Ormiston Academies Trust was founded that same year. At the heart of our trust are four core beliefs: 1. Every child deserves a chance to thrive, regardless of background. 2. We work where the challenge is greatest, and embrace that challenge. 3. We want high quality education and enrichment, both inside and outside the classroom in every school, every day for every child. 4. We achieve more through working together in collaboration. Guided by these principles, we've grown to become one of the largest trusts in England with over 35,000 children in 42 schools spread right across the country. There's lots that's been achieved but lots still to do. Like all schools and trusts, we are a work in progress. We're building a vision, a team and a plan for the next phase. We all face tough challenges in education: the negative legacy of Covid, financial pressures, the number of children and young people experiencing mental ill health, recruitment retention issues, the quality and quantity of services around schools, and the rise in child poverty. I am optimistic about the future because of the young people in our schools and the people who work in our sector. The opportunity for us to work together as schools, trusts and organisations in the face of these system challenges is what excites me. This sense of mission and moral purpose has always been at the heart of the academies programme. It’s in the founding story of Ormiston, which honours the life of Fiona Ormiston Murray, and it’s at the heart of the work of so many school trusts across the system. Most importantly, this story is about the children who need us to be at our very best, and deserve nothing less.

250 million children are being robbed of an education simply because of where they live. In addition, 400 million children of primary school age cannot read or write. As a result, the United Nations warned that if a better way isn’t found to finance education, over 800 million young people will leave school without the skills to get a job in 2030. So we had to ask: What are the best charities for education in developing countries? 👇 https://lnkd.in/ge-Z-KAi Room to Read, Varkey Foundation, Pratham Education Foundation, Save the Children International, Pencils of Promise, Smile Foundation, Seeds of Learning, UWS, Fields of Life, KEEP CHILDREN IN SCHOOL FOUNDATION #charitysupport #education #developingcountries #educationsupport

"I don't go to school." "I don't have anyone to buy my school uniform and books." 💧These were the replies we got whenever we asked a child on the street why he/she was not in school. 💧In the busy community of Oke Odan, Oluwatomisin Adekunle and I noticed something troubling. Many children were out on the streets during school hours, selling goods and helping their parents instead of being in school. These children wanted to learn, but their families couldn't afford school costs. 💧As TFN fellows, we decided to act. We visited the children and their parents at home, talking with them to understand their situation. 💧We found out that the families valued education but lacked the money for school registration, uniforms, books, and pens. 💧Seeing this need, we started the Learning Lift Initiative. This project helps children return to school by covering these costs. The goal is to give at least 20 children in Oke Odan a chance to learn and build a better future. 💧The Learning Lift Initiative is already making a difference. Seven (7) children who were once on the streets are now back in school, excited to learn. 💧In my subsequent post, I'll tell the story of these seven (7) learners and their progress so far. Stay glued! 💧Parents are happy and hopeful for their children’s futures. 💧But we are concerned because these children might not be able to continue their education come next school session due to the need for them to be fully registered in the school with the sum of 10,000 per head and purchase other learning materials. 💧The Learning Lift Initiative seeks support from kind-hearted individuals and organizations who want to make a difference in these children's lives. Nothing is too small; all contributions are appreciated. You can donate using the link below:👇🏾👇🏾 https://bit.ly/3V55oVs 💧Material donations like books, pens, pencils, and erasers are also welcome. You can send an email to further discuss how you can get the materials to the Oke Odan community: 👇🏾👇🏾 [email protected] 💧The Learning Lift Initiative is dedicated to bringing hope to the children and families in the community. Together, with support from kind individuals and organizations, we hope to change lives and create a brighter future for everyone. Mary Jane Bruce #teachforall #teachfornigeria #changinglives #educationforall #keepachildinschool

I was recently quoted in The Guardian discussing the challenges of asking parents and carers to donate money for school supplies, projects, and events. My biggest concern is for families in impoverished and socially deprived areas, where these requests can cause shame and real financial hardship. While I understand the strain of shrinking school budgets, we must consider the impact on these families. I'd love to hear your thoughts—how can we support schools without placing additional burdens on those who are already struggling? #Education #SchoolFunding #ParentSupport #SocialEquity Department for Education iAM Learning iAM Compliant

Friends, family, colleagues, and anyone who stumbles across this fundraiser: Please take a look at the shirts available through this fundraiser! All proceeds go directly to Abhaya's educational costs. https://lnkd.in/euVViNzz I have been struggling to get Abhaya's educational and emotional needs met over the past 5 years. Abhaya is exceptionally smart – reading multiple grade levels ahead of her class, and exceptionally articulate. She loves art, animals, music, content creation, reading, helping others, and being with the people she loves. She also struggles with ADHD, dyscalculia, and anxiety. These have been a significant source of struggle for her in her school career. Our school system is overburdened and serves a lot of kids with high needs. I’ve been pouring every drop of energy I have into working with them to meet Abhaya’s educational needs for about five years now, but nothing seems to get results - the disparity between what they can do and what Abhaya needs to flourish is simply too great. What Abhaya really needs to flourish and reach her full amazing potential to be a loving light in this world is an education more suited to who she is as a person and a student. The ideal fit? A Waldorf education. This is documented to be the optimal educational and emotional environment for kids with Abhaya's neuropsychological profile. I hope to place Abhaya in such a situation so that she can be nurtured as a whole, unique, wonderful person, rather than being reduced to a source for testing data as the public school system views her. She’s so much more than what they see, and over five years I have seen their rigidity and limitations break Abhaya down and cause her extreme anxiety around school. We have explored other public schools and private school options to no avail. My family and I are currently doing everything in our power to pay for a Waldorf school for Abhaya, and there is a perfect fit only 30 minutes away from our home. We are maxed out on savings and loans, and my husband and I are taking on additional work to save. We applied for financial aid and scholarships to no avail. The school I hope to send Abhaya to I called High Mowing School in Wilton, NH and for which the need is almost $209,000 total over the next eight years. We plan to use all savings we have, and I continue to reach out to any sources of grants, gifts, or scholarships that may be able to help. None of you owe me or anyone anything, I know that. You all have your own struggles and bills to pay, which is why I am hoping... maybe you just need a shirt? And maybe you can share this fundraiser, because I'm sure other people might just need a shirt! Anyone is of course also welcome to donate directly to Abhaya's 529 Education Savings Account. Any purchase or contribution of ANY size is tremendously appreciated. https://lnkd.in/erqWvZZ6 Thank you for reading, and I wish you all the very best. Warmly, Catrina

🌍 Investing in the Future of Madagascar’s Children 🌍 Madagascar faces some daunting educational challenges: 😥 High Dropout Rates: About 50% of children in Madagascar drop out of primary school before completing the final grade (All in School, 2021). 😥 Limited Access to Secondary Education: Only 33% of children transition to lower secondary school after completing primary education (All in School, 2021). 😥 Teacher Shortages: With a student-to-teacher ratio of 40:1, quality education is hard to deliver (All in School, 2021). 😥 Low Literacy Rates: A shocking 96.73% of primary school children leave without being proficient in literacy (USAID, 2023). 😥 High Rates of Out-of-School Children: In the south, 40% of children don’t attend school at all (All in School, 2021). 😥 Underfunded Education Sector: Madagascar spends less than 3% of its GDP on education, one of the lowest rates globally (USAID, 2023). At Sekoly Kintana, we're committed to changing this narrative by providing high-quality Montessori education in Fort Dauphin. Our goal isn’t just to offer 100% scholarships—we’re building a school that can sustain itself in the long term. We believe in creating a diverse learning environment where disadvantaged students can thrive alongside peers with different educational backgrounds. Why your support matters today: Your donations will help us fund the oh, so expensive(!) but essential process of building out our educational materials, providing high-quality teacher training, and offering scholarships to those most in need. Over time, our strategic plan is to expand our impact by sharing our early literacy program with local public schools, ensuring a brighter future for even more children. Join us in this mission to transform education in Madagascar. Your contribution today is an investment in the future of an entire generation. 👉 Donate Now (The Kintana Foundation is our 501(c)3 fundraising arm and your donation will be tax-deductible! https://lnkd.in/etGgBm75 #EducationForAll #Madagascar #Montessori #SekolyKintana #InvestInTheFuture #EarlyLiteracy #SupportEducation