About The Conscious Classrooms
Our History
Our History
Our History
Conscious Classrooms provides a supportive Home School Group education, as an alternative to mainstream school.
In 2021 parents began sharing their thoughts about the changes to school curriculums. A consistent picture began to emerge. There were worries that children are not being taught necessary life-skills and concerns about morerecen
Conscious Classrooms provides a supportive Home School Group education, as an alternative to mainstream school.
In 2021 parents began sharing their thoughts about the changes to school curriculums. A consistent picture began to emerge. There were worries that children are not being taught necessary life-skills and concerns about morerecent changes to our children’s school curriculum.
Many people also said that when it comes to school, they often feel powerless in their role as parents and carers and that they are not in control when it comes to their children’s educational development. They have stressed that they feel that, in some areas, changes in education appear to have a weak evidence-base. They also feel that the pace of change is too much, too soon, and not always age appropriate. Concerns that changes do not take account of some of our children’s religious, and spiritual needs has also been highlighted.
The compulsory nature of some parts of the statutory guidance appears to be exacerbating parent’s and carer’s anxieties. This is related to the fact that there is a drive to weave new ideologies into the fabric of each school day so that it becomes a “whole school approach”. This essentially means that our right to remove our children from certain lessons is rendered ineffective.
In mainstream school classes normally consist of thirty plus children. Therefore, it is inevitable that some subjects are not covered as well as schools would like. It is also inevitable that some children with mild additional needs will go unnoticed, slipping through the net simply because they have an unmet need to be taught differently, or receive emotional support.
These concerns led to two parents with backgrounds in business and teaching to join forces to set up a Home School Group service with a difference. They developed a team of individuals with the skills needed to run such a group. In 2021 Conscious Classrooms opened for the first time.
Some of the children who attended last year have returned for another academic year. This is the best endorsement we could hope for, as it provides evidence of the success of the group to date. We are also experiencing an increased demand for places. With this in mind, we are currently recruiting additional staff, so that the capacity for more children to join our group is in place.
Our Aims
Our History
Our History
Aims
Our group consists of a very low tutor/child ratio. Our aim is to continue with low ratios and provide a space where the curriculum can be differentiated to reflect the child’s learning style. We aim to develop individualised education plans for each child. We believe that having such a plan, enables children to reach their full pot
Aims
Our group consists of a very low tutor/child ratio. Our aim is to continue with low ratios and provide a space where the curriculum can be differentiated to reflect the child’s learning style. We aim to develop individualised education plans for each child. We believe that having such a plan, enables children to reach their full potential, both academically and emotionally. Allowing children to work at their own pace and style limits fears and worries about keeping up with other children. It also avoids the pitfalls of setting children up to fail.
More importantly, we have created a space where children feel safe and can enjoy learning. We aim to encourage them to have a voice, speak their mind, and develop new ideas and solutions, which we try to incorporate into their lessons. This promotes an organic and relatable development of skills. We find that what we teach the children in this way tends to stick and is remembered with greater ease.
We also acknowledge that for a child to reach their full potential, they need to be on a level playing field with children from mainstream schools. To achieve this, we also provide Maths, English, Science, Art, History and Geography lessons that are consistent with the National Curriculum.
Lessons
We have differentiated our lesson plans, so that they are underpinned with Emotional Literacy and Mindfulness theory (Kabat-Zinn, 2008)(sahajahiyoga.org 2017). Nurturing emotional literacy promotes children’s ability to self-regulate; problem solve; build resilience; develop social skills and increase self-esteem. It also promotes the children’s ability to express their emotions effectively and to make and maintain positive teacher and peer relationships (Mayer, J.D. et al).
Children spend a substantial proportion of their life in school. Our aim is to maintain a connection between home and school by collaborating with parents and carers in developing their child’s individual education plan. To achieve this, we make our curriculums available to parents, and carers, before the start of each academic year. This then gives them the opportunity to work collaboratively with the teacher in relation to developing plans.
The evidence-base for the relationship between exercise and good outcomes in physical health and psychological wellbeing is well established(Spencer 1994). To take advantage of this, Conscious Classrooms provides Physical Education lessons. We enable children to try a range of different kinds of exercises to show them that exercise is not only about winning and competition but also about having fun and working together. Participating in Physical Education also enhances their physical health and mental wellbeing. We teach Martial Arts, Yoga, Football and Aerobics.
Nature provides many benefits across physical health and mental wellbeing. With this in mind, we have employed an Forest School Teacher who takesthe children for walks in nearby nature reserves and to the large local parkson a regular basis (Honore, 2005).
Objectives
Our objective is to offer children, parents, and carers a more holistic approach to teaching that incorporates mental health and emotionalwellbeing into the school day. The objective is to enable children to reach their full potential, through working in a style and pace, that reflects theirindividual educational and emotional needs. This then impacts positively on their wellbeing in all areas.
Our Team
Our History
Our Team
Our team of experienced educators is passionate about helping students succeed. We have a diverse group of teachers, administrators, and support staff who are committed to providing our students with the best possible education.
A Collection of The Conscious Classrooms's Educational Experiences in Pictures
