Achieving More Three charities with one common aim The Reedham ‘Achieving More’ project gives support to vulnerable children and families with the aim of improving access to the opportunities in state-school education. Reedham Children’s Trust has identified ‘transition’ as a key time of heightened risk for vulnerable families. Achieving More is therefore specifically focused on pupils who are transitioning from Primary School Year 6 to Secondary School Year 7. In its pilot phase Achieving More is based in eight schools within the London Borough of Croydon, and the project is built as a partnership of outstanding practitioners, working with the national charity School Home Support and local Croydon based charity Reaching Higher. Achieving More provides the placement of six School Home Support key workers to support pupils and their families within their primary school setting; and enables Reaching Higher building on the work in primary schools to deliver their mentoring and therapeutic sport and drama interventions within two secondary schools. With a focus on long term educational achievement, the Achieving More project enables seamless contact and support for children and families as they transition from a junior to senior phase in their education. For more information you can download our 'Achieving More' leaflet here. Achieving More Stories Impact 2020-2021 School Year In the primary stage: 656 children and family members supported Nearly 4,500 intervention made across multiple areas. In order of highest need, the top five interventions were related to Education and Learning, Feelings and Behaviour, Confidence and Self Esteem, Physical Health and Relationships Child protection interventions (factored outside of the main interventions) increased four-fold On average, the children and young people across our schools increased their attendance by 7%, which is equivalent to 14 days extra in school a year Parental engagement and participation in their child's learning has increased by 84% 88% of our parents improved their well-being. Parents need to be looking after themselves to be able to look after their children, and improving their emotional wellbeing will help further their chances of being independent and not needing our support. In the secondary stage: 114 young people supported Over 85% of young people that participated within our transferable skills workshops demonstrated: Improved behaviours and attitudes towards learning Improved emotional well being Raised self-esteem and confidence “Since starting drama sessions with Reaching Higher both Transferable skills and the half-term workshops, I have been feeling a lot happier. I have noticed my behaviour has changed for the positive and I feel humble. Before I would try to be overconfident to compensate for my lack of confidence. Now I feel a lot more balanced and grounded in myself."