The Learning Club (TLC) has been offering free education support to disadvantaged children in the Butetown and surrounding areas of south Cardiff since February 2010. Since then over 450 children have registered with us and more than 250 volunteers, many interested in entering the teaching profession and wishing to gain practical experience, have given their time to help deliver the services we provide.

A series of managed and supported weekly sessions are targeted to the areas of greatest need and include:

Core Subject Focus (CSF)

For children in Key Stages 2 & 3 (ages 3 – 8 years), pre-prepared teaching in 45-minute sessions taken from the National Curriculum and covering the core subjects – English, Science and Mathematics. Teaching is designed to be interactive and ‘fun’ whilst being informative.

Tutors are all qualified to at least Grade A – C at A Level and have additional, practical teaching experience.

Primary and separate secondary sessions, with up to 12 children, are also attended by teaching assistants supporting the tutor to ensure that the children receive individual attention and any issues are highlighted at the earliest opportunity.

The CSF is an important tool for academic reinforcement, supporting the individual in education. A healthy student/teacher ratio of 2:1 allows us to provide an ideal person-centred compliment to busier formal education settings.

Childrens’ progress is assessed on a termly basis.

GCSE Drop-in

For children in Key Stage 4 who are taking GCSE examinations in the current academic year, a two hour, ‘drop in’ session allows them to raise any issues with any subject on which they are due to be examined.

Literacy & Numeracy Catch Up

For children in Key Stage 2, a two-hour fun and interactive session that has a literacy and numeracy theme running through it. Children who it is judged will benefit from the session are specifically referred to us by primary schools in the Butetown and Gabalfa areas of Cardiff.

Support for homework clubs

ACE Cardiff has been asked to support the established homework clubs in the Riverside and Grangetown areas of south Cardiff. We provide a supervisor to ensure the session runs smoothly, and volunteers to work individually with the children on their homework or core subject learning.

Cardiff Sixth Form College

ACE Cardiff receives valuable volunteer support from the students of Cardiff Sixth Form College, one of the UK’s highest performing A level institutions. Our children and young people benefit from working, often one-to-one with the internationally-based and extremely well-educated young people nearer their own age.