Educational Enrichment at Sunnyside Academy
At Sunnyside Academy, we are committed to providing every child with a broad, inclusive and varied range of experiences that extend beyond the classroom. Our enrichment offer is designed to develop children’s interests, talents, confidence, skills and wider life experiences.
The national enrichment benchmarks
Our provision is planned, monitored and reviewed against the Department for Education’s eight enrichment benchmarks:
- A strategically aligned enrichment offer
Enrichment is linked to the school’s values, curriculum, priorities and plans for pupils’ personal development. - A broad and well-rounded enrichment offer
Children have opportunities to experience a varied range of activities, interests and experiences. - A well-communicated enrichment offer that celebrates participation and achievement
Opportunities are communicated clearly to pupils and families, and children’s involvement and achievements are recognised and celebrated. - An enrichment offer shaped by the school community
The interests, needs and views of pupils, families and staff help to inform the development of our provision. - An accessible and engaging enrichment offer
Barriers to participation are identified and addressed so that all children, including those with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can participate meaningfully. - An enrichment offer that works in partnership
The school works with staff, families, community organisations and external providers to broaden the opportunities available to children. - An outcomes-focused enrichment offer
Activities have a clear purpose and are intended to support children’s knowledge, skills, wellbeing, confidence, character and sense of belonging. - A continually improving enrichment offer
Participation, feedback and impact are reviewed throughout the year so that the range, quality and accessibility of our provision can continue to improve.
Clubs and activities
Throughout the academic year, teachers, teaching assistants and sports leads deliver a range of after-school and lunchtime clubs.
These opportunities are linked to one or more of the following:
- the Department for Education’s enrichment benchmarks;
- our school curriculum; and
- our 50 Things to Do Before You Leave Sunnyside programme.
Children’s participation in additional clubs is monitored throughout the year. This enables us to identify children and groups who may be underrepresented and take appropriate action to promote fairness, equity and access for all.
Pupil interests and feedback will also be considered when planning and reviewing the range of clubs available.
Parents and carers will be informed about available clubs through a letter or communication via Arbor. Where required, information about registration, consent, timings and collection arrangements will also be provided.
Educational visits
Educational visits are carefully mapped across the academic year to ensure that children benefit from a progressive, balanced and purposeful range of experiences.
Every child will have the opportunity to participate in a minimum of one educational visit each term. Visits will be linked to one or more of the following:
- the Department for Education’s enrichment benchmarks;
- the wider curriculum; and
- our 50 Things to Do Before You Leave Sunnyside programme.
Parents and carers will be notified in advance of educational visits through a letter or communication via Arbor. This communication will include the relevant arrangements and make clear whether specific consent or any further action is required.
For visits within the local area that take place within walking distance of the school, parents and carers will still be informed in advance. However, separate consent may not always be required where the visit is covered by the school’s local-area arrangements and existing permissions.
Further information is available in our attached Local Area Visits Policy.
Monitoring and review
The school will monitor:
- the range and balance of enrichment opportunities offered;
- participation by individual children and different pupil groups;
- fairness and equity of access;
- barriers that may prevent children from participating;
- pupil, staff and family feedback; and
- the impact of enrichment on children’s skills, confidence, wellbeing, personal development and sense of belonging.
This information will be used to identify gaps, improve future provision and ensure that all children benefit from a rich and meaningful enrichment offer during their time at Sunnyside Academy.
Friends of Sunnyside events
Our Friends of Sunnyside group plays an important role in strengthening relationships between the school, families and the wider community.
Throughout the year, the group organises a range of social, seasonal and fundraising events that bring together children, parents, carers and school staff. These events provide additional opportunities for children and families to participate in school life, build relationships and develop a strong sense of belonging to the Sunnyside community.
Events are planned in partnership with the school and communicated to families in advance through a letter or Arbor. Staff and parent volunteers support the organisation and delivery of events wherever possible.
We aim to make these events welcoming and accessible to all families. Feedback and levels of participation will help the Friends of Sunnyside group and the school review and develop the programme each year.
These community events complement our wider enrichment offer but do not replace children’s entitlement to curriculum-linked clubs, activities and educational visits.
Sunnyside Educational Visits Policy