Croft Street Hub (CSH) - Midlothian Council: What did you learn?
This section contains observations and reflections from the partner’s involved in delivering the project, specifically detailing advice and guidance, challenges and solutions and lessons learned from their perspective.
It is important to liaise closely with the schools and other trusted professionals to implement a person-centred environment that is reflective of the unique context and circumstances of the people you support. The positive impact of learning in an environment where there is one to one individualised support, bespoke curricula and pastoral care is crucial for giving young people struggling with mainstream education the best chance to achieve their potential.
It is also helpful to track progress beyond young people leaving school. The support of the Croft Street Hub has impacted the number of positive and sustained destinations of the most vulnerable young people in the community. As a result, the legacy of the programme can be evidenced beyond leaving school.
Funding remains the biggest challenge. Although the staff and tutors are centrally funded by the local authority, it is increasingly difficult to provide materials, equipment and food for the young people to deliver high quality education provision. To mitigate against this, funding is sought from multiple third sector grants.
Croft Street Hub has been running for a number of years, and it is always changing and evolving to meet the needs of the people it works with. Staff at the Hub remain committed to developing person-centred timetables and activities for the two intakes of young people per year.
The understanding of challenges with school attendance has evolved over the past four years. Due to the pandemic, attendance at mainstream schools in Scotland has decreased, creating an increasing challenge to encourage young people to attend a full timetable.
Therefore, it is important to provide a curriculum that is meaningful, engaging and challenging to hook young people into their learning, keep them invested and build resilience to prepare them for the future.
