Shropshire Virtual School Children and young people
Take a look at the activities and events you can take part in
There is a variety for all ages and interests, and some are even online so if you're not living so close by you can still take part. Please do check the groups of young people these activities are for: CLA = children who are looked after, PLAC is previously looked after children and CWSW is children with a social worker.
Term holiday dates 2023/24:
- Christmas holidays: Thursday 21 December 2023 – Wednesday 3 January 2024
- February half term: Monday 12 February – Friday 16 February 2024
- Easter holidays: Monday 25 March – Friday 5 April 2024
- May half term: Monday 27 May – Friday 31 May 2024
- Summer holidays: Monday 22 July – Monday 2 September 2024
What's on at our libraries?
Library collections
Let’s Get Ready Bags to Borrow:
The 4 titles in the bag have been chosen specially by professional librarians. The books explore daily routines and early first experiences and will help young children deal with change and overcome worries as well as prepare them for the next inevitable step – going to school.
Contents:
- The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright
- Getting Ready (Tactile book) by Child’s Play
- I’m Ready for School! by Ladybird
- Zeki Gets a Check Up by Anna McQuinn
- Information sheets for parents/carers
Reading Well Collections - Books on Prescription for CYP
Collections are held in libraries in Shropshire. Some titles available in our e-library
Reading Well for Children (9-11yrs) – Launching Feb 2020
COVID for Children Booklists – developed by the Reading Agency and library professionals – not all titles are held in Shropshire Libraries
Special Situations
Books to support children and their families to deal with topics such as bereavement, divorce, illness etc.
Hi-Lo Collections
Books with high interest, low reading levels ideal for older children lacking in reading confidence.
Quick Reads
Short new books written by best-selling authors – ideal for YP who are discovering reading for pleasure for the first time as well as for regular readers wanting a fast and satisfying read.
e-library
- Fiction, Non-Fiction, audio books
- Newspapers
- Magazines
Audiobooks – including e-audiobooks
Dyslexia Collections
Large Print
Graphic novels
Picture Books for older children
Puzzle books
Poetry
Non-fiction
Kooth
Kooth is a free online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop. It can be accessed through the computers within the libraries or on their own device using the free WIFI available in all libraries. Library staff have been trained to assist with the accessing of the website.
Library visits
Tailored to individual or group interests and need – please get in touch with the Branch Manager of nearest library
Empathy day
Activities and suggested titles to encourage empathy through reading. Booklists for primary and secondary schools available through Empathy Lab.
Summer reading challenge
A summer holiday reading challenge open to everyone. Many creative activities based on the theme are offered
Exhibition Space
Many libraries have space to display children’s work. This will need to be booked in advance through the Branch Manager.
Autism Awareness
We have online social stories available to view through the website - for each branch library to see the layout and journey through the building.
Volunteering and work experience opportunities
Secondary aged children can volunteer regularly in libraries or spend a week for work experience.
- Visit our e-library webpage to find out more about e-books, e-audio, e-newspapers and e-magazines
Personal education plan (PEP)
You have an important part to play in in the planning of your education! There are several people who can support you reach your goal in education - this might be your designated teacher in school or college, your social worker, your carer or your link person at Shropshire Virtual School.
You can talk to them about your experiences - for example what you're enjoying about your education and what you may be finding a little more challenging.
During or before the PEP meeting, you'll be supported to complete questions around your current education. This is to share your thoughts and opinions on how you feel your education is going.
You'll have personal education plan meetings (PEPs) up to the last academic year in which you turn 18 years old. These meetings are planned to make sure you receive excellent educational opportunities and support you with future life choices that might interest you - such as college, university, or employment.
Work experience
At Shropshire Virtual School we offer opportunities for our young people to take part in work experience in the ‘family business’ at Shropshire Council. We have a variety of departments ready and waiting to help, such as:
- Outdoor education
- Theatre
- Housing
- Urban design
- Health
- Libraries or museums
- Social media
- ...or even with us at the Virtual School.
For more information please contact jo.betts@shropshire.gov.uk.
Our new Shropshire Virtual School logo!
Our new logo is shown on this page. Thank you to all of our young people who took part in the competition, especially to our three winners who worked with the local artist Tony Clarkson to produce the final design as a blend of their original ideas! It was fantastic to see our young people work through the design stages with Tony and to see their thoughts come to life on screen.
The final logo includes the Shropshire colours, letters being represented by educational symbols such as the pencil, the earth to represent the world "being your oyster", the two young people with mortar boards represent how high our aspirations are and the two characters also symbolise diversity.
Finally, we're very grateful to The Thomas Adams School, St John Talbot’s School and Belvidere School for supporting the young people to take part in these sessions and be on the journey with us.
Your School Council
The Shropshire Virtual School have started a council where we meet once a term, the most recent meeting was in May.
This meeting focused on young people’s voice on what they think a council is, the roles and responsibilities and to get feedback from the young people about the previous SVS celebration event – this is feeding into planning for the event this September 2024.
Our young people who have been a part of the council were invited to give their feedback to the Independent Reviewing Officers team , this included the opportunity to give their wishes and feelings on service delivery.
In the Autumn term 2023 our School Council helped to design and undertake a ‘Take Over’ of our SVS Conference! We were very proud of them - see what this looked like.
If you would like to find out more or take part please contact Beth.Francis@shropshire.gov.uk