Tel : 01438 745 566     Fax : 01438 316 324     info@eys.org.uk
18b Boulton Road, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 4QX

News Archive Index

EYS working towards Environmental and Sustainability Standard ISO4000 series

EYS will be working to achieve the ISO4000 series kite mark for protecting the environment & sustainability and welcomes any ideas and suggestions from staff, pupils and learners on how EYS as a company can reduce its impact on the environment and be environmentally friendly.

Any suggestion or idea, however big or small is welcomed and we would like suggestions on how we can incorporate Environmental awareness in all our learning programmes for all pupils and Learners

EYS will be forming an Environmental Action Plan which will include your ideas and suggestions and may include plans to reduce,

  • Electricity use
  • Heating and gas
  • Paper and general wastage
  • Car journeys
  • Using non recycled materials

Please send your suggestions to Donna Holton (National Operations Manager) 01438 745566 d.holton@eys.org.uk.

EYS wins Alternative Education Programme contract in Buckinghamshire

EYS has been successful in a recent tender to deliver Alternative Education Programmes for Key Stage 4 pupils (SEN/BESD and out of school) across Buckinghamshire with Bucks County Council.

This contract will start in September 2009 and will mean the expansion of EYS's current provision in High Wycombe, opening a new centre near Aylesbury and then a new centre in the Chiltern District.

The contract is for 55 x pupils full and part time per year and will last for 4 years

Richard Atkinson stated "EYS winning this substantial contract for 14-16 year old pupils is confirmation of the hard work and delivery of high quality programmes at EYS High Wycombe and is a launch pad for EYS to become one of the largest providers in England of Alternative Education Provision for 14-16 year olds. A big thank you to the staff in High Wycombe and EYS's Development Team"

For further information please contact Kelly Brook - National 14-16 Manager on 01438 745566 k.brooke@eys.org.uk.

Successful Ofsted inspection at EYS High Wycombe - SEN 14-16 Provision

A congratulation to all the staff at EYS High Wycombe on a successful Ofsted inspection on Friday 12th May as this was there first full inspection. The High Wycombe SEN 14-16 centre obtained an overall grade of "Satisfactory"; however, the centre was very close to achieving an overall grade of "good".

Grades

  • SMSC - good
  • Provision meets all regulations - good
  • Premises - satisfactory
  • Suitability of Staff - satisfactory
  • Every Child Matters - good
  • Curriculum & Teaching - satisfactory

Overall grade "Sound Satisfactory"

The Directors of EYS would like to thank Laura Mason (Centre Manager), all the centre staff, Jason & Kelly Brooke (National 14-16 Managers), Heather Saunders (National Quality Manager) and other staff at Head Office for all their hard work in making EYS High Wycombe a fantastic centre.

Bournemouth Gardening Project

The Kings Park Nursery incorporates the EYS project into its daily horticultural busy business schedule that encourages and support people with learning and/or physical disabilities. The community project volunteers are encouraged to work with the nursery staff as this is the most appropriate way of learning employment skills and if appropriate gain extensive horticulture knowledge.

The Gardening Matters project has been funded by the LSC originally for one year 2009 - 2010 with the vision to develop into a national project within the next 5 years. EYS are a national training provider experienced in working with young people with a variety of needs and abilities.

This project is open to all young people that are unable to access other government training programmes due to their learning and/or physical disability. We aim to increase individuals self confidence, develop communication skills and encourage individuals to understand their potential in every day life including the opportunities for them in full or part-time employment and Further Education at a local college. We aim to do this through the medium of horticulture and developing a sustainable work routine whilst attending the project at Kings Park Nursery.

Both projects work to organic principles, avoiding the use of chemicals in favour of companion planting, encouraging natural predators and a "right plant, right place" approach.

This project has been nominated for a tv documentary and is now establishing itself in Bournemouth and referrals are increasing. We are waiting to hear if we have secured a further £60k.

We have an open day 22nd June where local dignitaries are attending and we have a press release in the local Bournemouth Daily Echo. Hopefully we will raise sponsorship as we really need a portacabin where learners can study.

EYS Auto Sector training goes from strength to strength

EYS's Auto sector team has welcomed to new members of Staff to help with the increased demand for NVQ delivery form Formula 1 Auto centres, Alex Tripp (Assessor) and John Young (Internal Verifier).

IMI has again approved EYS status as a 'Direct Claim' centre for NVQ's in the Auto sector and EYS had a successful visit from IMI's External Verifier for Level 3 Vehicle Fitting Operations (The first such portfolios the IMI has seen).

EYS has now completed successfully 50 x NVQ qualifications with Formula 1 Auto centres workforce and congratulations to all the staff who have passed their qualifications and EYS's Assessor & Management delivery team.

From August 09 EYS will be rolling out Customer Services NVQ's (IMI) to all our candidates & centres across the UK.

For additional information please contact Dave Newman (CAE AMIMI) EYS National Training Manager (Auto Sector), 01438 745566 D.Newman@eys.org.uk.

Peterborough Green Back Yard Project

Young learners go green and help the community.

Young people from a local training provider EYS (Education and Youth Services) are working together with the Green Back Yard Project to improve the local environment and gain valuable skills needed for the world of work.

A team of up to 10 young people have attended the site regularly, helping with digging a trench to secure the site from rabbits, while others have learned traditional weaving skills and vegetable growing.

The Green Backyard is an environmental education centre located on London Road in central Peterborough. It is run by volunteers and the local social enterprise 'Seeding Futures' who work to promote sustainable lifestyles and raise awareness of environmental issues.

EYS learners have been attending the project during the regular community workdays on Wednesdays, which run from 11am until 4pm weekly. As well as the skills of agricultural work and traditional handicrafts, EYS learners have gained an insight into the recent history of the local area, a subject which Project worker Rennie Antonelli is keen to share with younger people.

EYS Tutor Ady Chaplin says "This is a positive opportunity for young people on our Entry to Employment programme, as it allows young people to experience real working conditions. The time spent at the project provides them with work experience hours which they can add to their CV." Further to this Ady considers the green back yard to be a positive learning environment where youth people flourish, whilst spending time in the open air and discussing wide ranging issues.

EYS Peterborough is based at 17 Oundle Rd and operates an ongoing programme which offers young people the chance gain qualifications in literacy and numeracy to an equivalent of GCSE grade C. The course also supports young people in learning to drive by paying for driving lessons and exams. Learners are eligible for up to £30 per week in EMA payments. For more information call EYS on 01733 315153.

Green Backyard run two workdays per week(Sunday: 11.00 - 16.00 and Wednesday: 11.00 - 16.00.) for members of the public to drop in and get involved. These are friendly, informal and you don't need any gardening experience so just turn up. The project aims to bring people and communities across Peterborough together to be a bit greener, healthier and happier.

Swine Flu - Important Information

Click here to download a PDF file containing important information about Swine Flu.

Peterborough Football Tournament

On the 27th of October 2008 several learners from Peterborough EYS, met with Steve Probyn from Young Lives Volunteering programme to discuss the possibility of arranging a charity football match. In subsequent weeks, the learners spent time arranging sponsorship, a venue, team positions and practicing their skills.

They liaised with Steve Probyn, to arrange a referee and to make contact with the Free Kicks charity that arranges football based outings for disadvantaged children. The aim of the Free Kicks Foundation is to provide football-related activities for ill, bereaved and deserving children, to give them a day to remember with their favourite football club. www.freekicksfoundation.com

The five a side match took place on Friday 16th of January at the Gladstone Community Centre in Peterborough at 11.00am and lasted just over an hour. The final score was 20-7 with Paul Roberts nominated as "man of the match" by the referee for scoring an impressive 8 goals!

On Monday 30th March 2009, the EYS football team was invited to Peterborough FC's ground to present the cheque to the director of the charity, Mr. Steve Thorpe. The club supplied a conference room, coffee and snacks and our learners were made to feel most welcomed.

Steve Thorpe explained how and where the money will be spent within their charity and also future fundraising events which the EYS learners have been invited to take part again.

A big shout goes out to all those who took part in this fundraising event.

The Peterborough EYS Football team

  • Jo Gascoigne
  • Steve Probyn
  • Steve Thorpe

EYS congratulates Posh on their Championship promotion and wishes them all the best for the future

If you would like to donate in the future, you can do this on line at www.freekicksfoundation.com

Do something funny for money

Thank you to all the Eys Head Office staff who contributed on Red Nose Day on Friday 13th March and an even bigger thank you to those of you who wore pyjamas!

The total raised was £180.00

Congratulations !

Stevenage Fundraiser

Childcare learners at EYS Park Place Stevenage have undertaken a project to fundraise for: Make- A –Wish-Foundation (a charity offering a special wish to children & young people with Life threatening illness).

They will be walking through Stevenage trying to raise as much money as possible for this worthy cause. We hope to receive sponsorship from friends and family and would also request support from other EYS centre.

If you would like to help by sponsoring one of our young people & our centre please contact me on b.ronewicz@eys.org.uk or k.moore@eys.org.uk.

Skills for Jobs - new ESF LSC contract for the Eastern Region

EYS has been successful in an LSC tender for Skills for Jobs (training for unemployed people across the region to access employment) which will start in April 09.

This project which is managed by Sam Lucas will build on EYS’s successful Skills for Jobs project across the region in 07/08 in which we worked with over 600 x Learners and over 50 x companies.

Sam Lucas said “I am delighted in our success in this tender which will enable our experienced team to continue with their good work and maintain our relationships with companies and Jobcentre Plus across the region”.

Sam Lucas can be contacted on 01438 745566.

Tender & Accreditation update

EYS has submitted tenders and applications for the following,

  • E2E & Programme Led Pathways (PLP) and Programme Led Apprenticeships in the LSC South West Region
  • Response to Redundancy nationwide
  • Alternative Education Service’s for Essex & Bucks County Councils
  • Skills Capital Funding in all regions and nationwide (expressions of interest)
  • Training Quality Standard
  • A1 & V1 Assessor training (awarded IMI)
  • EYS is examining delivering Edexcel’s new “Workskills”. course

Tender decisions are due in March & April. For more information please contact Chris Taylor EYS Development Director 01438 745566.

New 14-16 EYS Learning Centres

EYS has opened 3 x new 14-16 Learning Centres delivering services for LEA’s and local schools in Liverpool, Morecombe & Middlesbrough. Richard Atkinson EYS CEO said “EYS’s 14-16 provision continues to grow from strength to strength nationwide enabling EYS to offer a seamless educational & vocational provision for pupils, LEA’s and schools. EYS will become one of the largest providers of 14-16 programmes throughout the UK”.

EYS employs new outreach and marketing team

EYS has established a new Marketing, Promotion & Outreach Team who will be managed by Simon Swan, EYS Marketing Manager and will be responsible for marketing and promoting EYS’s youth programmes (e2e, Restart and PLP) to young people directly using innovative and new methods. This team will be responsible for finding our target groups of young people and promoting our exciting courses to them.

For more information please contact Simon Swan 01438 745566 or 07918 054707.

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