{"id":55062,"date":"2020-12-03T00:00:40","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T08:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=55062"},"modified":"2020-12-02T12:29:40","modified_gmt":"2020-12-02T20:29:40","slug":"how-cradle-to-career-schools-provide-all-round-support-and-tackle-inequality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/how-cradle-to-career-schools-provide-all-round-support-and-tackle-inequality\/","title":{"rendered":"How \u201ccradle-to-career\u201d schools provide all-round support and tackle inequality"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"During the COVID-19 lockdowns, stories have been shared of schools delivering\u00a0food parcels<\/a>,\u00a0phoning struggling families<\/a>\u00a0and providing on-site care for the children of key workers. We have seen many schools go much further than their statutory role of educating and safeguarding their pupils, sometimes acting as the most important support institution for whole neighbourhoods.<\/p>\n

This broader school role is the thinking behind \u201ccradle-to-career\u201d schools. Their core approach involves providing a pipeline of support from birth to early adulthood, combined with activities which target different aspects of young people\u2019s lives. This could include free antenatal classes and social groups for parents, youth groups, mentoring and career advice.<\/p>\n

Cradle-to-career school designs are the latest in a\u00a0long line<\/a>\u00a0of attempts to coordinate schools with other local services, in order to tackle the causes of social and educational inequality. I carried out research in one cradle-to-career school in\u00a0west London<\/a>\u00a0during my PhD fieldwork. There are other examples across the UK and in North America.<\/p>\n

Schools cannot address inequality on their own, but neighbourhoods often lack local, coordinated support systems. Cradle-to-career school designs are a bold attempt to go beyond a school\u2019s typical role. They join up local services to improve prospects for young people and their communities.<\/p>\n

A new vision for schools<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Poor educational outcomes can have a\u00a0lifelong impact<\/a>. People with less education tend to have worse health, lower income and limited job opportunities. But while schools are held responsible for academic success, many young people face\u00a0social and economic challenges<\/a>\u00a0beyond the school gates<\/a>\u00a0which affect their ability to learn.<\/p>\n

Research<\/a>\u00a0suggests that causes of inequality \u2013 such as poverty, social exclusion or social isolation \u2013 are tightly interconnected. This makes it extremely difficult for one specific policy area or organisation to deal with them effectively.<\/p>\n

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Cradle-to-career programmes may include support for parents. Rawpixel.com\/Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Cradle-to-career school designs can be tailored to local contexts, matching the complexity of neighbourhood challenges. The services they provide, such as early years education and parental employment support, aim to improve a range of outcomes relating to health, education, housing, and material wellbeing.<\/p>\n

Rather than work alone, schools form partnerships with local providers across different policy areas, including early years education, social care and health. New provision is developed where necessary. This allows for a joined-up approach to local challenges.<\/p>\n

Community links<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Cradle-to-career initiatives are also deeply connected to their local communities. They allow close relationships to form between schools and their neighbourhoods, leading to coordinated and flexible responses to local challenges. These can go far beyond the capacity of a national-level initiative when it comes to engaging with local issues.<\/p>\n

Some longstanding examples have become influential in recent years.\u00a0Harlem Children\u2019s Zone<\/a>\u00a0in New York was arguably the first \u2013 and is certainly the best known. It inspired the US Department of Education\u2019s\u00a0Promise Neighbourhood initiative<\/a>, which aims to improve outcomes for young people by providing funding for cradle-to-career programmes in under-resourced communities.\u00a0Strive<\/a>\u00a0is the other major US cradle-to-career programme, operating in 30 states.<\/p>\n

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Come grow with GRADS!
\nEnrollment for our home-based GRADS program is now open and #HarlemFamilies<\/a> are encouraged to apply and become part of the HCZ community of support.\u2060
\n\u2060#familydevelopment<\/a> #harlemtoddlers<\/a> #families<\/a> #harlem<\/a> #earlychildhoodeducation<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/airvRqFj1m<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Harlem Children’s Zone (@hczorg) November 16, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n