Gav Cass

Connection over perfection.
Every message, smile, or update brings families closer to school life.
#InvestorsInFamilies #FamilyEngagement #FridayFocus

Everyday leadership starts small. When families take on visible roles in school life, no matter how small, it changes the message to, 'This is our school.' #FamilyEngagement #CommunitySchools #InvestorsInFamilies

The message is clear, success grows when schools, families and communities work together.
Communication, confidence, connection.
#InvestorsInFamilies #CommunitySchools

Happy Monday in AP.
Never a quiet start. Weekends bring stories and moments to work through.
Every Monday is a fresh chance to reset, reconnect and rebuild.

Morning

Strong schools grow from strong communities.
Join Investors in Families and show how your school is building futures with families at the heart.
Sign up today and be part of the community. www.investorsinfamilies.co.uk/contact-us/

I can’t share the stories of what some of our young people have been through before joining us but if I could, your blood would boil. Huge respect to every Alternative Provision out there making a difference every day. #AP

Join Investors in Families before 18th July and get your first year’s membership for HALF PRICE!
✉️ Kate@investorsinfamilies.co.uk
👉 Use Code: IIF50TERM
⏳ Don’t miss out, offer ends when the school term does

Working in AP is a privilege, but it’s tough. The behaviours, the battles, the heartache, it can wear you down. Just checking in… how are all my fellow APs doing out there? Are you ok?

I get why the laughter jarred some. In our AP, laughter is often the bridge. It softens defences. It can be weeks before we have the restorative conversation. We are not dismissing the behaviour, just waiting for the right moment.

That Robinson’s advert has caused a bit of a conversation. From my perspective I didn't see bad parenting. I saw it as reconnecting after a tough moment. You’ve got to reach them before you teach them. Context is everything. #ReconnectionBeforeRepair

In sport, they talk about key moments not the full game. We are using that mindset in our AP. Capturing moments of regulation, kindness, effort, connection. And those moments matter. #MomentsMatter

The latest edition of Community Connection is here.
✨ Featuring:
The power of the Coffee Morning ☕
Creative twists like StarBooks and Knit & Natter
New grant opportunities for community projects
Spotlight on @KoalaNorthWest
👉 mailchi.mp/investorsinf...

Up at the crack of dawn to support one of our students at Mold Market today. He is selling @Hoff_Coffi raising money for @Teams4u as part of a youth traders event.
Come say hello and help him sell-out. #SupportLocal #YouthTraders

We are using Greg Bottrill's Can I Go and Play Now? to help us embrace the power of play in our AP setting. Anyone else implemented any of the ideas? #ThisisAP

Our Weekly Wins & TSPDS email is more than just an update, it’s a moment to pause and reflect.
I always make time to send it to the team every Friday.

Working in an AP means carrying the weight of trauma that’s not your own. The kids need our whole heart, every day. Empathy fatigue is real but so is the impact. Love this job, but glad it is a long weekend.

And me. I am desperately trying to find my video from back then so I don't need to do it again

Same here. Have had a new starter recently where the last review was 2023!

Any other APs have drop-ins and surprise visits from Social Workers? They disrupt our learners and stretch our small team. A bit of planning would make a massive difference #ThisisAP

Thinking of sending dates for a week each term that is our scheduled PEP. We will ask all partners to stick to agreed times and dates.
Worth a go.

Anyone else constantly chasing PEP meetings and waiting on updates from Social Workers?
Wondering if it is just us or an issue in all APs... #ThisisAP

Didn’t we chuck ice over each other 10 years ago?
Thought we had done with that! Nothing like a chilly dip to raise a bit of awareness #IceBucketChallengeAgain

Anyone else constantly chasing PEP meetings and waiting on updates from Social Workers?
Wondering if it is just us or an issue in all APs

A great session on the farm today. A real highlight of our week. #ThisisAP

It takes more than a process to tackle a problem. It takes people, purpose and persistence. Systems help, but solutions come from action

Educators: Would you be happy for your own child to attend the school you work in? If not, what would you want to change? #schoolculture

Beach day

Happy Easter. Hope you have a good day and too much chocolate.

Morning