Parent and volunteer information

Pyramid clubs are activity clubs that usually run after school for small groups of children. The children are invited to join the club because their teacher (or another worker) believes they would benefit from being involved. 

At the club, children do lots of fun activities to help them improve their confidence and develop new friendships. In some areas, Pyramid clubs are run by organisations other than schools, but the format is much the same. Clubs usually run once a week for an hour and a half, for 10 weeks. 

Each club follows a similar format (eg in the first week the children choose a name for their club) but will develop differently depending on the wishes of the children, the club leaders, the time of year, the facilities available, and so on.
 

No – Pyramid clubs are voluntary activities, not part of the statutory curriculum.  

No – parents should not be charged for their child to attend a Pyramid club.

Children who go to Pyramid clubs are a very mixed group. Some may have special educational needs, but many do not; in fact, some are very high achievers academically. Pyramid children also come from all sorts of ethnic and social backgrounds. 

The reason they have been approached to join the club is that their teacher has noticed they are not always comfortable in a big group – perhaps they get a bit lost in a busy classroom, or they may be new to the school or going through a difficult patch for some reason.

As a result, they may not be doing as well in school as they could be, both academically and socially, and they miss out on opportunities as a result. 

The aim of the club is to give them some breathing space, let them build up their confidence in a smaller group, and then, hopefully, feel better about themselves in the classroom and outside of school.
 

Just like adults, children can be very confident in some situations and not so confident when faced with new situations – a large group of people, or a difficult task.  In the comfort of their own home, your child may seem perfectly at ease and confident. 

However, it might be more difficult for them in school and, unfortunately, they have little choice but to go! Anything that can be done to make school a happier place for them is probably worth trying.

Ultimately, you will know your child best and are best placed to decide whether a Pyramid club is going to benefit them. 

At the very least, Pyramid clubs are fun places to go to, and they will not harm your child in any way.
 

Pyramid clubs are designed for the quieter, less confident child. However, it is not always obvious from behaviour outside of school that a child is quiet in a large group or in a more formal environment. 

If you have concerns about how the children invited to the club have been chosen, you should speak to your child’s teacher or headteacher in the first instance. 
 

Many children who go to Pyramid clubs are a bit shy and reluctant to push themselves forward. However, the vast majority love the clubs once they do go. 

Perhaps you could encourage your child to at least give it a go, say for the first two or three weeks, before making a final decision. Once they get involved, it’s likely they’ll want to carry on going.  

If you speak to the person setting the clubs up, they may be able to speak to your child to encourage them to give it a go, or they may be able to tell you who else will be there that your child might like to be with. 

It may help if you focus on the positive activities that will be available at the club and stress that the children get to choose a lot of what happens at the club.
 

In the first week the children get to choose a name for their club and set down some rules for how people will treat each other at the club. The children will be encouraged to suggest ideas for activities to do from week to week.

The sorts of things that take place are games (usually team games), preparing and sharing food, arts and crafts, singing, drama, and anything else the children might agree on. One key thing that happens at Pyramid clubs is circle time. 

Some children will be familiar with circle time from school, but it is both more exciting and less frightening at a Pyramid club. Circle time is used both for games and for exploring issues in a non-threatening way, eg the children may discuss how to tackle bullying, or they may share their worries or concerns with the other children and the leaders. 

Circle time is also used to share good times (a bit like an older version of show and tell!) and, in the small group, can be a very positive experience for the children.
 

The club leaders might be school staff, perhaps learning support assistants, family workers or learning mentors. Very occasionally teachers run clubs, or external organisations’ workers may take part. 

Many club leaders are volunteers, perhaps students at a local university or college, people who are between jobs or looking to return to work, retired people, or workers from a local business.

In some places, older secondary school or sixth form students also get involved in clubs. All volunteer club leaders are vetted on behalf of the school before being allowed to take part in clubs, and they are supervised. 

The club leaders are there to ensure that the children are safe and have a good time. They receive training to ensure that the children are well-supported at the club. They will build up a rapport with the children and will probably be on a first-name basis with them.
 

It is important that, if you have any concerns, you speak to someone sooner rather than later. You could speak to one of the club leaders before the club session or after it, or you could speak to the person who set the clubs up in the school or wherever they are taking place. 

There are lots of organisations, websites and books that can help you support your child. Your child’s school or any other organisation you are involved with may be able to suggest some. 

Otherwise, your local authority should have a Children’s or Families’ Information Service which you can find out about on their website or at your local library or council offices: this should tell you about activities for your children to take part in locally, or organisations that can offer advice and support. 

There is a national support organisation for almost every sort of medical condition or behavioural difficulty which your GP practice should be able to help you find if you cannot find it on the internet or through your local library. 

Pyramid clubs leaders may also be able to give you advice on sources of further support.
 

Pyramid clubs can often be a stepping stone to other groups for children, but which ones will depend entirely on your child’s interests and what else is available locally. 

If the club has successfully increased your child’s confidence, he or she may feel up to the challenge of doing something new or with a new group of people. 

There may be other after-school clubs at your child’s school covering a wide range of activities (sports, languages, homework, gardening, cookery, IT etc); classes or clubs may be advertised at your local library or on local websites; or your child may want to join a more formally organised club like a local sports club, Brownies or Cubs, or a children’s group at your place of worship etc. 
 

You can find out more about volunteering below. Most local Pyramid projects welcome volunteers and the experience you have of your own child will help you understand and work with other children.

If your school is not already running Pyramid clubs and you think the children would benefit from them, you might like to start by referring someone in the school to this website. 

The most appropriate person will probably be the person responsible for coordinating the Personal, Social and Health Education, pastoral support or Mental Health within the school, but you can always start with your child’s class teacher, the school’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities coordinator, or speak directly to the headteacher or a governor. 
 

Pyramid welcomes volunteers of all ages, levels of education, ability, ethnicity, language, culture and gender. 

Whatever your skills and experiences of working with young children, our training programme will prepare you for understanding and working with children in Pyramid clubs.

Our volunteers are predominantly female and we are always looking to increase the number of male volunteers.

So, if you have enthusiasm, a sense of fun and are able to play, listen, laugh and above all, respect children for their individuality, Pyramid could be just the volunteering opportunity for you.
 

As a volunteer club leader, you will work in a small team to plan and run activity groups for children and young people who are between 7 and 14 years old. 

The school helps identify children who need a boost to their confidence and self-esteem.

Pyramid clubs run after school for an hour and half and involve fun games, cooking, circle time discussion and art and craft activities. They take place once a week for 10 weeks during the school term. Full training is provided and out-of-pocket expenses paid.
 

Volunteer club leaders are central to the work of Pyramid. We could not deliver our services to young children without your support. In return, you will get:

• free training underwritten by the University of West London which is an excellent introduction to play work and therapeutic activities with children
• a real sense of achievement, watching children grow in confidence and feel better about themselves
• hands-on experience in working with children
• experience of working as part of a team
• support from the school and/or the local Pyramid coordinator
• all out-of-pocket expenses paid
• references (on request)
• certificates for attending training and for running a club.
   

• a minimum of 10 weeks commitment for each club you undertake
• attendance at pre-club training sessions (usually three days)
• working as part of a team to deliver 10 club sessions
• additional time for planning activities and keeping accounts of the club expenses
• providing feedback on each child at the end of each club
• attendance at a post club meeting to discuss the children’s progress
• building relationships with parents and carers
• commitment to equal opportunities and diversity
• abide by Pyramid’s child protection and confidentiality guidelines 
• agreement to an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service
• reliability, honesty, punctuality, flexibility and a sense of humour!

I noticed that not only did the children become more confident, but I did too. I have never worked with children before but I have now realised that this is something I would like to do when I finish my degree." – Pyramid club leader, Hackney

Pyramid has arrangements with some colleges and universities to offer work placements for students on relevant courses.

In some cases, acting as a Pyramid volunteer will enable you to gain points towards your course total –please speak to your university or college placements supervisor to find out more.

If your college or university is not already aware of Pyramid, please let your local Pyramid coordinator know and he or she can contact us and we can speak to your the placements supervisor about formalising arrangements for volunteering.

Even if your course does not require you to complete a formal placement, volunteering for Pyramid will provide a useful reference when you later apply for jobs. Students from all sorts of disciplines have become successful Pyramid volunteers.
 

Many organisations encourage their employees to volunteer as part of the organisation’s commitment to give something back to their local communities.

Pyramid is a wonderful opportunity to work with children in local schools, often in the more deprived areas of the country.

In order to take part, volunteers would need to be at their designated school by 3pm one day a week, for up to twelve weeks, during term-time only, including a pre and post-club meeting with the school. This may involve leaving work a little early, or rearranging shifts.

Preparation and planning for your club can take place outside of work times, at a time and place suitable to you and the other members of your club team.

The benefits to employees are the same as for all volunteer club leaders, including:

• free training 
• a real sense of fulfilment
• hands-on experience in working with children
• experience of working as part of a team
• certificates for attending training and for running a club.