Testimonials

See just what people think of South Gloucestershire Sports Services

My daughter was having real trouble in school. She was attending but getting into trouble frequently, where the situation worsened. I was called regularly to collect her, and her school attendance dived. She hated going to school, and was making poor decisions, demonstrating poor attitudes. She was referred to SGSE, where she excelled, had 100% attendance, and she gained awards and certificates, and improved confidence, her attitude improved greatly along with her behaviours. As a result, she has now returned to school where she has maintained the good standard of behaviours and attitudes, she had with SGSE.

I cannot thank the SGSE team enough, the work they put in to influence positive change in my daughter is amazing.

Year 10 - February 2022

Parent

My son was having difficulties in his mainstream school. He had very low self-esteem and had become resistant to completing any work. His school were punishing his “bad behaviour” which was only making matters worse. His SGSE mentor built a positive relationship with him and was able to gently challenge him with things he found difficult but in a safe environment. Gradually he began to re-engage with his learning and start to see himself as a learner once again. There will always be challenges in school but thanks to his SGSE mentor, he is now able to attempt new and potentially difficult activities with a renewed sense of self efficacy. He is so much happier in himself and no longer speaks of “hating school” and for that I am eternally grateful.

Parent - Year 6 - 7 Young Person

My son has always been very anxious at school due to his learning needs, but this was heightened in Year 6 as he began to worry more and more about Secondary School. I can’t thank SGSE enough for taking him under their wing and giving him confidence when he needed it the most. From the first meeting, to discuss his aims and targets, to the final mentoring session the staff have gone above and beyond to help him through this difficult period. I couldn’t have imagined just a few months ago him going to Secondary but he is doing it! I can’t recommend SGSE enough, professional, caring and their service works.

RW Parent Year 6

Parent and student

Here at Blast Fitness we are part of the SGSE Community Network, working with young people to build self-esteem and confidence via active healthy living. The management, staff and the provision at SGSE is really inspiring and commendable, with a consistent approach to helping children and young people better themselves academically whilst building on positive life skills. We are proud to be part of the SGSE Community Network.

Andy Taylor - Owner of Blast Fitness

I worked for SGSE for 5 years after leaving the prison service. The service SGSE provide is amazing, the care and patience shown to influence positive change of behaviours and mindset is commendable. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with SGSE and have enjoyed revisiting their sites and young people in my new role as a Firefighter. I would highly recommend SGSE not because I worked for them previously, but because their results and the positive impact they have on the children and young people within their provision is clear to see.

David Burgess - Former SGSE employee now Firefighter

My son has been out of mainstream education for two years, he is now back in mainstream school and looking forward to year 10. The changes that I have seen have been so good to see, his behaviour is better, he is showing more respect to others, and he seems so much more positive. It really made me proud when he came home with his achievement record from SGSE, to think for the past two years I have been struggling to get him motivated to anything nether mind doing Maths or English. I cannot thank SGSE enough for their help, I am really grateful.

Parent of Year 9

Dear SGSE

I just wanted to write to you to say thank you for all the work you and your team have put in to helping not just E but us as a family.
We had gone through a series of exclusions with the school that my son attended. He had been misdiagnosed earlier in his last school (KS2) and we were waiting for a new series of assessments as nothing had changed. His behaviour was challenging to say the least. It got to the point where it was pointless sending him in to school as it was such a negative and soul destroying experience for him. SGSE were recommended to me as an option for an alternative education placement.

From the first time E was collected by one of your mentor’s I could see the difference in his confidence and as he has always suffered from high anxiety levels due to the behaviour/treatment merry-go-round at schools this was a huge boost for him. The staff that my son worked with were informative and straight with us so we felt comfortable that the care he was receiving was working for him.

The placements he attended were in the right area for him, (animals/reptile care) alongside him receiving the correct diagnosis and medical care this really helped with his personal growth. It was the lifeline we all needed. If it wasn’t for the opportunities that SGSE afforded my son then we would all be in very different and difficult place.

Thank you, having access to SGSE changed everything. I will always be really grateful for the care and consistency. Most of all, for me personally… peace of mind.

Some words from E below.
“10 out of 10, felt loads happier, less nervous and depressed. They need more recognition. Gus is the best mentor and really helped me understand about health, exercise, fashion and how to socialise properly and have fun without acting like a total goofball. We did lots of learning as well, especially about animals.” – E

A Y

Parent and student

SGSE has been a godsend for my son when the education system had completely failed him due to his needs. The staff are dedicated and A young person centred and the change of behaviour in him due to SGSE input has been astounding. The communication between parents and staff is also very good. I can’t thank SGSE enough for helping my son.

Parent of YP M

A huge thank you to you and your team for all of the dedication and support given to Notton House Academy pupils and families during this Covid-19 period. We really appreciate your bespoke work and flexibility, with some of our most challenging young people. I am thankful for your offer to continue offering support through the summer for families that are experiencing considerable difficulties.

The daily attendance emails we receive allow us to act swiftly with regard to safeguarding. The weekly attendance reports provide a simple overview to allow us to spot and monitor patterns of absenteeism. Whenever there is an issue that needs immediate attention, your Operations Manager has contacted me in person via email or telephone allowing me where necessary to record this on our child protection/safeguarding system. I am pleased that our learners are making academic progress with you. Please pass on my appreciation to the SGSE team.

Martyn Watkins

Welfare Curriculum Lead Teacher Notton House Academy

My child, Y attended SGSE for 5 months and my child was very happy and enjoyed going to the SGSE settings.

My child progressed massively and he found a new found confidence which improved his understanding on things.

My child loved the SGSE staff who were very good at nurturing and developing my child’s academic skills as well as social interaction and productive play, which was vital as he has sensory difficulties.

I love SGSE and the caring genuine good teachers and mentors. You’re all so welcoming and amazing.
We, the family of Y are very grateful to SGSE’s support and the help you have provided for Y in his time with you.

Thank you so much.

Mothers Testimony for YP Y - Year 8

I have good relationship with my tutor, I love working and learning with animals. My confidence has grown and I now feel better about talking to people. I prefer to be at SGSE than at school because I enjoy my learning with them.

Alternative Education Learner

The SGSE team cannot be thanked enough for the work they have done with our students. They have clearly had such a positive impact on our pupil’s moral, social, and educational attainment. The ‘in school’ group work and one to one mentoring service has helped the students focus on their social skills, communication, interaction, emotional regulation and conduct. This in turn has impacted on their levels of engagement across the curriculum and attitudes towards one another.

As well as the mentoring service, SGSE provides quality one to one support for students who require an alternative curriculum. Work placements are chosen to meet the student’s individual interests and needs, not only to develop work related skills and independence, but to overcome barriers to learning that were present in traditional educational environments. Stewart has a real insight into the needs of the children and is passionate that an alternative education should provide development opportunities for the ‘whole’ child. His time working with young offenders has given him a wealth of experience in understanding the difficulties some young people face and how complex their lives can be. Stewart and the SGSE Team are passionate about achieving good outcomes for all young people including those who have experienced trauma or have had a troubled upbringing.

SGSE has given our students a real purpose and direction for their futures and have enabled our young people to develop into well rounded individuals.

Sally Clark LP

Safeguarding, Behaviour & Mental Health (CPO), Culverhill School

SGSE have been able to build up positive relationships with some of our most complex and challenging young people. These are young people often struggling to manage with school life, non-attending, and drifting into anti-social behaviour. They have effectively ‘given up’ on learning, but the SGCS Team is able to bring them back on track and give them a sense of purpose and direction. The difference we see in these young people is amazing, not just in terms of raising confidence and self-esteem – all their work is structured and evidence based, working towards clear measurable targets and accreditation. Everyone, including the young person, can see the progress being made.

Jonathan Troy

Careers and Transitions Adviser

My son attended SGSE from year 9 then going into year 10. The progress he made was amazing, behaviours at home improved and he attended all the time. He is now back in full time education and I want to thank SGSE staff for their commitment and help to get my son back into a mainstream school.

Parent of Year 9 to Year 10 male learner

I hated school, I never got on with it and it seemed like people had given up on me, it seemed like I wasn’t going to get an education and I didn’t really care. Since I started with SGSE its all totally changed. I love coming to my education sessions, I am learning loads of new things and I now know I want to get a job working with animals. SGSE have made me realise how important education for my future. I am now wanting to learn more and achieve my Maths and English qualifications, something that I never wanted to do or thought was important. I have a great relationship with my tutor who is always supporting me when things get tough. SGSE has made me feel like I am doing well for the first time.

Learner Two

Alternative Education

Having worked closely with SGSE and their alternative provision and mentoring aspect, I would highly recommend SGSE for any young person not managing with mainstream education. SGSE provide an unique learning package especially where the Keyworkers are with the young person the majority of their learning. The young person is able to build a positive and trustworthy relationship with the Keyworker and other staff with SGSE. Working with young people that struggle emotionally, are involved with ASB and have other learning needs, I have recommended SGSE to mainstream schools for alternative provision and as a lead professional for families and child I engage with I would look forward to working SGSE in the future.

J. Cannon

Early Help – FIT Keyworker

I love working at SGSE, the pride and passion the team has to make a positive impact on all the children and young people we engage with is amazing. Our job is so fulfilling, challenging at times, yes, but so rewarding. Helping and aiding the children and young people to grow personally and academically is amazing, and the positive results of the provision are clearly evident to see.

SGSE Staff Member

My son was consistently being excluded from his school. He was placed with SGSE where we noticed a gradual behavioural change, his positive attitudes became consistent and as a result of this change he is now in a mainstream school and attending all classes in year 7.

Parent of year 6 male learner