A GROUP that helps youngsters who are having trouble at school has been honoured for its work.
The Southend Excellence Cluster provides learning mentors for 17 schools across the borough.
Learning mentors work closely with children who might have problems outside school, such as coping with having divorced parents, bereavement or problems with drugs or alcohol.
The cluster was awarded a Leading Aspect Award for training and also for the impact the mentors have had on children's learning.
Hilary Wilson, from the Southend Excellence Cluster, said: "The aim is to reduce any barriers that are holding a child back in their learning.
"The cluster is a group of non teachers, funded by the Department for Education and Skills that works with parents, teachers and children.
"For example, if a child is hungry during the day, they cannot learn effectively. Therefore, some of the learning mentors have set up breakfast clubs to help."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article