How should I approach a school? (work experience, sort of)

[FrostyAndSlippery]

Hi, wondering if anyone can advise.

I'm doing a degree with the OU and in April I'm starting a couple of education courses - Developing Algebraic Thinking and Developing Statistical Thinking. For this, I need access to pupils, and I've decided to try for KS2 as I want to be a junior school teacher.

I'd quite like to arrange it early in the new year as I have to arrange childcare in advance. I was actually planning on volunteering with reading etc, although that'd probably be at the attached infant school - they advertised at a SureStart volunteer day and I'll be getting my CRB soon. I was also (before even deciding on these courses) planning to ask if I could help with maths - I eventually want to specialise in maths at primary level.

So how do I approach this? Is it possible that a school would be happy to allow me access for my course? I was thinking/dreaming of a sort of mutually beneficial thing, as I'd be helping them out too...

Any advice/experience would be much appreciated! :)

Send them a letter and explain what you would like to do and why - the worst they can say is no. No harm is asking!

Volunteers with a genuine interest in the learning process are ALWAYS welcome in the class! KS2 classrooms get fewer volunteers (chd now less cute, mums less worried) and as such tend would find a very warm welcome. If you could find out who is the numeracy co-ordinator (IMO usually a KS2 teacher but not always) you would have ready access to the school expert as well to support your learning. The only reason I have ever turned down help in my classroom,Y3/4 (other than the obvious CRB issues), is when I have felt the adult had a hidden agenda going on (ie snooping in other childrens books to compare them to their child - oh yes has this one!!) or I didn't feel I could 100% trust them to be discrete about what they see and hear in the classroom - not that I have anything to hide as I can and do have people walking in and out all the time!... but it's not professional and the fall out is a pain in the bum!!
Best of luck

I agree, we often get requests from people for various reasons who want to help in one way or another. As long as you have the proper CRB chheck, no problem asking.

Thanks :)

I'll get in touch in the new year then. Excited now!