School Zone
School Zone
My teacher met my dad. It was brilliant.
SCHOOL ZONE
We have been working closely with schools since 2014 but School Zone was set up in 2020 to assist fathers in custody to stay connected with their child’s education. We do this in a number of ways:
School Zone
My teacher met my dad. It was brilliant.
SCHOOL ZONE
We have been working closely with schools since 2014 but School Zone was set up in 2020 to assist fathers in custody to stay connected with their child’s education. We do this in a number of ways:
I thought I would be embarrassed about my teacher coming into the jail, but now she knows everything and it’s easier to talk to her!
CHILDREN’S SHOWCASE
A very informal event whereby staff from schools across South Wales come into the prison and share the work of the children with their fathers. The child is at the centre of this family intervention which helps break down misconceptions held by teachers and helps families overcome barriers – including shame and guilt. We have learned that these events are often the first time dads and mums have ever attended a parent and teacher event.
SCHOOL REPORTS
Fathers receive termly updates of their child’s progress and this opens communication between the school, family and prison. Fathers can write back to the school and their child.
VIRTUAL SCHOOL MEETINGS
Some fathers are located out of the South Wales area and in these cases, family relationships may have broken down. We are able to facilitate virtual meetings with the schools. Consent is always sought from the child’s mother or carer and they can also form part of the meeting. Safeguarding and child contact restrictions, as well as prison security procedures, are always adhered to.
YOU AND ME CLUB
Once a month in the Visits Halls, fathers get to engage on a one to one basis with their child, completing age appropriate schoolrelated work. Within the Family Lounge, mothers or carers are able to attend a peer group and offer/receive support from others.
Showing them how reading can help them find out about their hobbies and interests.
Reading with them and talking about the story and pictures.
Developing listening, reading and writing skills.
Supportive out of school learning environment.
Increased listening, reading and writing skills.
Teachers can see fathers’ involvement.
Gives child/ children undivided attention.
Children can show dad what they are studying in school
Showing them how reading can help them find out about their hobbies and interests.
Reading with them and talking about the story and pictures.
Developing listening, reading and writing skills.
Supportive out of school learning environment.
Increased listening, reading and writing skills.
Teachers can see fathers’ involvement.
Gives child/ children undivided attention.
Children can show dad what they are studying in school
Safeguarding is paramount to this service and all contracts are subject to
the All Wales Child Protection and Policies.
Bike Zone
Bike Zone is a joint venture between Invisible Walls and the Bicycle Workshop in Industries. For our partnership with schools across South Wales, it was identified that lots of children do not own a bicycle, hence Bike Zone was formed.
We collect unloved and unused bicycles from our communities and prisoners are taught to recondition and refurbish them whilst undertaking a City and Guilds qualification in bicycle maintenance.
