Reconnect update - 29 June 2021

Funding agreed

Now that Cabinet has agreed £10million of funding for the Reconnect programme, we’re working quickly to finalise details of a number of exciting offers and opportunities for children, young people and their families this summer.

There will be opportunities available in each of the five themes of Reconnect: health and happiness; learning missed; family, friends and community; sport, activities and the outdoors; and economic wellbeing.

Summer learning package

We’re delighted to announce that we have teamed up with Audiopi and Invicta National Academy to provide two different packages of learning for pupils over the summer.

Audiopi is offering free access to its podcasts - aimed at GCSE and A-Level students - throughout the summer until 10 September. Podcasts are a great way of bringing subjects to life in an accessible way - and giving pupils the chance to get a head start on their studies.

Students can sign up on Audiopi’s website

Invicta National Academy are returning this summer with daily 45-minute Maths and English lessons, where pupils can brush up on topics that they feel less confident about. Alongside the daily lessons, there will be physical activity and wellbeing lessons. The lessons will start on Monday 26 July. More information will be available on the Reconnect website later this week.

Free school meals and Holiday Activities and Food Programme

The Education People are busy assessing applications to provide Holiday Activity and Food provision and will be sharing news in the next week. Separately, Government have made further Covid Support Grant available to authorities - we are seeking a decision on whether this will be used to provide FSM supermarket vouchers to families during the summer. We will update you as soon as we have a decision.

Your support will make all the difference!

We need your help in sharing news of Reconnect offers and opportunities to families and among your school communities and we’ll try to make it as easy as possible for you to share.

Here are the links to our Twitter and Facebook Audiopi posts that we’d love for you to share on your social media.

• Facebook
• Twitter

We also have a Reconnect newsletter - you can sign up to it here

Coming up in July

We’re working quickly to finalise details of some exciting offers and opportunities for children and young people, including:

• A free travel and discounted leisure centre offer
• More summer learning opportunities
• A range of community and family activities taking place across Kent.

David Adams
Reconnect Programme Director