Four Canterbury clubs unite to improve kids’ study outcomes

Over the past three years, Canterbury League Club has been piloting an educational program to improve the literacy and numeracy outcomes of over 200 children with learning difficulties.

Together with three other Canterbury-based clubs –  Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club, Campsie RSL and The Lantern Club – and in partnership with Learnings Links, an educational support service organisation, the program was delivered to 15 local schools including Belmore South Public School, Belmore North Public School, Lakemba Public School and McCallums Hill Public School.

Reading for Life was one of the weekly interventions that 50 students were able to participate in this past year. Pre and post-testing showed that by the end of the 15-week program, students had achieved on average, learning gains of up to 8 months. Without this targeted intervention, children with learning difficulties make average gains of only 2 months over the same period.

The other program introduced to students was the 10-week Counting for Life program to help tackle numeracy in school and help with subjects like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Earlier in 2019, Canterbury was host to the Learning Links’ teacher professional learning workshop to upskill teachers in local schools to support children who are experiencing difficulties with their learning. A total of 38 teachers and learning support staff attended the workshop, returning to schools better equipped to support all children in their classroom.

“This program with Learning Links just shows the amazing work we can do when clubs work collaboratively to pool resources together. We identified a great need to help local kids improve their reading and counting outcomes to help change the trajectory of their future,” said George Coorey, Chairman of Canterbury League Club.