What is Inspire Rotherham?

Inspire Rotherham is a dynamic, new approach, being managed by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, which is set to provide opportunities to raise aspirations and develop innovative, inspirational approaches to building skills and confidence in communication within our young people, families, carers and practitioners across Rotherham. Inspire Rotherham is supported to deliver these opportunities with investment totalling £2.94 million from Yorkshire Forward, over 3 years from June 2008 to May 2011.

Inspire Rotherham aims to ensure every young person in Rotherham is accurate and fluent in literacy, orally and written skills by the age of 11 years old, such that they can access higher value employment, in increasing numbers, due to the possession of higher levels of academic qualifications and other skills. This will be achieved by:

• Raising the aspirations of families to support and help young people to develop literacy skills
• Inspiring children as communicators
• Improving communication through working with an extensive network of children and adult mentors
• Establishing an internationally recognised research community to learn and apply measures that have succeeded.

Studies estimate that children with language disorders are five times more likely to have academic difficulties and therefore more likely to only achieve basic level education and skills. Only 50% of children with language difficulties stay into further or higher education compared to 75% of young people without language difficulties. However a recent longitudinal study has shown that if corrected earlier in a child’s education these children will progress through school to achieve the same level as children who entered school with communication skills.

Inspire Rotherham is working across communities and with a range of agencies who work with schools and families to ensure a partnership approach to improving communication skills across Rotherham.

The themes of Inspire Rotherham include:

1. Family engagement
2. Early intervention
3. Reading for pleasure
4. Raising aspirations
5. Professional development
6. Leadership

All projects and activities, developed and delivered will be in line with the above themes.

If you would like any further information about Inspire Rotherham please do not hesitate to contact Deborah Bullivant, Project Director on 01709 336820, email: deborah.bullivant@rotherham.gov.uk.