The Hive Learning Community
The Project
The Hive Learning Community is a social project working towards designing a new style of education where learning is a holistic process involving child voice and flexibility. Based on a farm in Tamworth, we aim to support children to access education in a way that suits them. Ideal for home ed children, and those who cannot attend school for their own personal reasons we do our best to welcome all. The leading principle behind The Hive, like with Bees, is that everyone has their part to play and that together, we can achieve amazing things.
Our main 'rule' is to "TRY" whatever that looks like for your child, that day. We all have good days and rubbish days, and here at The Hive, we get it. Some days your child may be leading the group, other days "trying" for your child may be attending but with ear phones in.
Experienced Educators
The group is currently led by Ruth Cierniak (the founder of My Voice Matters) with the aim to take on other experienced staff. Ruth qualified from the University of Derby in 2014 with a Bachelor of Education (Qualified Teacher Status) and specialisms in English and SEND. However she quickly lost love with the education system after working full-time in different settings and vowed to make a change. Following private tutoring a multitude of students with different abilities and backgrounds, she decided that creating her own group that promotes the values that matter most to her was the next step. Ruth has ADHD herself and has a son with Autism and wants a different world for all children.
Flexible, Personalized Learning
We understand that every student is unique and has their own learning style. Each child begins their journey at The Hive Learning Community with a one-to-one visit which can either be in the child's own home or at The Hive. During this visit, you and your child can get to know Ruth and she will create a unique learning profile about your child.
They will then come for a visit when the other children are in, parents are welcome to stay before independence to ensure that everything is done at the child's own pace.
From there on out your child can choose the sessions they attend. Some sessions are more academic and 'traditional' (but it no way like a school setting) whilst others are democratic and completely child-led where the group discusses what they want to do with their time and what they want to learn. Ruth will then help support and provide any needed guidance.
Where are we?
The Hive is based on HunnyBeez Social and Care Farm in Middleton, just outside of Tamworth.
The main room is situated upstairs with a separate toilet and kitchenette area. The Hive Learning Community has access to the farm's ground floor and sensory room on request and we also have access to the grounds however, as the farm is a working farm, safety procedures must be followed at all times.
What does learning look like?
Here at The Hive learning Community, we are not afraid with experimenting and finding what works best for your child.
Even in the more academic sessions, children have the choice to set themselves up with a foldout desk and chair (with adult support), lie on the floor, slump on a beanbag, get cosy on a sofa or pace around the room if needed. The choice is theirs and they don't have to stick with it either!
Academic Sessions
We run several academic sessions each week and will be working with families to get the timetable right as we open.
There will be access to formal English and Maths sessions for varying abilities (based on the children's learning level rather than age) and then groups for English and Maths for KS3 students which will mostly run in the afternoon based on research supporting the extra sleep teens need.
Child-led Democratic Sessions
At The Hive we aim for children to be at the very heart of their own learning. We strive to provide them with the support to be their own voice in what they would like to study and learn about and HOW they would like to do so. Where possible we combine the indoors and the outdoors to achieve this. The group session begins with discussing our previous session, we then move on to whatever activity the group had chosen in the last session (other options will be available for any children who no longer wish to participate), we then have a closing debrief meeting when we reflect on the day's activity and discuss and vote on what they would like to do in the next session.
Phonics Play (age 3-5)
Phonics Play is a session aimed for parents and children aged 3-5 where preschool aged children can sing songs, play games and exercise gross and fine motor skills whilst practicing speaking and listening skills and learning about sounds and letters. Whether you wish to home educate or send your child school this is a great way to start off their reading and writing child without the pressure of rigid phonics schemes.
Cook, Create, Craft
Cook, Craft, Create are sessions designed to help children to let-go and just enjoy being creative. Many children believe too early on that they "can't draw" etc. These sessions aim to put an end to all of that to enable children to be creative for themselves, for their joy, for their mental well-being. We aim to make sessions as eco-friendly as we possibly can whilst supporting children's independence.