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Tees Valley teacher launches tech platform for learning at home

24 April 2020

 

A company founded with the support of DigitalCity has launched online learning resources to support families while in-class teaching is suspended due to COVID-19.

Spark Tees Valley offers interactive video content and unique cross-curricular resources every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, to help keep children engaged during these unprecedented times.

The content-rich learning materials have a key focus on the world of work in the Tees Valley, aiming to raise aspirations and develop cultural capital for those living in the region.

Its cross-curricular resources are also available for other educators to use, proving particularly useful to those that are teaching classes with key workers’ children of several ages and abilities.

Spark Tees Valley was set up last October by qualified teacher and Apple Professional Learning Specialist, Andrew Stogdale. The talented entrepreneur offers support to pupils in primary, secondary and special schools across the Tees Valley with in-class projects on creativity, problem solving and embedding the world of work into the curriculum.

With the effective use of technology in schools being a fundamental part of their work, Spark Tees Valley wanted to enhance its digital offering and looked to the DigitalCity Accelerator programme for support.

The Teesside University-led initiative provides funding, advice and mentoring to early-stage digital companies who are launching new to market products and services.

With the Coronavirus pandemic elevating the need for quality e-learning materials, Spark Tees Valley has transitioned online sooner than anticipated and is rapidly becoming the go-to trusted source of quality educational online content in the Tees Valley. “The high demand for home school resources has really accelerated the digital side of the business. I’m producing new online content and developing the website on a daily basis,” Andrew said.

“I’m overwhelmed by the positive feedback I’ve received so far from both, families and educators that are transitioning to remote teaching and hope that my resources continue to help during and beyond this crisis.”

The DigitalCity project has received up to £1,217,733 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding


 
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