LearnRadio.Net - A broadcasting platform that reaches anywhere that has an internet connection
LearnRadio.Net is a live Internet radio station created during
the first lockdown to provide a daily interactive learning
experience. We started broadcasting on 20th March 2020 with
a vision to reach children, young people and families in their
homes to help support and scaffold their learning. Our listeners
hear well known authors read from their books. Children then
follow our live writing challenges on our showpage. Uniquely,
no registration or email addresses are required; our Padlets
allow moderated posts to be shown publicly in realtime. It’s a
fast paced format with music tracks and shoutouts playing an
important part for wellbeing.
Last year over 600k listeners joined us and engaged in our
shows. Online-Radio is technically light-weight and can be
enjoyed using older mobile phones with the tiniest amount
of bandwidth. This is perfect for tech-poor households who
possibly do not have access to superfast broadband and the
latest laptop.
We are now a team of educators from across the UK, the two
original founders, Headteacher Ian Rockey in Wiltshire and
broadcaster Russell Prue in Oxfordshire have been joined by
Maria Wojciechowska-Caneda in London and Hazel Pinner in
Orkney.
We have continued our work right the way through to lockdown
3 with our five regular weekly shows that include an after
school book club, educator wellbeing shows with live Yoga and
professional development ideas. We have shows for inspiring
creative educators and a feel good Friday music show. Our
Crafty Cafe shows are on Saturdays; designed to engage and
inspire young creatives with live make-alongs. Pupil voice
and interaction are important elements that run through all of
our shows, with children able to connect and feel a part of the
community.
Children’s mental health and wellbeing have been a primary
concern right from the start and our shows are tailored to support
this through upbeat tracks, familiar voices and opportunities to
get a mention for friends and family, who young people may
not have seen for some time. This fully underpins our ethos of
‘evolution, innovation and connection’ as it highlights how our
shows are ever evolving, particularly throughout lockdown. We
regularly inspire young people to extend their learning. It’s all
part of the validation process and getting that quick win, with
the many elements of success that our shows bring, all going
towards raising self esteem and confidence.
From an educational perspective, we are also evolving to
support the broader curriculum through the introduction
of ‘Bloom’s Taxonomy’. The seeds are sown, and the show
waters those seeds and the listeners grow them, with endless
possibilities for development and enjoyment.
We have recently broadened our focus to take in the Arts, STEM
and Music with our programme output. All of our broadcasts
and showpages are available to enjoy again from our website,
building a huge resource for reference and future use, by
families, educators and colleagues alike. We have a formidable,
deployable solution that does not involve video imagery or
pose any safeguarding risks. LearnRadio also hosts dedicated
shows for specific schools and home users.
Our broadcasting platform reaches anywhere that has an
internet connection. We have even put on a live show to
celebrate a birthday bringing young folks together who have not
been able to meet this year. We are available for commissions
and specific broadcasting projects. At the moment, we’re self
funded and looking for sponsors and supporters to allow us
to continue our valuable work. We have a Radio Academy for
budding radio presenters and podcasters.
Please visit our site LearnRadio.Net where you will find a wealth
of information and every one of our previous shows as a podcast.
LearnRadio.Net
From Engage issue 22.
LearnRadio.Net • September 27, 2021
On 23rd January at the Cima Community School of Hope (ECEC), the first workshop was held with the first group of students as part of the STEM program. This activity marks a promising start to the program's implementation. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is crucial for children because it fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity from a young age. It nurtures natural curiosity, helps children understand the modern world, and builds resilience through hands-on experimentation. Additionally, early STEM exposure prepares them for future academic and career success. A total of 20 students participated in this first session. The session focused on a general presentation of the importance of computer programming in today's world. The students were also introduced to the Scratch software interface, an educational tool well-suited for teaching children programming. This initial experience went smoothly and generated considerable interest and strong motivation among the students.
At the Steve Sinnott Foundation, we know that planning for the future is one of the most important things you can do for the people and causes you care about. That’s why we’re delighted to offer our staff and volunteers the opportunity to write or update their will this Spring. Whether you’ve been meaning to get started for years, or you simply need to make a few updates, this is the perfect time to take that important step. Join Our Free Will Writing Webinar To help you get started, we’ve partnered with expert estate planners Octopus Legacy , who will be hosting a free webinar(s) covering everything you need to know about writing or updating your will. Staff & Volunteers 12pm, Thursday 5th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters 12pm, Tuesday 10th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration During the session, you’ll learn: Why it’s important to have an up-to-date will What to consider when writing or updating your will The different types of will-writing services available How Lasting Powers of Attorney work and why they matter How to claim your free will this Spring This webinar is designed to make what can feel like a complex process simple, clear and manageable. Why Having a Will Matters Having an up-to-date will ensures your wishes are respected and your loved ones are protected. Without one, the law decides how your estate is distributed and that may not reflect what you would have wanted. A will gives you peace of mind. It allows you to: Provide clarity and security for your family Appoint guardians for children if needed Make specific gifts to individuals or causes Ensure your estate is handled efficiently Updating your will is just as important as writing one. Life changes marriages, children, property purchases, or changes in circumstances can all affect your wishes. Claim Your Free Will This Spring As part of this initiative, eligible staff and volunteers will have the opportunity to claim a free will-writing service. Full details will be shared during the webinar, including how to access this benefit. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Writing or updating your will is one of the most responsible and caring decisions you can make for yourself and for those you care about. Register Now Spaces are available now, simply register using the link below: Staff & Volunteers - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration We hope you’ll join us on Thursday 5th March and take this positive step towards securing your future.
In my time as an assistant at The Steve Sinnott Foundation (SSF), one of my research tasks was looking into how the Foundation contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I really believe in the work of the Foundation and I have also been raising funds as I believe that every child must have the right to education. SSF is a UK-based educational charity focused on promoting quality education worldwide. It plays a supportive role in achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4: (Quality Education), but its work contributes to several others as well. Here's how the Foundation supports the SDGs: Goal 4 – Quality education (core focus) The Foundation's main mission is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It supports teachers and educational initiatives in developing countries. It runs programmes like: The Education for All Campaign – advocating for universal access to education. Teacher empowerment projects – providing training and resources to educators in under-resourced countries. Girls' education programmes – encouraging and supporting girls to stay in school and complete their education. Goal 3 – Good health and well-being Through education, particularly health-related programmes, the Foundation contributes to raising awareness about hygiene, nutrition, and mental health. The Foundation has developed a range of webinars to promote health and wellbeing and these can be found on YouTube. Goal 5 – Gender equality The Foundation promotes girls' education, directly addressing barriers that prevent girls from accessing and completing school. It advocates for the rights of women and girls, especially in patriarchal or disadvantaged societies. Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth By improving access to education and vocational training, the Foundation helps create employment opportunities. Educated individuals have better chances of securing decent work. Goal 10 – Reduced inequalities It supports marginalised groups, including children in rural or conflict-affected areas, contributing to reducing global inequalities in education. Goal 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions Promotes education as a force for peace and conflict resolution. Supports democratic participation and awareness through educational programmes that foster community engagement. Goal 17 – Partnerships for the goals Collaborates with NGOs, unions, schools, and governments to deliver and advocate for education projects. Builds international partnerships to achieve the SDGs through education. Summary While The Steve Sinnott Foundation's primary focus is on Goal 4, it contributes to many of the SDGs by empowering communities through education, particularly: Gender equality (Goal 5), Health (Goal 3), Economic growth (Goal 8), Reducing inequality (Goal 10), Peace (Goal 16), and Partnerships (Goal 17). The Foundation’s programmes also contribute to the achievement of other SDGs through the power of the provision of education and life-long learning; 1. No Poverty, 2. Zero Hunger, 13. Climate Action. We believe that all of the 17 SDGs are only achievable by ensuring that all children, wherever they are born, deserve the human right of quality education. Over 250 million children are still out of school and the global out-of-school population has reduced by only 1% in nearly ten years, according to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024. There is still much work to do in achieving equitable and quality Education for All.
