Foundation students have been gaining valuable employability skills by working towards their John Muir environmental award. The students carried out conservation tasks across three reserves in a work experience programme, delivered by Shropshire Wildlife Trust, which is aimed at giving young people the skills and confidence to enter a career in the countryside industry.
Pupils from Watermill School in Stoke on Trent have been learning horticultural skills as part of our successful Vocational Opportunities Programme for 14 to 16 year-olds.
We have worked in partnership with Watermill, which caters for pupils with needs related to cognition and learning, for around six years. It is always a pleasure to welcome these pupils on site, as they respond so positively to learning practical skills out of doors.
Many successfully gain their City & Guilds Level 1 Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills and a few have progressed onto one of our Foundation programmes.
Said Reaseheath’s Pre-16 Learning Manager Graham Morgan: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people in their final two years at school to receive a practical, work-related experience as part of the Key Stage 4 curriculum. It’s an opportunity for them to do something different from the subjects they are offered at school and to benefit from the facilities and expertise which Reaseheath can offer.’’
A total of over 300 school pupils aged between 14 and 16 study at Reaseheath on a weekly basis on our Vocational Opportunities Programme. They can choose to study horse care, horticulture, agriculture, construction, motor vehicle, animal care, food studies or adventure sports while continuing to study for conventional GCSEs.
For more information on our courses for students aged 14-16 visit: www.reaseheath.ac.uk/14-16-students.
Our Entry and Foundation Department is successfully using natural horsemanship methods to help both learners and staff.
Taking elements from techniques used by Monty Roberts, Kelly Marks and other practitioners who specialise in non-verbal cues and body language, the department has developed an equine assisted learning programme in which horses have become the teachers.
Around 30 staff and over 100 students have already benefited from workshops which involve team work with an equine partner.
The initiative is being led by Foundation Instructor Lisa Brewitt, who was awarded the Innovation Award in Reaseheath’s Awards of Excellence 2012 for her work on the innovative teaching techniques. Very few UK centres offer this type of training.
The programme was initially aimed at Pre-Entry to Level 1 students with learning difficulties, particularly those with autism and anxiety behaviour. It can develop self confidence, self esteem, communication, problem solving and team work.
The workshops have been so successful that they have been taken up by students from visiting specialist schools. Lisa has also run seven staff workshops, which cover scientific and theoretical aspects as well as practical activities. These have underlined the importance of non verbal communication and how this can promote more effective classroom management.
As well as the Foundation team, colleagues from our student welfare and train to gain teams have used the workshops for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). A growing list of external professionals from specialist schools, colleges and secure units have also attended at full cost.
The equine trainers are ponies from our animal management department and equestrian centre and Lisa’s own retrained ex-racehorse. Our animal management department uses elements of the programme.
Lisa says: “Lots of our learners have difficulty with social interaction and in understanding eye and body language. Team work with an equine partner shows you how you can get over obstacles in life such as these.”
Workshops are offered mainly during college holidays. Demand is high, particularly for staff team building and problem solving. If you want to know more, email lisab@reaseheath.ac.uk.