PC Visit Glasshouse

Event: Post 16 visit

Number of pupils attending: 1 pupil 2 staff

Post 16 Visit

Part off or provision at RAP is to ensure that our pupils have as many opportunities to visit a range of Post 16 provisions as possible, looking at thee options available to them. We also look at the support available in relation to their high anxiety.

Activity

One Year 11 visited The Glass House. This is a Post 16 alternative education provision based in Stourbridge and is part of the Ruskin Mill Trust.
They provide a range of courses for anyone who has an EHCP and can accommodate pupils up to the age of 25.

Staff accompanied the pupil who was very nervous ad struggles when meeting new people.
We arrived promptly, as we wanted to give a good impression and met the staff who took us around the college.

There was so much to see and different workshops which you could visit. One section is built in the old glass making warehouse. Different craft sections are set up such as jewellery, glass wear, pottery and painting.

Each section is maned by a different artist who creates their designs. A student who attends can choose which work shop they would like to attend and learn the relevant skills. They could be working as part of a group or as a 1:1 session which our pupil really liked.

Another area they can study is drama. You can learn to perform on stage or work behind the scenes, such as lighting or a sound technician. Again, our student was amazed at what was on offer.

Next, they visited thee two cafes. One is for the students who are fed every day and the other is for visitors. Attached s a shop which sells the art and crafts that are made on site.
Our student was impressed as the college is next to a canal where they have a barge. Students are allowed to spend the afternoons on the barge, repairing it, using the log burner, or just sitting and chilling.
Our student felt this was a great idea as it meant he could have time out away from others and maybe do some fishing.

Finally, we visited the farm, which was a teen minute drive in Kinver. This is a fully working 46-acre farm.

We were all really impressed with the different activities’ students could do here, and it felt like it was geared up to personalised learning, which many of our student really need.

The activities were hands on, and it could mean that students that couldn’t make up their minds could try a range of different activities in a really supported environment.

The student really enjoyed the visit.

Quotes by Students

‘Can we keep our phones?’
They were told ‘Yes of course, but when you are completing activities, you will have to put them away so you are concentrating but you can use it at all other times.’’

This made the student incredibly happy.

‘So, I can have time out?’

‘Yes, you can have time away, or if you are not enjoying the activity then you could move onto something else.’

Teacher Feedback

After the visit, I spoke to our student how he felt about the college.

He said it was good because it wasn’t like a school environment. There was plenty to keep him occupied and he could have some one to one time away from other others.

The staff felt it was a really positive experience, as he could have positive social interaction daily which he needs, as well as giving him an opportunity to complete his functional skills alongside hands on activities.
They wished that the student could have had an opportunity to take part in one of the workshops during his visit. They are looking at booking another visit to see if this is possible.

Since the visit the pupil has completed an application form, sat entry level qualifications in English and Maths, as well as looking at alternative provisions so he can keep his options open.

Staff are now liaising with parents to see how he could travel from Malvern to Stourport as we feel that this is a college that could really benefit our student.

The Glass House is a college that could really benefit our students and we will look to book for future visits.