Recently Pengwern College had a visit from a safeguarding trainer to deliver Group B training to staff. Whilst on their visit they had the pleasure of witnessing something special.
"The other day I was at Pengwern college delivering Group B safeguarding training.
At break time there was a member of staff with a student playing the piano and singing and they looked like they were enjoying themselves. Within minutes it was almost like a flash mob. All the students started dancing with staff members and a spontaneous party began. All staff and students seemed to really enjoy themselves and whilst walking through I witnessed the managers also join in. Other staff members were heard checking if students were ok and if it was too loud. It was amazing to see the interaction between staff and students and the inclusion of all students whilst still meeting their needs. It was magical to watch.
Then at lunch time staff and students were lining up. Staff were supporting the students and clearly understood their individual triggers. The staff members were so welcoming to every student. Staff were reassuring students, ensuring students were given space and redirecting other students to avoid anyone becoming emotionally aroused.
When one student did become heightened, staff acted quickly to reduce arousal, whilst other staff members redirected staff and students to go into the dinning room through another direction.
In the dinning room it was a pleasure to watch the interactions between students and staff members. Certain staff members transitioned between several students and again clearly understood each student. Considering many of the students started new in September it was clear that staff have taken time to get to know the students.
As a training team we deliver a lot of training, but vary rarely see it in practice. Watching the things, we deliver in practice from positive behaviour support to behaviour management to safeguarding was really heart-warming and reinforced the reason we deliver training. This day was an extraordinary day. The whole experience supported what we do as an L&D team to make every service user / Student/ Young person’s day extraordinary every day."