Building a sand city in the rain...
As we bid farewell to the summer holidays, many of us will fondly recall the highlights of the past few weeks. Whether it was a vacation abroad, attending a festival or Eisteddfod, a family weekend in Llangrannog, or an adventure building a sandcastle in the rain, these moments provided a much-needed break from our everyday routines and offered invaluable experiences.
As a former headteacher, I am aware of the short-term impact that extended holidays can have on learners' academic development. However, the holidays are also essential to the holistic development of each child. It gives learners the opportunity to relax, to foster creativity and curiosity and to meet new people, to name but a few. Building a sand city in the rain on Benllech beach was one of the highlights of my holidays, as I watched the children working together to build a sand city in the rain, showing ambition and perseverance!
As Lafan education Lead Consultant, I am passionate about equipping learners to achieve to the best of their ability. There is an old African proverb that says "it takes a village to raise a child" and we at Lafan understand how essential it is to have an effective support network when raising and educating children.
As educators return to schools and colleges, teachers and staff will tackle the term's plans with renewed energy and enthusiasm. But, in a world where there is so much change, are we as educators, providers and consultants working together in the most effective ways to ensure the best resources and provision for future learners?
I strongly believe that schools cannot act alone. Building strong partnerships with parents, community organisations, local businesses, and other stakeholders is essential for creating thriving learning environments. This became clear in a recent workshop that I held for Business Wales, looking at the opportunities that exist to foster links between businesses and local schools. The desire to work together was clear, but the time and confidence to make connections was limited.
I was fortunate to collaborate with schools in Eryri, Ynys Môn and Pen Llŷn this year, in order to understand resource requirements to support schools to embed outdoor learning in their schools' curriculum. The Tirlun project, which is led by the Pembrokeshire National Park Authority with the support of TLC!, Tinint and Lafan now includes numerous activities, all based on the ideas of the community of teachers across Wales which were a key part of creating this resource. www.tirlun.cymru
With the bucket and spade idle, and the sand city on Benllech beach now a memory, the learners will be back in the classrooms, and the educators back encouraging creativity and innovation. Thank you to everyone I have had the pleasure of working with over the past educational year, and look forward to continuing to foster new connections and partnerships going forward over the coming year.