Gower College Swansea has been short-listed in the TES FE Awards Community Participation category for the collaboration between the part-time Children's Care, Learning and Development team and Pen-y-Bryn Special School in Swansea, which provides education for children and young people with profound physical and learning difficulties between the ages of four to eighteen. The Childcare department has had strong links with the school for many years, particularly by providing student placements.
The project was initiated by Swansea Carers Association with the rationale of providing Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (STLS) qualifications for parents and carers at the school. National Lottery funding was obtained to establish the project, which will provide a sustainable workforce for the sector.
College staff deliver the theoretical knowledge and carry out the professional competency assessments at the school. All candidates have the opportunity to undertake Essential Skills qualifications in Communications, Application of Number and ICT.
The success of the project has been recognised by external bodies; for example, the project is central to Pen-y-Bryn’s work toward accreditation as a Centre of Excellence for Training for those working with Children with Special Needs.
Most recently the Welsh inspectorate, ESTYN, has been working with the college and school to assess whether the project should be given sector-leading status. Subsequently we have been asked to contribute to a collaborative paper outlining the project.
Cath Williams, the Learning Area Manager for Health and Care, expressed her satisfaction on receiving the news: "Being shortlisted for this national award is something that we are extremely proud of and it is wonderful recognition for the co-operative project undertaken by the Childcare team and Pen-y-Bryn School. All staff involved have found the whole experience rewarding and enriching and have been made to feel very welcome by everyone at the school."