Overall I fell this module  has benefited myself.  Although it took a while before I could start my placement due to waiting on my PVG, my hours was completed in time. I think 30 hours is an appropriate amount of hours  for the  module,  however it would be ideal to have placement sorted for the semester starting to organise such things as PVG so hours can be spread out over the period of time. That way I feel more skills and learning opportunities can be achieved.

The seminars for the module have been good, which you can take away information and benefit from them in the industry going for jobs etc.. Although I feel some of the things in the seminars could be done as a podcast and we could refer back to the information giving.  That being said some things were more suitable being in class as it was practical based which could help in a practical setting.

Assessments for this module course blog, presentation and report are all beneficial. The blogs each week I found quite hard due to start placement later, so was unsure what to write in blogs those weeks, but one placement started I found it easier to write about things. Make comments on other blogs was also good, as you you got an insight to others placement aswell as how they were about placement, which you could relate to at times.  The presentation for me I was extremely nervous about.  I think if started placement earlier I could of put more into my presentation and would maybe  be more relaxed presenting it, however from what I did do I can learn from it and make changes where needed for future presentations.  The report not yet started however I feel I can benefit from it in some way, even if it’s just my writing skills.

After a panicky start of whether I will manage to do 30 hours in time, I have managed to do 32.5 hours over the space of two week.  I am so relieved I have managed to get in done on time as it had worried me for while, especially as mostly everyone had started weeks ago.  I have managed to get so many hours done so quick due to what my placement provides for Broomhouse Primary School.

Placement this week began on Monday, I was on placement all day from 9am till 4pm.  At 9am Eamon and I were meant to have a boy called Tj and whoever he picked for half an hour but that morning he wasn’t  behaving. Tj has been having emotional issues as he is in a wheelchair at the moment waiting on a operation, which he not coping with all the time in school. We went to get him but he had hopped out his wheelchair to try and get his mum after being dropped off, he then hopped out of his class then outside school onto the wet grass and just sat, As he had done this one of assistant teachers and the principal went to deal with it. So me and Eamon took Scott and whoever he picked instead as he was meant to be later and was going to change him with Tj, so he could come later if all was ok.  At 9.30 on a Monday Eamon has the chance to plan his after school session of athletics, there is two different session he has to plan one for mini athletics p1-p3 and the other athletics that week p4-p7. In that time Eamon planned this session and discussed with me about it. He was telling me how the differ due to the age group he’s working with and how the older group can be more skilled based, due to them understanding a bit more. That led us to school break where we and all other assistants head outside to keep an eye on the children while there were outside, that led to us having a short break after. As Tj didn’t come earlier we went to get him but as we did he was shouting at his teacher, Eamon went to calm him down but he got aggressive towards then came out class sat under a table still be aggressive , that’s when the deputy head stepped in and said we were to take someone else. We took another group and done some basketball with them which went well, that led us to lunch.  After our lunch had the lunch club which we done badminton, no issues there. Once that was done the whole school went to church for remembrance  day.  The deputy asked Eamon to go with the p5 class and myself with the p5/6 class to keep on eye the children so they behaved and to support the class teacher, as she asked me to go with a different class from Eamon it made me feel part as one of the staff at school which was nice considering the short time I have been there. The service was nice, some of the pupils written poems and read them out at the service.  That led us to the end of the day.

Overall the day was quick with everything that was going on, but opened my eyes to how some children can behave I never thought that kind of behaviour would happen.

With my PVG finally here after weeks of waiting, I have eventually started my work placement with Active Schools. I am no longer stressed and worried about managing to complete the 30 hours needed for placement, as I have completed 14 hours this week so nearly half way there and I should able to have the 30 hours completed by the end of next week.  I have managed to do this amount hours over the week, as 2 days this week I been shadowing  one of the coaches Eamon from 9am till 3pm  at Broomhouse PS,  then between 3 – 4 pm supporting with the sport club after school with Eamon again for one of the sports club and the other sport club Saskia.

Tuesday was my first day of placement as much as I have been excited for it I was nervous heading up there, as I did not know what to expect.  When I got there I was to ask for Eamon who I hadn’t met yet and sign in at the schools reception. Eamon came and met me there and then took me to staff room then showed me the sport hall and equipment cupboard. Eamon then went briefly over what we were going to be doing that day. The day was broken down into either 15 or 30 minute sessions, that certain children and couple others were able to come out of class and do a bit sport with myself and Eamon.  This is when Eamon told me it was to support children with things such as ADHD, Autistic and children who needed support with gross motor skills, as well as other things, so the children can have time away from class.  Broomhouse PS is the only school in Edinburgh to have a coach there all day giving children time out for class.

From being able to shadow Eamon all day I was able to see how the children behaved and the difference it made for them. Some of the same children would come to more than 1 session but it benefited them as there behaviour changed and the teachers even said so.

So far I have enjoyed placement as it has gave me the opportunity to work with different age groups from p1-p7 and what it’s like to work within a school environment.

Past few weeks I have been a little worried of not being able to get my placement started and completed on time, since my PVG hadn’t arrived. I was away over the weekend and still worrying as nothing came through the post on Friday before leaving, but today when I arrived home it was there must of came through the post on Saturday. It is such a relief, I feel like a huge weight has been taken of my shoulders with it arriving.

Before my PVG arrived at the weekend I had been in contact with Shona regarding my PVG and placement over email. I asked her if she had heard from Disclosure Scotland as I hadn’t received PVG yet and also said I would contact them to see where my application was at. Shona got back to me to let me know I would here before she would and when it does arrive to let her know, so I can get started. Shona also said she was going to send over rough timetable of my placement hours  later on in the week.  I then contacted Disclosure Scotland to see what was going on with application as it’s normally quick to come through, the lady on phone checked for and said it was being worked on and should have it over weekend if not beginning of next week.  I emailed Shona to let her know and she replied saying to email her once it’s arrived and also attached the timetable.

As my PVG arrived over the weekend I have emailed Shona to let her know and Shona has said to start Tuesday and let me know what hours I can this week, so she can let the coaches I will be working alongside with know I will be there. I can know be finally excited to start but I do feel a little nervous but I guess that’s just natural.

Well unfortunately for me I have still not received my PVG, it is starting to get me a bit down as it seems everybody else has started there placement and I have not.  There is not much I can do but wait for know. I will see if it comes in post tomorrow (hopefully), but if not I will contact my mentor see if she has heard anything from disclosure Scotland and might also contact them myself, as it seem a bit long to be waiting for it.  Although when I did have meeting with my mentor Shona a couple weeks back she did say that the PVG’s have been taking a bit longer than normal.

I know I should not let it get to me as these things do take time and it’s must have. I just really want to get started as reading other’s blogs has got me excited about starting, curious of what I’ll be doing, what will I learn from it and what will I take it from it.

Once the PVG does comes through I know I will be glad but also keen to get started as soon as I can and obviously due to my placement with Active Schools, I will have the opportunity to get all hours completed and can continue with it once placement is over. I guess it’s just annoying waiting to get started, but sometimes you have too in life. I am sure it will be worth it though in the long run.

Unfortunately I haven’t started placement yet, which I feel a bit disappointed as most of the class already has. I’m not letting it get to me though as I can’t help it, as I need a protection vulnerable groups (PVG) membership as I am going to be working with children once on placement. Hopefully should receive it soon as I have previously had one with other work and it tends to be come through quicker if you are existing member.

Even if the PVG came through earlier this week I wouldn’t of been able to start my placement this week as the schools in Edinburgh are of on October break from Monday 14/10/19 to Wednesday 23/10/19. So I am hoping it  will come through before they start back so can get some few hours next week or more since we are off for reading week.

I am stressing a little about getting my hours done but  not going to stress about getting my hours completed  to much as I should have the PVG through by next week. Hopefully get even a couple  hours done next week. Then the following week  I should able to do more the just a few hours,  as I discussed with my mentor I can do a full day on Monday at one of the schools, as I can shadow the coach at one of them, then a few hours through the other days I should manage to get my hours up no problem.

Although I have been a little stressed waiting and still am, I am also excited for when I do start placement as I get to work at couple different school active schools work along with and a variety of sports too.

By Holly Sheil

Today the 8th of September I met with my other mentor Shona Clark.  Shona like Lee is an Active Coordinator for Active Schools Edinburgh, she is in charge of the Forrester Cluster which is North West Edinburgh, this area is more idea for me to do placement as I live in that area of Edinburgh, although may still do some of my placement within the Leith Cluster with Lee.

The main reason for the meeting with Shona was to sort my PVG. This I need to do for my placement as I will be working with children.  I have previously completed it before as have done voluntary with children, but need to be done each time your working with different company and to comply with their policies. Shona was very helpful and ensured I completed form correctly, she told me it will be sent out tomorrow with the rest that is getting sent out and said may take up to 14 days for it to come through. Due to this wont able to start for over a week, this worried me a little as wondered how will I get hours in and mentioned this also to Shona.

Shona assured me that will able to get hours in once I told her my availability.  There is many extra curriculum sport  activities within active schools usually at lunch time, when school finishes and also there is one which are  full day where I can work alongside one of the coaches. Activities at lunch and after school are around and 1 hour some have 2 one after the other.  Due to my availability will able to do at least do 3/4 hours a week alone with these activities, and on the full day would be 8 hours. So once PVG throughs I could potentially complete my all my placement hours within 3-4 weeks. This has took the pressure away of not being able to get done.

Shona and myself also spoke about continuing voluntary work once the placement was complete and potential coaching courses I could be put on.

Friday 27th of September I had meeting with my mentor Lee Goodfellow. Lee is one of the coordinators for Active Schools Edinburgh, he is in charge of the Leith Cluster. At the meeting Lee gave me his background similar to mine both left school in forth year with only so many grades to going back to college to do sport then onto university  where he got a degree then now has career he has.  This has given me hope and potential for my future career.

Lee also gave me more information what Active Schools is and what it offers over the schools in Edinburgh.  I have heard of Active Schools before placement but didn’t realise how much they have to offer.  This has excited me, that I want to look into more information into  Active School and potentially future work there whether that is voluntary, coaching or even coordinator.

At the end of the meeting Lee was contacting a fellow coordinator to pass on my details so there is more availability to carry out placement within other clusters, possibly making more flexibility placement for myself too, but also to get the form I need to complete voluntary work within Active Schools. Lee asked me to contact disclosure just so my PVG is up to date as I need this for Placement.