A day at the pod
Our predictable framework for the day
| Start | End | What | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:35 | 9:45 | Arrive | Drop off students and chat to us as needed |
| 9:45 | 10:00 | SYLO time | Sort Your Life Out time for students to be supported in transitioning into the pod. |
| 10:00 | 10:15 | Opening huddle | A consent-based meeting to connect and plan the day. |
| 10:15 | 11:30 | Adventures | Pod facilitators offer project activities that are fun and challenging. |
| 11:30 | 12:30 | Missions | Students create their own goals and ideas for their learning with the expertise and facilitation of our professionals. |
| 12:30 | 13:30 | Lunch | Making and eating food together |
| 13:30 | 13:45 | Check in | We do a quick check in at the start of the afternoon to make sure everyone is doing what they want to be during the afternoon. |
| 13:45 | 15:00 | Open activity time | Students are free to use their time exactly as they want with access to all our resources and our facilitators. |
| 15:00 | 15:15 | Closing huddle | A consent-based meeting to check in and set intention for next session. |
| 15:15 | 15:30 | SYLO time | Sort Your Life Out time for students to be supported in transitioning out of the pod. |
Lunch
Students must bring their own food for the day and can eat and drink whenever they need to. There is a kitchen equipped with a fridge, kettle, toaster and microwave available to students. Facilitators will assist students where needed.
Learning sessions
Student-led
Our learning sessions revolve around the student’s enthusiasm. Much of this time will be based around project based learning or areas of specific interest to individuals or groups, identified in the meetings The key here is that the curriculum and learning facilitators work alongside the students to support their learning rather than dictating exactly what it is that they must learn. We allocate facilitators based on the plan so that we can be as useful to learning as possible.
Facilitator-led
On offer, as part of the resources, are facilitator-led activities and sessions. Students can take part in these or use other resources as they see fit. As facilitators we will always aim to offer activities that we know will be beneficial to the students we have, and we will make sure they look (and are) exciting and desirable.
SYLO time
We know that transitions can be tricky for students. Sort Your Life Out (SYLO) time provides a buffer at either end of the day where all students are supported to transition in and out of the pod. In the morning this provides ample settling-in time, opportunities for pastoral care and human needs nurturing, as well as any educational smoothing that an individual student might need. Students come in and settle, having time to re-connect with their friends and us, read a book, play a quick game etc..
At the end of the day students have 15 minutes to raise any concerns with their team, gather their things, and prepare themselves for the transition to home. We see this as an essential part of supporting human needs in the pod, offering predictability, connection and opportunities for recognition and protection as those needs arise.
