Wrapping Up the First Term at The AEC: Progress, Projects, and People
With the first term done and dusted, it’s now a great time to look back on what’s been going on around The AEC. Between decluttering the workshop, getting students stuck into some amazing projects, and seeing some of our best attendance yet, this term has been one of serious progress. Here’s a look into what’s been keeping us all busy.
Creating Space for Growth and Hands On Projects
Over the summer, we decided it was time to clear out the workshop and make it a space where everyone feels comfortable and focused. The declutter wasn’t just for show as it’s made a real difference in creating a safer and more useable workspace. Students have more room to really get into larger projects, think benches with more advanced joints, a custom wardrobe with rounded slats built from reclaimed wood, a trailer build from scratch, a huge model train set, and some car maintenance work, from brake changes to alternator swaps, servicing, and repairs.
It’s been a pleasure watching the students gain skills they can take home with them. These projects are giving them the confidence and practical knowledge to build things they actually need not just for working towards certificates but projects that have a real world value to them. With more advanced projects comes more advanced tools like routers and oxy-acetylene torches in play, they’re not just building things but learning techniques to create pieces they’re proud to show off.
Building Confidence
These hands-on projects aren’t just about building things, they’re about building confidence. Our goal is to help students get ready for whatever’s next, whether that’s college, an apprenticeship, or heading straight into the workforce. Working one to one with staff gives them the time and space to pick up skills, tackle challenges, and work through any behaviour concerns they might have.
We’ve also been focusing on AQA certifications. Each certification shows that they’ve engaged with a project, followed the process, and completed something real. These certificates aren’t just pieces of paper, they’re proof of effort and progress, and are something students can be proud of as they look toward their next steps.
Health and Safety
This term also brought our Health and Safety and Fire Risk Assessments, and I’m happy to say we’ve come a long way in a year! Better record-keeping, organising of our space, and more regular testing have all played a part in raising our standards. Plus, we had a fun fire extinguisher training session bringing our team closer together. The centre currently looks the best it has in years! We will always continue to raise the standards when it comes to the health sand safety of all those who enter our site with better equipment, improved policy, training, and PPE.
A Great Start with Attendance
We’re proud to say that attendance has been at its best since The AEC came under new ownership/management. Getting here hasn’t been an accident.. we’ve been putting time into finding the right staff, making sure each young person is paired with someone who matches with them in terms of skills and personality. Being flexible with each student’s goals and expectations has also been key as we want to make sure they feel they’re making progress, enjoying the journey, and always have something to work towards.
The light-hearted atmosphere we fostered definitely helps as well. It’s more than just work here. We’re learning, laughing, and working alongside each other every day. Daily check ins and debriefs with staff help keep everyone on the same page with student progress, so we can celebrate all wins, big or small, as they happen.
Welcoming New Staff to the Team
We also welcomed two new team members this term who hit the ground running. During interviews, we could tell they had the right energy, and they’ve been a great fit from day one. Their reliability and strong work ethic have made a big impression on the students, and we’re already seeing positive connections forming which is exactly what we had hoped for.
Connecting with Other Alternative Provisions and the Local Council
Another great part of this term has been reconnecting with other local APs. These meet-ups help us see what’s working elsewhere and where each AP can make a difference, which is useful when we’re trying to find the best placement for each young person. Recently, we also had a local council worker join our session, which brought some really promising updates for students on EOTAS (Education Other Than at School) packages. There’s a renewed focus on safeguarding and a commitment to making sure every student has someone watching out for them, which fits right into this year’s “Keeping Children Safe in Education” goals.
Looking Ahead
As we look toward the next term, we’re staying focused on a few key things: keeping attendance high, completing as many AQA certifications as we can, and rallying around our Year 11 students to help them reach their personal goals. We’d love to see our young people attending in every session. More time with them means more time to help them build those vital work and social skills that’ll serve them well beyond this year.
It’s been a busy, productive term, and we’re incredibly proud of what our students and staff have accomplished. Here’s to keeping up the momentum.
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