What is your role at summer boarding courses?
Cambridge College Welfare Co-ordinator
What’s the average day like at summer school?
Wake up, oversee students leaving and going to school. Dealing with any medical or pastoral care needs. If anyone’s unwell manage this with staff. Liaise with staff at the school. School for breakfast, morning medication for students who need it.
Team meeting, see what has occurred overnight, updates etc, share relevant information with staff who need to know. Check documentation, update where required. Handover to other managers. If anything arises at the school assist with it.
Free time- oversee students going back to accommodation. Get updates from staff about the day’s goings on. Check documentation. Oversee student movement. Prep info for team if anything has happened during the day. Who might need to be checked in on/ see how people are mentally seeming. Check in with students who might have had shaky starts to the day.
Dinner then evening activities: update team, so they’re ready when students return to accommodation.
Post activities: Signing students into accommodation, oversee evening ‘free time’ in accommodation then it’s evening medication, checking in on students.
Talking to students throughout the day, see how they are, how they’re finding the courses. Take an interest in what they have to say. Getting to know them and checking in on students who might be struggling. Being a friendly, approachable face for the students and creating a welcoming environment in the school and accommodation.
What have you enjoyed the most about working with Summer Boarding Courses?
Getting to meet so many students from around the world. Having a job with more responsibility than I’ve had before. Learning from staff and students. Listening to lots of wonderful stories from students about their lives.
What advice would you give a staff member going into their first summer with Summer Boarding courses?
Be yourself. Ask for help if you need it. Ask questions. Get to know the students, they all have their own stories. Take your time off- seriously: everyone needs a break they’re there for a reason! Bring a home comfort with you. Speak to others if you’re struggling- especially if you’ve never done residential, it can be an adjustment. Remember no one is perfect 😊 Safeguarding is super important, there is a lot of training but if you’re unsure its always better to mention it than not.
What’s your favourite summer school memory?
Wearing my dungarees with a teddy in after seeing a student with a top with a teddy in it, seeing their face light up when they saw my outfit! They were so happy; it made my entire summer! It’s the little things that really make a difference.