Plas Pencelli is a Swindon owned Outdoor Education Centre based on the edge of the Brecon Beacons of South Wales. Historically it has had many links with Wiltshire schools which continues and they still represent one of our largest user groups. The Centre specializes in providing residential, outdoor education courses for young people from 9 years up to adulthood. Apart from working with schools we are also regularly involved in the training of youth groups, teachers, management groups, members of the public on recreational courses and those seeking to specialize and gain National Governing Body Awards. The pool of specialist outdoor staff also allows involvement in a range of specialist and advisory ventures including the current role of outdoor educational advisory service for Swindon Borough Council.

Outdoor Education 
Plas Pencelli provides programmes of Outdoor Education that make a unique and powerful contribution to each individual’s broad education and development. Using a variety of instructional methods adapted to a range of individual learning styles within a challenging environment each course also focuses on many specific learning objectives within the National Curriculum. In particular the disciplines of Citizenship, Physical Education and Personal, Social and Health Education are particularly well visited. Achievement is centred on 4 main areas: personal development; relationships; social skills and appreciation of the natural environment. Throughout each course a high priority is placed on Health and Safety.

Outdoor Health & Safety
The Centre complies with current legislation on the operation of outdoor activity centres. This involves compulsory annual inspection by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) on behalf of the Health & Safety Executive. In brief this looks closely at the staff used, the procedures employed, the activities undertaken and the facilities and equipment used. Further background information is available on the website www.aala.org.uk. This information may be useful for parents. Meanwhile the Department for Education and Skills has issued generic guidance to schools on educational visits. Much of this guidance overlaps with the work of AALA. Again Plas Pencelli uses this valuable source of guidance. In terms of activities there is great emphasis placed on LEA advice and also advice by technical advisors. The staff pool at Plas Pencelli contains sufficiently experienced and qualified staff that most technical aspects can be covered “in house”.

A wide range of risk assessments covering more than a hundred locations are held. The staff we deploy are subject to Swindon Borough Council recruitment systems and are selected, trained and approved in a systematic manner. Daily activity is monitored, directed and reviewed by a tight management structure. All outdoor equipment used is chosen, inspected and maintained in accordance with guidelines laid down by the EEC. National governing body guidelines are used when running activities.

From a safety perspective Plas Pencelli monitors and controls the risks that visitors are subject to from the point of arrival until the point of departure. Additionally group organizers will also want to consider and take steps to control the risks associated with coach travel and supervising young people in a residential setting. Visiting staff retain pastoral care of their students, particularly so overnight. It is suggested that these areas would normally be risk assessed by leaders. 

 Staff Responsibilities

Activities and venues are continually monitored by the management team. Centre Staff are assigned responsibility to discharge their duties safely and effectively. Their plans for each day are discussed formally within a staff meeting and are always subject to veto by the management team. This applies particularly to the choice of activity and venue.

There is a degree of transferability of responsibility between Centre staff and Visiting staff during the stay of a group. The body of responsibility for the students when on activities rests with the Centre staff. As it is not expected that Visiting staff are experienced in any of the outdoor activities pursued any other arrangement wouldn’t be logical. However, it is suggested that visiting staff should be enthusiastic and supportive of the work done by Plas Pencelli staff. Visiting staff will also want to be involved in issues to do with student behaviour.

The Instructor will discuss with the Visiting member of staff their role on any specific day. Schools benefit tremendously from the shared experience between staff and students.

It is highly desirable that at least one member of Visiting staff accompanies each activity group during the day. If this is not possible we will always ensure that there are at least 2 responsible adults with every activity group.

The evening session is coordinated by a Plas Pencelli Instructor with the help of Assistants and Visiting staff. At 9.15 pm Visiting staff take welfare responsibility for their students until 9am the next day. A member of the Plas Pencelli staff will be in residence every night undertaking security duties and is also available in case of domestic crisis. For more serious incidents a member of the management team will be on call and reside locally.

 Equipment

All protective clothing and safety equipment conforms to European Safety Standards. Equipment is subject to regular checking which is recorded for Health and Safety purposes. Students are encouraged to take some responsibility for their own and loaned equipment. This involves hanging equipment in the areas provided and a responsibility for paying for all lost or damaged equipment. All safety equipment is checked immediately before activities to ensure it is fitted and worn properly.