In the past few weeks, our Level 1 Education and Early Years students have successfully and independently planned and delivered a free Stay-and-Play event at Ashcombe Children’s Centre - an exciting milestone in their Sentipensante project. 

Held on Wednesday 18th June, the event welcomed families and carers with children aged 0–5 to participate in two sessions, from 10–11:30am and 1–2:30pm. The project’s goal was to create a community-based experience that allowed learners to bring the curriculum to life, especially through English and Maths skills, while offering a welcoming, play-based environment for young children and their families. 

“This was a brilliant opportunity for learners to put their skills into action and gain real experience working with children and families,” said Lucy Drew, Head of Education and Early Years. “The event sold out just hours after tickets went live, showing just how much the local community values these kinds of activities.” 

Students took full ownership of the project from start to finish. They designed and published posters and social media posts, carefully choosing language, layout, and colour schemes to attract attention. Using their maths knowledge, they worked within a budget to buy refreshments, toys, and materials for activities. They also developed a registration process, applying critical thinking to collect attendee information while managing capacity limits. 

The learners divided into two groups to host both morning and afternoon sessions. Each session provided opportunities for children to play and learn alongside their parents or carers, with activities designed to encourage early development in a fun, supportive setting. 

The Stay and Play event not only demonstrated the learners’ dedication and growth but also showed strong collaboration across departments, with English and Maths staff helping to embed core skills throughout the planning process. It also deepened the college’s partnership with Ashcombe Children’s Centre, setting the stage for hopeful future joint projects. 

Want to become a part of our Early Years and Education stay and play projects, as well as learn about the dynamic early years sector? Browse our courses here.

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career. 

Weston College recently launched our very own Community Choir, led by Susannah Leitch, HE Programme Co-ordinator and Lecturer in Popular Music. The choir has had a brilliant first term, meeting every week at 5.45pm to warm up, loosen up, and sing a wide range of songs together. From upbeat tunes to more relaxed melodies, each session brought something new and fun.

Before getting into the music, the choir took time to look after their voices with gentle stretches, breathing exercises, and posture work, which were perfect after a day spent at desks or in cars. These warm-ups helped everyone relax, improve their vocal techniques, and get into the right headspace for singing.

The group practiced singing both with and without sheet music, using memory and listening skills to learn harmonies, while also brushing up on music reading along the way. There was something for everyone, whether they were a confident singer or completely new to choirs.

Each session encouraged teamwork and a real sense of community. There were opportunities for solos for those who wanted to, and Susannah made sure it was a supportive space to have a go and enjoy the experience. The focus of the choir was on having fun, building confidence, and boosting mental wellbeing through music.

All in all, it’s been a fantastic start for the Weston College Community Choir, and it’s clear that this new programme has made on impact on everyone involved.

Choir Feedback:

“Thank you so much for what you did for us. I am so grateful for meeting you and learning from you! Best teacher ever!”

“Susannah is a great teacher, very pleasant and we’ve had some laughs. Very enjoyable course. Singing makes you feel great.”

“Thank you, Susannah, you are so kind and positive, it helped a lot with my nerves!”

“I found the experience very positive, coming together to have fun, meeting new people and learning music. No-one is wrong and everyone is welcome”

“I enjoyed meeting new people, learning new songs and it was fun singing at the open day”

“The camaraderie especially in the last few weeks as we got to know each other more”

“I loved being able to sing and be musical without any pressure. Very stress relieving, a great outlet.”

“The warmups were great, and especially when they linked to the song we were doing without us realising!”

“I would very much like to return to Choir in September. Please!”

“Thank you so much – Susannah was fab. Hope it continues next term.”

Register your interest for the next Community Choir here.

Yesterday at Victoria Park Community Centre in Bridgwater, Weston College and The King’s Trust hosted a presentation event where learners from the Pathways for Young People programme had the opportunity to showcase their achievements over the past 12 weeks. The King’s Trust supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those facing significant challenges, helping them to develop the confidence and skills they need to live, learn, and earn.

The event began with an inspiring talk from guest speaker Anna Carey, Head of Adult Education Projects at Weston College, who shared why the King’s Trust programme is so impactful for young people. Drawing from her own life experiences, she highlighted the profound difference the programme can make in shaping their futures.

The students then began their presentation, each taking a turn to share their personal experiences with the programme. They described how, in the first few days, they took part in various challenges and team-building activities designed to help them get to know one another. One memorable task involved building a structure from plastic straws and tape to protect a falling egg - a fun and creative exercise in collaboration. Impressively, both teams succeeded, with neither egg breaking or cracking!

The learners then spoke about their residential trip to Dartmoor, which many of the learners said was one of their favourite parts of the programme. Some of the activities they got up to at Dartmoor included orienteering, cooking breakfast, making a campfire, archery, abseiling and climbing and a Dartmoor Walk which had breath taking views! This residential trip gave learners the chance to build friendships and take on new challenges that pushed them beyond their comfort zones - an experience they described as being truly memorable.

After the residential, the learners took part in a Community Project, where they raised money for three local charities – Brunel Care, Arc, and Secret World Wildlife Rescue. To raise the money, the learners did a bake sale and a sponsored walk, where they raised £387.69!

One of the most impactful parts of the 12-week Kings Trust programme was the work placements the students did. Some of the local businesses the students worked at included a charity shop for Cancer Research UK, West Huntspill Primary School, Little Adventurers, Victoria Park Community Centre, Brunel Care, Sense Charity shop and Hinkley Point. Thank you to all these wonderful businesses for giving our learners vital work experience and increasing their confidence – many of the learners said they would love to go back to their work experience place in the future for paid employment!

As part of Bridgwater Blue Heritage, the learners worked with volunteers to plant flowers and shrubs on 3 rafts, which would then be put into docks to promote wildlife, biodiversity and fish breeding areas. The learners also worked with Seed of Hope, a support group to improve the community garden and build a raised bed for wheelchair access.

To conclude their presentation, the learners shared highlights from their visit to Müller, where they learned about the company’s history and took part in a creative challenge - designing a way to transport cows across a river using various materials. They also enjoyed an insightful tour of the factory production lines. Every learner presented with confidence and clarity, demonstrating impressive public speaking skills and doing a fantastic job in front of the audience.

Finally, representatives from each of the charities supported by the learners spoke about the positive impact their fundraising efforts had made, expressing heartfelt thanks for their help and support. To close the event, the learners were proudly presented with certificates to mark their successful completion of the Pathways for Young People programme.

Emma Hutchins, Head of Bootcamps and Pathways for Young People, said, “We are so proud of everything our learners have achieved over the 12-week programme – it is evident that they have all developed confidence within themselves whilst simultaneously learning skills that will help them through life, particularly skills in the workplace. This could not be done without the incredible King’s Trust, and our wonderful staff who have supported the learners throughout their time on the programme.”