The Learning Away consortium are working collaboratively with residential providers to raise awareness about the benefits of residentials for schools in the winter months through a new #WinterResidentials campaign. The campaign will be an extension to the successful #BrilliantResidentials campaign and will launch in Autumn 2017.

Winter residentials are particularly effective because:

• There is time for learning and development to be embedded back in school – the Learning Away programme discovered that residentials are especially likely to have a long term impact on students and on attainment in particular, when followed up on students return to school.
• They foster deeper relationships which are sustained back in school – relationships between staff and students become more trusting and respectful. Students get to know teachers as individuals; staff gain a better understanding of their students and how to respond to them which can benefit throughout the rest of the school year. So the sooner the teachers know their pupils and ‘set them up for success’ the better, and residentials play a crucial role in achieving this.
• They are more affordable and therefore inclusive for all students – many residential providers have reduced rates, discounts and bursaries available over the winter months.
• They offer new learning opportunities –such as: astronomy; night walks; and exploring in the dark. It will be within the hands of providers to develop programmes which highlight the opportunities available to at this time of year.

The campaign will be supported with a digital campaign pack containing a video, infographics, materials and templates to save you time and help you promote the benefits of #WinterResidentials.

This communication launch events which will share the evidence gathered from the Learning Away programme about the profound benefits of residentials, and will also equip you with the tools needed to collaboratively raise awareness of the positive outcomes of residentials in the winter months.

The launch event is open to anyone interested in the campaign, but particularly aimed at those providing residentials to support you with the tools to get behind the campaign and spread our campaign messages widely with schools.