5 things I have learned through my open campus placement experience

I coached a range of physical education classes during my Open Campus placement, including general PE, rugby, badminton, and athletics. I got the opportunity to interact with students of all ages because I worked with students in Reception to Year 6. I also contributed to an ALN session on Mondays, which brought special difficulties but eventually deepened my comprehension of inclusive coaching.

Five Things I Learned

1. It’s Scary at the Start, but It Does Get Better

At first, I was nervous leading sessions, especially with different age groups. But as I went along, I learned to go with the flow, not rush, and let the energy of the class guide me. This gave me confidence over time.

2. Silence Is More Powerful Than Shouting

I realized that when kids get loud, often the best tool is to stay calm and silent. Instead of raising my voice, I would stop, wait, and let the quiet settle. This helped me maintain control without escalating the noise.

3. Supporting Pupils in Distress Is Crucial

I also learned that if a child confides something serious, it’s vital to stay calm, listen, and record everything in a notebook. After the session, I would talk to my supervisors. This skill helped me feel more responsible and aware of safeguarding.

4. Teamwork Makes Leadership Easier

I realized it’s hard to lead everything alone, especially if I’m naturally more vocal. I learned to share responsibilities and let others step in. This made sessions less overwhelming and gave everyone a chance to contribute.

5. Preparation Reduces Stress

Having a structured plan before each session was a game changer. When I had materials ready, clear objectives, and a backup activity in case we finished early, I felt more relaxed and ready to adapt.

What Worked Well

Having consistent communication with my supervisors and head coach, Evangelene, as well as Sam, was one of the most helpful aspects of my Open Campus placement. We could send them a fast message via Teams or WhatsApp whenever something went wrong, like a late arrival at school. We also set up group discussions with the other placement coaches. This meant that we could make accommodations if one of us was unable to attend. We were able to organise events by talking in our Teams group chat, such as dividing up the rugby and football teams and making sure we had everything we needed by having the Equipment form ready 48 hours in advance. We remained confident and well-organised thanks to these systems.

Small Improvements to Consider

Having multiple speakers throughout sessions is one useful improvement. When one person was in charge of everything, it could occasionally feel overwhelming; therefore, sharing deliveries or rotating tasks would ease the burden. Another minor adjustment would be to slow down our delivery; occasionally, we hurried because we were anxious. It would be easier and less stressful if we gave ourselves a little more time and clearly divided the roles.