During 2013-15, Learning Away is publishing a growing suite of free resources, planning tools, case studies and CPD materials. This third suite of resources offers insight into the rationale for and practicalities of adopting a ‘co-construction and co-design’ approach to planning and delivering residentials; as a partnership between teaching staff and their students and, when appropriate, with residential providers.

This approach to planning and managing residentials has enormous and lasting benefits for young people. Working alongside staff, they work as a learning community to plan and make decisions about their residential. The opportunity to take a real and purposeful responsibility for themselves and others provides them with a sense of ownership. Co-construction techniques empower young people and allow them to take collective control of their learning – reflecting on their experiences and understanding how they might do things differently next time.

The key benefits of a co-construction and co-design approach are that they:

• enrich the residential experience through student ownership of the whole process
• enable student voice to be heard and acted upon
• maximise inclusion
• develop team work skills
• develop the facilitation skills of both students and staff
• promote a democratic approach to decision making
• enhance safety as H&S issues are explored and agreed collectively
• deepen relationships between students and staff.

The Learning Away partnership schools used two co-construction models – the ‘Mango’ model and the ‘Critical Thinking’ model. Both of these approaches are described extensively in this resource, which includes top tips and case studies from primary, secondary and special schools, as well as activity ideas and planning templates.