Disney trip for students!

31/03/2010

The students were excited to visit Disneyland Paris!

A group of thirty students from the Faculty of Health and Community based at the Crawley campus recently travelled to Paris for a three-day visit to Disneyland. The group were accompanied by Anita De Mendonça, Curriculum Team Leader for Health and Social Care, Lindsay Pankhurst, Course Co-ordinator Early Years and Lauren Chapman, Early Years tutor.

After a very early start (4.30am!), the all-girl group travelled to Paris by coach via the Eurotunnel, arriving at the Cheyenne Hotel at the Disneyland Paris Resort at 3pm. During their stay, the students got the opportunity to attend a number of seminars, which related to their course, and covered topics such as health and safety, accessibility, and the procedures in place to meet individual needs of travellers to the park. They were also asked to observe members of staff at the resort, looking at their responses to situations as they arose throughout the day. Student Hayley Turpie commented that "Staff were efficient and organised."

Aside from the seminars, the main draw of the trip was the full day the group got to spend in the Disneyland Parks, and after spending time in the classroom, the students were keen to spend some time exploring the attractions. They spent the day sampling the many rides, meeting the Disney characters and watching the spectacular parades, and even the dreary weather didn't put them off!

The group returned home exhausted but happy, with the feeling that this had been a very successful trip! "I really enjoyed the trip. It was a wonderful experience" said student Wajidda Hanif. Organiser Lindsay Pankhurst was pleased that the trip had fulfilled the needs of the curriculum, as well as providing the students with a memorable experience, saying "The students found the trip both enjoyable and informative. They were able to take part in a range of experiences that will benefit them throughout the course and in their future careers.This was also a great team building experience for the girls." The trip was a first for staff and students from the Faculty of Health and Community Learning, but as it proved so successful plans are already being made to repeat it next year.