On a visit to Portfield Special School in Haverfordwest, the
Minister for Education and Welsh Language, , met pupils and staff who
have taken part in an exchange trip to Sweden and Belgium, which
has been made possible thanks to Taith funding.
Portfield School is a special school for pupils aged 3-19 years.
Pupils have a wide range of complex Additional Learning Needs
(ALN), such as autism spectrum condition and social, emotional
and behavioural needs.
Taith provides opportunities for learners, young people and staff
in every type of education and youth setting to travel abroad to
learn, as well as allowing organisations to invite their
international partners to come and visit Wales.
Pupils in years 8-11 at Portfield are involved in the project
which will enable staff and pupils to visit ALN schools in
Uppsala, Sweden and Flanders, Belgium. The funding also enables
pupils and staff from the partner schools to visit Wales this
summer, enabling pupils friendships to strengthen and provide
further social and academic experiences.
Many of the Portfield pupils have never been abroad. The Taith
funding has enabled the school to access the specialist equipment
needed for a foreign exchange trip, such as hiring a specialist
bus which makes accessible travel possible for disabled people.
Greater levels of independence and communication skills are just
some of the benefits the pupils have gained from their Taith
experience.
Ellie, one of the nine Portfield pupils who visited Belgium in
May 2023 said:
"For me it was life-changing because you actually got to see what
the children did in the school. My favourite part was the art. We
made cardboard Christmas trees with wool around them. I
learnt you can do different things. I learnt how the children are
different from us as they play different games on the playground.
“I would tell people to go to Bruges to see the Christmas
markets. The thing that was special was how big they were and how
there were loads of different stalls, It was the time of my life,
it truly was.”
added:
“It really is fantastic to see the impact Taith is having,
enabling us to break down barriers to international exchange and
opening up opportunities for all.
“It’s been great to speak to pupils and staff at Portfield school
about how their Taith trip has helped build confidence, broaden
horizons, and grow aspirations.
“I would encourage schools and all educational settings across
Wales to apply for Taith funding. The latest application window
is open now and closes on 20 March.”
Since launching in 2022, Taith – the Welsh Government’s
international learning exchange programme – has awarded funding
to support nearly 12,000 learners and staff to learn, study and
volunteer at over 90 countries
Notes to editors
Image: Pupils and staff from Portfield School on a Taith trip to
Belgium, November 2023. Copyright: Portfield School
Taith was established in February 2022 to provide similar
opportunities to the Erasmus scheme which came to an end after
the UK left the European Union.
The next call for Pathway 1 applications opened 31 January 2024.
Pathway 1 supports the outward and inward mobility of individual
participants or groups of participants. Funding is available for
learners, young people, and staff to undertake international
exchanges, both short and long term which provide opportunities
to share learning, experience different cultures and develop new
skills.
Information and how to apply: https://www.taith.wales/
