How to Establish and Maintain a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment Essay

‘’A suitable learning environment is crucial for effective learning to take place. This involves not only the venue and resources used, but also your attitude and the support you give to your students’’ ( Gravells A 2012, pg 24). In providing an ideal learning environment, you might have to be creative and work with the settings you are provided with. You must consider your student’s health and safety needs, and work within the boundaries of your organisation policies. Should there be any concerns about health and safety you must inform your organisation’s designated personnel. At no time should your learner’s health and safety be compromised. To establish purposeful learning in your given environment you must arrange the physical space to be conducive to discussion, and you as the facilitator should be easily seen by your learners. The toilet facilities should be clearly accessible, and any disable needs are met. When food and drink are provided, it should be suitable for everyone. For example the vegetarians, kosher and halal preferences, should be catered too as far as possible. If you have a break time it is good practice to let your learners know when this will take place. Knowing this can help your learners focus on their learning. Delivering your sessions with passion can help to motivate your learners. It is your responsibility to be prepared; making sure your environment is clean, and at the right temperature. If it is too hot, be considerate and open doors or windows- do try to solve or manage the problem. Also the quality of your lesson, tells your learners, you are professional and serious about your job. In such an environment your learners can feel ‘’safe secure, confident, and valued’’ (Gravells A 2012 pg25). This safety first approach is reflective of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, which states if one’s basic needs are met, and one feels comfortable, then one can feel a sense of belonging, which positively affects self esteem, this in turn can have a positive effect on learning Maslow 1987. (Gravells A 2012 pg 42).