Testimonials
"Rochdale Education and Learning (REAL) Trust have commissioned Dave and Tom from EVAS to deliver a number of courses for school staff across the Borough over the last few years, including Team Building, Outdoor Learning Cards, MIDAS training, Paediatric First Aid, Leader Training and Water Safety sessions. Their courses are always extremely well organised, with serious subjects delivered in an enjoyable, safe and fun way. They make the high quality learning experience as practical as possible, allowing delegates to experience a range of situations and scenarios in a structured way. All sessions are very well resourced and catered for, delivered by highly experienced and knowledgeable trainers.
Dave and Tom are a joy to work with and we would recommend their training sessions to others without hesitation."
- Dr Emma Metcalfe-Dunham, Head of REAL Trust.
Dave and Tom are a joy to work with and we would recommend their training sessions to others without hesitation."
- Dr Emma Metcalfe-Dunham, Head of REAL Trust.
''St Luke's CE has always received excellent service from both Dave & Tom. They are always willing to help with any queries and are both extremely knowledgeable. They are very approachable and are happy to assist with additional training needs"
- Cath Woodall, EVC St. Luke's Primary, Bury.
- Cath Woodall, EVC St. Luke's Primary, Bury.
"Tom organised our Tracker Free Treat Reward for our year 1 – 6 pupils. This term our pupils were presented with the challenge of getting Gary the egg back to his nest. Tom provided the resources and planning to enable this activity to run efficiently and smoothly, thoroughly engaging the pupils who had great fun in attempting this challenge.
Throughout this year we have contacted the Educational Visit Advisory Service for advice and to borrow a range of resources, this has enabled our pupils to have a range of different experiences from den building, making hot drinks outside and a range of outdoor learning & team building activities.
On behalf of the pupils and staff at Moorhouse, “a huge thanks” for the support from the loaning of equipment and resources, to your personal support given on the Tracker Free Treat day."
- Lisa Howard, Pastoral Support Officer, Moorhouse Primary School, Rochdale.
Throughout this year we have contacted the Educational Visit Advisory Service for advice and to borrow a range of resources, this has enabled our pupils to have a range of different experiences from den building, making hot drinks outside and a range of outdoor learning & team building activities.
On behalf of the pupils and staff at Moorhouse, “a huge thanks” for the support from the loaning of equipment and resources, to your personal support given on the Tracker Free Treat day."
- Lisa Howard, Pastoral Support Officer, Moorhouse Primary School, Rochdale.
"We attended a climbing session with a group of young people aged 5-11 with visual impairments. What an amazing time the group had!
Dave and Tom were great at making sure they were all busy and included in the activity at all times. They made the session really fun and made the children feel safe and able to climb as high as they could. The group particularly enjoyed working as a group and joining in with the bouldering games. None of them wanted to leave and they were all keen to tell everyone back at school what they had been doing.
Each of them left feeling very proud of what they had achieved and eager to take part in an activity like this again.
Thanks again."
- Lindsey Lintern, Teacher For V.I, Early Help & Schools, Rochdale.
Dave and Tom were great at making sure they were all busy and included in the activity at all times. They made the session really fun and made the children feel safe and able to climb as high as they could. The group particularly enjoyed working as a group and joining in with the bouldering games. None of them wanted to leave and they were all keen to tell everyone back at school what they had been doing.
Each of them left feeling very proud of what they had achieved and eager to take part in an activity like this again.
Thanks again."
- Lindsey Lintern, Teacher For V.I, Early Help & Schools, Rochdale.
"The Virtual School for Cared for Children (Looked After Children) has worked in collaboration with our EVAS team over a number of years to put on Foster Carer training sessions exploring opportunities for educating and enthusing children to enjoy outdoor and environmental education. The after school sessions we have jointly organised and run, are for Carers and their children and give them a taster for outdoor education ideas, modelling activities and suggest further information sources for continued outdoor education. The experienced and flexible EVAS team have helped us to cover orienteering, climbing, fire making, den building and outdoor cooking. Carers have had the opportunity to learn new skills and explore how to utilise them with their young people. Each session we have run has been very popular and has become an annual highlight of our Foster Carer training programme. What Carers have said about the sessions:
‘I just wanted to let you know what a fab time we all had on Wednesday. Our child loved it and wants to go back there.’
‘Our child and our new placement thoroughly enjoyed the evening and all of the activities on offer. This was a great opportunity for bonding.’
‘It was lovely for me to watch my foster child get over her fear and have a go at the rock climbing and get really high up. The making of the bread and BBQ the banana was good fun. It was just lovely watching all the kids have lots of fun.’
‘We enjoyed the outdoor event. I felt the group was able to bond as a group to achieve the tasks and to help others to complete the task. It was a great experience for the children to try something different and push their own boundaries’.
‘Myself and the children absolutely loved it and wished it had been a little longer. We enjoyed running around all over the place, it was a great learning experience for the children and great exercise."
- Chris Tyler, Virtual Headteacher, Looked After Children, Rochdale.
‘I just wanted to let you know what a fab time we all had on Wednesday. Our child loved it and wants to go back there.’
‘Our child and our new placement thoroughly enjoyed the evening and all of the activities on offer. This was a great opportunity for bonding.’
‘It was lovely for me to watch my foster child get over her fear and have a go at the rock climbing and get really high up. The making of the bread and BBQ the banana was good fun. It was just lovely watching all the kids have lots of fun.’
‘We enjoyed the outdoor event. I felt the group was able to bond as a group to achieve the tasks and to help others to complete the task. It was a great experience for the children to try something different and push their own boundaries’.
‘Myself and the children absolutely loved it and wished it had been a little longer. We enjoyed running around all over the place, it was a great learning experience for the children and great exercise."
- Chris Tyler, Virtual Headteacher, Looked After Children, Rochdale.
"After stepping in to the role of Educational Visits Co-ordinator at a large and busy primary school, the need to know my way around the world of Evolve, risk assessments and policy writing for school visits has never been greater. I also help to lead the team of staff responsible for outdoor education who require the necessary qualifications for the teaching of Forest School, kayaking and cycling and this has been a voyage into the unknown for me. The role of EVC has been made much easier to undertake with the expert support and advice received from both Dave and Tom at Rochdale Local Authority. Always just an email or a phone call away, they have both been of enormous help, not only to myself but to other members of our school team, whether it be a query about a minibus licence, a request to borrow their campfire kettles or even how to fix the bouldering wall together! It is so reassuring to know that we have their service to call upon."
- Ailsa Metcalfe, Deputy Head and EVC, Spotland Primary, Rochdale.
- Ailsa Metcalfe, Deputy Head and EVC, Spotland Primary, Rochdale.
"THS have used the Evolve system for many years. It is a very easy,simple system to use and is very user friendly.
Both Dave and Tom give an excellent service and have a huge wealth of knowledge. They are both very willing to assist with any query and any training needs that you require."
- Mrs K. Cheetham, Businees Manager, Tottington High School, Bury.
Both Dave and Tom give an excellent service and have a huge wealth of knowledge. They are both very willing to assist with any query and any training needs that you require."
- Mrs K. Cheetham, Businees Manager, Tottington High School, Bury.
"At All Saints' CEP School we have really appreciated the support from Dave and Tom in respect of the training they have provided and the advice given on specific issues. My EVC has found the training to be both interesting and informative and as a result feels more confident in her role and has been able to disseminate information to the rest of the school staff. We have been using the EVOLVE system for quite some time and not only is it easy to use but it provides excellent resources for the staff and school as a whole."
- Mrs G. Branch, Headteacher, All Saint's Primary, Bury.
- Mrs G. Branch, Headteacher, All Saint's Primary, Bury.