New recruit gives insight into training during pandemic
16 September 2020
April Baker had volunteered as a Special for 18 months before joining the Force as a recruit on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship scheme.
That role, she has found, has stood her in good stead as she started her police officer training but, nevertheless, she has found the remote learning element of her course challenging.
April acknowledges that her cohort of 28 new recruits has had a better experience than other intakes in recent months.
Split into two classes of 14, they have just completed four weeks of face to face training at Tally Ho as the only groups in the building due to the coronavirus restrictions.
“We had our induction days on 21 and 22 May and then completed four weeks of online training, 8am until 3pm daily delivered by Staffordshire University,” explains April, who previously worked as a higher level teaching assistant working with vulnerable children and children with special educational needs at a Smethwick primary school.
“We were the first class to be allowed back to Tally Ho for training in person and we have undertaken our personal safety training, working with a partner throughout. After this we worked with uniform trainers who delivered sessions, developing our learning by providing us with definition checks and arrest role play scenarios. The trainers have been supportive and adapted learning around us.
“The whole set-up is really well thought out. There is a one-way system in place, social distancing, gloves and masks have been available and there are hand-washing stations around the building.
“It has been a really strange time to be joining the police service. Tally Ho, which would normally be a hive of activity, has just had our group in it but everyone has made the best of the situation.
“For me, my time as a Special has also given me a great advantage since I have had real life experiences to relate to when being taught something and I have been able to share knowledge with the others in my group.”
