Careers
The Careers Co-Ordinator at Meadows School is Miss Evelyn Daniels -
evelyn.daniels@barnardos.org.uk
The Careers Education, Information, Advice & Guidance (CEIAG) Policy can be found here;
Careers Education/Work related learning & Work Experience
The preliminary careers work commences from Year 5 where they are introduced to our 'Careers Passport'; a gathering of information to support them in potential decision making and career pathways. This continues through to Year 11 as part of the Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE) programme.
In KS2 all learners have the opportunity to take part in community outreach.In KS3, 4 and 5, all learners are encouraged to take part in work experience which is completed at the end of year 13.
Careers Advice and Guidance
Advice and guidance is given to all learners in year 10 onwards and all Looked After Children (LAC) from year 7 onwards. Our advisors Rachel Jury and Elizabeth Taylor are from an independent Careers provider CXK.
Useful Websites
General
Post 16 choices
FE colleges
http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/special-educational-needs/college-and-sixth-form#tab-1 - tips for choosing a college/course
Specialist colleges/Special Schools with units/post 19 provisions
https://www.nasschools.org.uk/ - membership organisation for non maintained/independent/voluntary special schools
www.natspec.org.uk – membership organisation for SEN further education colleges
- Local residential colleges - Mountcamphill, Wadhurst, Orpheus, Godstone (performing arts), St John’s School and College, Brighton and St Piers College, Lingfield
- Post 19 provision at several Special Schools being developed or open - Five Acre Wood, Snodland/Maidstone (Grow 19 – Kirstie Hemingway), Oakley College – Tonbridge - https://www.oakley.ac.uk/, Ifield (Gravesend), Goldwyn School, Ashford (Goldwyn Plus), and Beacon School, Folkestone, (Beacon Plus – Mel Winter), Grange Park (Wrotham)
- Please speak directly to schools for information
Supported employment/supported internships/pre-apprenticeship and traineeships for SEN and vulnerable young people/ sources of support for undertaking training and employment
/Supported_Internship_Guidance_updated_with_EFA_funding_advice_May_2017_2.pdf –
- DfE guide to supported internships for young people with SEND/EHCP plans
https://www.buttleuk.org/need-support/young-people - can provide financial support for education and training for young people without family support/children in crisis
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/ - help to calculate benefit entitlements
https://www.base-uk.org/access-work - travel and other work assistance
https://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/about-us/our-work.htm -Provide support to LAs in their ‘preparing for adulthood’ programmes for young people with SEND. Includes support into employment
https://www.base-uk.org/about-supported-employment - national trade association for supported employment – explanation, members, sources of support
https://www.theeducationpeople.org/our-expertise/specialist-employment - leading provider of supported employment in Kent (Alicia Moyles, Head of Services – based at KCC). NB EHCP not needed for supported internships
https://natspec.org.uk/employers/supported-internships/ - their colleges work with 21 employers
https://www.kelsi.org.uk/skills-and-employability/vulnerable-young-people/traineeships - explains traineeships, links to Kent based (see readytowork below) and national providers
https://www.readytoworkkent.co.uk/. For an example - https://www.readytoworkkent.co.uk/details/supported-internship-338/
https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/college-sixth-form-employment-and-training/options-at-16-and-beyond/pre-apprenticeships – ways to prepare for an apprenticeship (including traineeships and supported internships)
https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/parents-hub/supported-internships – leaders in developing supported internships
Finding apprenticeships/traineeships – Kent based and UK based
https://www.cxk.org/resources/apprenticeship-resources-for-teachers
https://www.cxk.org/resources/ - general advice on applications, finding work experience/part time jobs/ employment and apprenticeships in Kent and more generally
https://www.kent.gov.uk/jobs/starting-your-career/be-an-apprentice - KCC guide to apprenticeships
https://amazingapprenticeships.com/ - general information and resources for teachers, students and employers
https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch
https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/traineeshipsearch
https://www.kentjobs.co.uk/staticpages/10282/apprenticeships/
https://www.kentjobs.co.uk/landingpage/29718819/traineeships/
Training centres/supported living/transition/ local day opportunities (social enterprise)/charities providing support and training
https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/care-and-support/disability/local-activities-and-support/day-activities-for-people-with-a-learning-disability - full lists of day activities in different areas of Kent
https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/kent-medway-essex (formerly much) - lists some Adult Day Services in Kent and Medway
https://www.readytoworkkent.co.uk/ - KCC Skills and Employability Service /study programmes
https://www.catch-22.org.uk/services/maidstone-skills-centre/ - provides vocational training course/ study programmes for schools and PRUs – construction, catering, hair and beauty, and land based
https://www.themytrust.org/faqs/kent-pro - a 14 week programme for unemployed 16-18 year olds
https://runwaytraining.co.uk/ - provide function skills and employability training and deliver traineeships and apprenticeships
https://ksports.co.uk/education-training/ - based in Aylesford – deliver sports based study programmes, apprenticeships, traineeships and alternative curriculum for disengaged learners
https://www.cxk.org/our-services/services-young-people/ - includes Princes Trust, NEET Support, Elevate and Launch Pad – helping NEET, SEND and other young people into employment
http://skillnetgroup.co.uk/about/ - represents the rights of people with learning difficulties and disabilities
https://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/Services/Social-Enterprises - delivers mental health and wellbeing services in Kent and Sussex
https://aspens.org.uk/services/day-services/ - a merger of Pepenbury and Autism Sussex – helps people with autism and SEND into independent living
http://www.supajam.com/ and https://www.semmuk.com/ - offer music courses for young people with SEND
https://www.touchbasecare.org/ - community and creative events and activities in Folkestone
https://www.hadlow.ac.uk/life-at-college/our-campuses/princess-christian's-farm - courses and day activities on the college farm at Hildenborough
https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/find-support/find-support-near-you - Enterprises such as Tuck by Truck and Growing Concern in Kent and Medway - help people develop work skills
http://www.communigrow.org.uk/home/4591470929 - community vegetable growing project near Aylesford which takes volunteers, including SEND schools
https://www.kent-music.com/music-education-hub/ - based in Ashford – offer music courses for young people without formal qualifications, plus maths and English – support local bands and musicians
http://spadework.net/ - based in Offham, provide meaningful support and work to people with SEND
https://www.rbli.co.uk/ - help veterans, injured service personnel and unemployed people back into work – CV, interview, self development, maths, English, ICT, business admin, CSCS, warehouse and storage, H&SC, retail & customer service
https://www.whiterocksfarm.co.uk/ - near Sevenoaks, provides BTECs in Land Based subjects for young people with additional needs
https://local.kent.gov.uk/kb5/kent/directory/service.page?id=i3DVR76KN14&localofferchannel=1 – for young people and adults with SEND – based at Mount Lodge Farm, Biddenden
https://www.woodpeckercourt.co.uk/ - outdoor activities and courses, employability support, skills development, English, maths, - Eythorne, Deal
https://www.fifthtrust.co.uk/ - daycare activities including arts and crafts - Elham Valley, Canterbury
https://www.c-o-t.org.uk/about-us (Canterbury Oast Trust) - see also - https://www.rarebreeds.org.uk/our-charity - Canterbury Oast Trust run this farm to support young people with SEND – based in Woodchurch
http://thejohngrahamcentre.co.uk/ - indoor and outdoor day activities on a farm at Blean for adults with learning disabilities
http://mxcp.co.uk/ - Motocross Alternative Project (Dover) – employability courses, motocross and mechanics training
Other organisations/recruitment agencies helping people with SEND into employment
http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/get-our-help – offer help for disabled people to obtain work placements
https://www.pluss.org.uk/about-pluss
https://www.autismworks.co.uk/
https://www.vercida.com/uk/articles/jobs-and-careers-for-autistic-people
Resources for guidance/ background info
http://www.talentinocareers.co.uk/send-gatsby-benchmark-toolkit.pdf
https://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/what-we-do – national charity offering person centred support. Blog for careers advisers for national careers week on how to support SEND students:
- https://nationalcareersweek.com/syp/
- https://nationalcareersweek.com/syp2/
- https://nationalcareersweek.com/supporting-young-people-disabilities-employment-part-3/
https://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/SiteAssets/Downloads/wpykaifl636379632195713341.pdfA - workbook that can be used to help with supported employment (contains resources that might be good for guidance with SEND students)
https://www.ndti.org.uk/uploads/files/How_to_Support_Young_People_With_Special_Educational_Needs_
into_Work_FINAL.pdf - really helpful summary of approaches to support and routes for SEND students