Programmes
The programmes offered are:
The programmes content will include:
- Qualifications
- Preparing for Adulthood
- Work Experience
- Enrichment Activities
- Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)
Pathway to Independence
Open to 16-19 (24) year olds on a full or part time basis.
It is an individualised programme of study that is likely to include:
- preparing for Adulthood
- English, maths and ICT
- work experience
- vocational qualifications
- employability skills
- other relevant qualifications
Entry Criteria
Learners who wish to enrol with us on a Pathway to Independence programme should want to gain the skills to become more independent.
Learners need to:
- be aged 16-19 (24)
- be fully committed to progressing
- want to gain new skills and qualifications
- wish to become more independent
Progression
Learners who complete this programme may progress onto:
- the Pathway to Employment programme,
- a further education programme
- apprenticeship
- voluntary or paid employment
Pathway to Employment
Open to 16-19 (24) year olds on a full or part time basis. It is an individualised programme of study that is likely to include:
- work Experience
- vocational qualifications
- English, maths and ICT
- employability skills
- preparing for Adulthood
- other relevant qualifications
Entry Criteria
Learners who wish to enrol with us on a Pathway to Employment Programme need to have the confidence and skills to be able to access an external work experience placement and wish to improve their skills.
The intention will then be to secure paid employment or an apprenticeship within 2 years.
Learners need to:
- be aged 16-19 (24)
- be confident in familiar situations
- be able to communicate effectively
- wish to travel independently
- have some idea of potential career paths
- wish to improve their skills
Progression
Learners who complete this programme are likely to progress onto a:
- further education programme
- apprenticeship
- voluntary or paid employment
Supported Internship
Open to 16-24 year olds, who have an Education Health and Care Plan, are looking to find paid employment but need additional support to secure this.
Supported Internships are a structured study programme, based primarily with an employer; that last between six and twelve months and includes:
- a supported work placement
- English, maths and ICT
- employability skills
- personal and social development
- other relevant qualifications
Entry Criteria
Learners who start with us on a Supported Internship need to have skills to be able to progress into paid work and out of education within 12 months.
Learners need to:
- have an Education, Health and Care Plan
- be aged 16-19 (24)
- be able to travel independently
- evidence of a completed extensive, successful, work experience
- be fully committed to finding paid work
- feel ready to leave education
- have a clear understanding of the field in which they would like to work
Progression
Learners who complete this programme are likely to progress onto an:
- apprenticeship
- paid employment
Traineeship
Open to young people aged between 16-24 who are nearly ready for paid employment but need to gain some experience in order to progress.
A Traineeship lasts for a minimum of 6 weeks to a maximum of 6 months.
A Traineeship is an individualised programme that includes:
- a work placement
- English, maths and ICT
- employability skills
- personal and social development
- other relevant qualifications
Learners who complete this programme are likely to progress onto an apprenticeship or paid employment.
Entry Criteria
Learners who start with us on a Traineeship need to have skills to be able to progress into paid work and out of education within 6 months.
Learners need to:
- be aged 16 - 24
- be able to travel independently
- be fully committed to finding paid work
- feel ready to leave education
- have a clear understanding of the field in which they would like to work
Qualifications
On all programmes learners will have the opportunity to work towards and undertake qualifications.
English and maths
All programmes offer the opportunity to improve English and maths skills and gain qualifications.
Qualifications are offered from Functional Skills Entry level 1 up to GCSE in both areas.
Employability
All programmes offer the opportunity to improve employability skills and gain qualifications, such as,
- Award/Certificate/Diploma in Employability Skills Entry Level 2 – Level 2
- Safer Food Handling
- Health & Safety at Work
- First Aid at Work
- Customer Service
- Manual Handling
- CSCS
- Site Safety
Learners will also complete an Employability Passport that will give them the opportunity to demonstrate and record their skills and progress in all areas of employability.
Preparing for Adulthood
On all programmes learners will have the opportunity to gain skills and knowledge in four Preparing for Adulthood pathways, including:
- Employment
- Independent Living
- Community Inclusion
- Health
The curriculum will be dependent on the needs of the learners and will support them to make a positive transition into adulthood.
Work Experience
Work experience is an important part of all of the programmes.
The amount and type of work experience learners will do will be dependent on programme they enrol on and their ‘work experience readiness.
Learners will be supported to prepare for work experience and to find a placement that interests them and is linked to their aspirations.
Whilst on work experience job coaching will be available to learners who need it and regular reviews of their progress will be completed with the employer and the learner.
Enrichment Activities
A variety of enrichment activities will be organised throughout the learners programme depending on their needs and interests.
The activities will give learners the opportunity to try different things, have fun, get active, support the local community and boost their CV.
We also organise and encourage learners to take part in workshops delivered by other organisations, such as Road Safety Partnership and CAHMS throughout the year.
Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)
We aim to raise the aspirations of all our learners, increase their employability and social skills and achieve qualifications to enable them to progress into employment and adulthood successfully.
CEIAG is central and embedded throughout all our programmes. All of our programmes are designed to support learners to make progress towards gaining employment in their chosen area.
Our CEIAG delivery is based around the eight Gatsby benchmarks of good practice:
- a stable careers programme
- learning from career and labour market information
- addressing the needs of each learner
- linking curriculum learning to careers
- encounters with employers and employees
- experience of workplaces
- encounters with further and higher education
- personal Guidance
The CEIAG will support learners to:
- understand themselves, their interests, likes and dislikes, what they are good at and how this affects their choices
- understand the different routes for young people including training, further and higher education, apprenticeships and employment
- gain experience of different employers through visits, taster days and work experience
- make realistic, but ambitious, choices about their next steps
- develop the skills they may need for working life and independence
- develop a plan of action for the future
This will begin before the learner enrols on the programme with a CEIAG interview to determine which is the correct programme.
Throughout the learners chosen programme CEIAG will be embedded through taught sessions, 1:1s, work experience and other organised activities, such as:
- visits to employers
- careers events
- guest speakers
Also learners will have their progress reviewed every 12 weeks and this will give the opportunity to decide if any additional interventions need to be put in place and reflect on targets and goals.
If the learner is out on work experience the employer will be asked to contribute to the review.
During these reviews staff will offer further information, advice and guidance to support the young person to achieve.
Work Experience
The employment team at each of our sites will work with learners to find and source suitable work experience placements that will support them achieving their aspirations.
They will support the learner with all aspects of work experience and will continually assess and review their progress alongside the employer.
Post programme
We work with learners and, if appropriate parents, carers and employers to plan and facilitate a positive transition from us onto their next steps.
This will be done in their progress reviews in their final year, in 1:1s, in sessions and during their final reviews.
We offer support with:
- job and college applications
- interviews
- transport
- benefits
- open days