Careers and Preparation for Adulthood Overview

From the moment that pupils enter Hebden Green School we support pupils to ‘Prepare For Learning’ and to ‘Prepare For Life’.  Within Preparing for Learning, we support the pupils to develop skills that they need to access their appropriate curriculum, this includes developing individual communication and individual access strategies (Looking at Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) and Assistive Technology (AT).  This is achieved with support of the TLR with responsibility for the Foundation Stage.  The Preparation for Learning skills are continually reviewed and developed as pupils progress throughout the school.  These are then recorded within the individual pupil profile, to allow anyone working with them to know what individualised approach each pupil needs to be successful with their learning.

Preparation for Life also runs through everything that we do with the pupils across the school, from the time they start, until the time they leave our setting.  We are always looking at the next skills that pupils need to gain, and we are always looking to the future – especially the skills that we want pupils to have developed by the time that they leave us, to allow them the greatest chance to be adults who are valued and add value within their community.  What we want for our pupils can be seen in our Whole School Curriculum information, but we want pupils to develop 4 core areas

As a school we have a responsibility to set pupils on a path that will secure the best possible outcome which will enable them to progress, without us having any bias for the route that should be taken.

These Preparation for Learning and Preparation for Life, and the 4 core areas that we want pupil to develop skills in, come together Preparation for Adulthood Banner.  We use the 4 PfA areas from Cheshire West to pull this together and to flow through our curriculum offer: Preparing for Adulthood | Live Well Cheshire West (cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

• Employment
• Independent Living
• Friends and Community
• Healthy Living

CAREERS CURRICULUM

As a school, we understand that careers information, education, advice and guidance is a key part of pupils Personal Development.  There is a particular focus with the Hebden Green curriculum strand Myself but it flows through everything that we do for pupils

Following the governments reforms to technical education and skills and the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market, there is an increased need for schools to work in partnership with employers, careers advisers, LA and other education providers.  We do this through working with The Pledge. The Pledge - Cheshire and Warrington

GATSBY BENCHMARKS

As a school, we use the internationally recognised Gatsby Benchmarks to develop the careers programme in the school good-career-guidance-handbook-digital.pdf (gatsby.org.uk)

• A stable careers programme
• Learning from career and labour market information Cheshire & Warrington Opportunities (candwopportunities.co.uk)
• Addressing the needs of each pupil
• Linking curriculum learning to careers
• Encounters with employers and employees
• Experience of workplaces
• Encounters with further and higher education
• Personal guidance

COMPASS+

As a school, we use the online evaluation tool Compass+.  This allows us to self-assess our careers programme and track improvements. It helps us benchmark, manage, track and report on our schools’ careers provision. https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/resources/compass

SUPPORT IN SCHOOL FROM PROVIDERS

As a school, we are open to any providers coming into school, or offering other ways of working with pupils in the school, to support our careers curriculum and our experiences of work that we offer.  Due to the wide-ranging needs of the pupils across the school, any work with pupils will need to be bespoke for each class and each pupil.  Information can be found at the following sections of the website:

• Our Curriculum / Curriculum Overview
• Our Curriculum / Pathway Overview
• Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) / Work with Providers

EXTERNAL CAREERS ADVICE

Pupils from Year 10 have access to a Young Persons Advice Worker - they work with the pupils in an independent capacity to help pupils and families understand the options and future provisions that are open to them as they leave Hebden Green.  They will help the pupils and families find courses that match their interst levels, with their learning needs and their location within their authority. Information can be found at the following sections of the website: 

• Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) / Careers and Preparation for Adulthood Overview
• Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) / Contacts for Support

SUPPORT IN SCHOOL FOR EXPERIENCES OF WORKPLACES

Our HLTA for Experience of Workplaces, works with individual pupils to provide outstanding support in identifying appropriate opportunities for pupils to experience the world of work in a way that matches their needs and interests.  Pupils have access to a range of experiences of worksplaces form year 7 onwards to prepare them for further education and employment.  Information can be found at the following sections of the website: 

• Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) / Careers and Preparation for Adulthood Overview / Attached Careers and Preparation for Adulthood file
• Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) / Work with Providers

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