supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education...
TRANSCRIPT
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Bridging the Gap
Transitional support to employmentfor learners with learning difficulties and disabilities
Presentation by Ela Nisbet
Outreach Transition Worker at Oaklands College, Hertfordshire
Filming and technical support Sharon Stone
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Supported Employment
National context:It is estimated that only between 5%-10% of people with
learning disabilities in the UK are in paid employment.
Local context:“The downturn in the UK economy is having an immediate and
significant impact on young people and their ability to get a job” – Employment in Hertfordshire, Youth Connexions, 2009.
Supported employment:It is a means of preparing disabled for work, finding them jobs
and sustaining their long-term employment. People who want to work are provided with support in order to do so.
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Transition to Employment programme
The best way to learn about work is by doing a real job …• Unique, individual and personalised programme linking education
with employment• Innovative and holistic approach – embedding SE into FE • Positive and realistic – looking at what person CAN DO and
supporting them to achieve • Inclusive – same approach, mainstream and discrete provisions• Flexible - fits around the learner and their college course• Personal and vocational development with a specific focus on
employment – gradual development of social skills and vocational competence in real work settings
• Partnership working: employers, parents, Connexions, supported employment agencies and other service providers
• Valued contribution to society - paid and voluntary work options• Continuum of support
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Key element: structured, supported work placements Opportunities for young people to …
• experience the real world of work • apply skills learnt at the college to a real job• learn new skills and grow confident in the workplace • develop positive relationships with work colleagues and
be accepted by them• find enjoyable and sustainable employment Enabling them to …• live more independent and fulfilling lives • make a real contribution to the local community and
become a valued part of itOpportunities for local employers to get to know and …• recruit hard-working, skilled and committed workers
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Case studies Jonathon Lennon: in education and training; independent
traveller (self-taught); ambition to go to university to study Film Making
Mainstream secondary school – 3 GCSE’s
Discrete and mainstream provisions at Oaklands – hard work and steady progress:
• BTEC First Diploma IT• Ready to Work• BTEC National Award IT• BTEC First Diploma in Art and Design• BTEC National Diploma in Interactive Media
Supported work placements: Over 60’s Club, HertfordshirePASS and Marks and Spencer (ongoing)
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Case studies Mark Boxer: combining education with part-time paid
employment; independent traveller; car driver; living independently.
• Left special school at 16• Mainstream at Oaklands: Entry Level Business
Administration and Retail• Introduction to voluntary work• Travel training• Supported work placement at Waitrose resulting in part-
time paid employment• Driving test: passed at first attempt!• Progression to National Diploma in Business• BBC LSC Big Skill (Skills for Work) winner in 2009• Truly independent: living on his own, trip to New York in
2010
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Case studies Jonathon Elkhuja: completing college education in 2010 and
progressing into part-time paid employment and further training with his employer; independent living.
• Mainstream secondary education• An FE college in Herts: discrete provision• Discrete provision at Oaklands: Ready to Work course • Supported work placement at Oaklands • Learning for Living and Work award winner 2009• Mainstream at Oaklands: Introduction Diploma in Health
and Social Care• Supported work placement at Quantum Care Greenacres
Residential Home resulting in part-time paid employment; leaving college in 2010 to achieve full-time employment and further training with Greenacres
• Fully independent living and working
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Case studies
Lee Saunders: left college in 2008; in part-time paid employment since May 2007
• Special school, another college in Hertfordshire, then• Ready to Work course at Oaklands• Supported work placement at Somerfields and job
coaching to become an in-store Bakery Worker• Achievement: part-time paid employment at Somerfields• Inspired to study Entry Level Business Administration and
Retail - combining education with part-time employment• Left college in 2008• In unsupported employment since 2009
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
Supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employmentEla Nisbet
A BIG THANK YOU
• Jonathon Lennon, Hilda Lennon and Marks and Spencer, London Colney
• Mark Boxer, Sarah Boxer and Mark’s employer Waitrose, WGC
• Jonathon Elkhuja and his employer Quantum Care Greenacres Residential Home, Hatfield
• Lee Saunders and his employer Somerfields (now Co-op), WGCSupporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education to employment
Ela Nisbet