Careers and Preparing for Adulthood
In order to prepare our learners for life after High Point Academy, we will provide opportunities throughout their time with us, to develop their skills knowledge and independence.
This will include the opportunity to attend college placements, work experience, travel training and access to independent careers advice.
Before your child attends any external work experience, a meeting will be set up with a Careers Leader and details will be discussed. You will be given a guide on how to support your child and what to expect.
Our independent careers advice is provided by Connexions.
Connexions
Connexions is an impartial information, advice and guidance service. We support young people, along with their parents/carers, with making choices in life and making the transition to adulthood. We can work with young people with special education needs and disabilities until the age of 25 and can make referrals to other services after that age. We are client focussed and support our young people with choosing education and training options, developing independence and accessing support to barriers to achievement, exploring jobs and working life, volunteering and work experience, accessing community projects and leisure activities.
| Phone: 0121 569 2955 |
| Freephone: 0800 358 4800 |
| Mobile: 07748930976 |
| E-mail: sandwell_connexions@sandwell.gov.uk |
School Connexions advisor – Lynn Edge
Labour market Information
Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) is vital in ensuring students receive careers advice and guidance that reflects an understanding of what business and jobs are available in the local area. LMI should give an understanding of the demographics of the local area as well as key sectors, job trends, key strategic businesses and what opportunities exist within the locality.
Follow the link below to access up-to-date Local Market Information for the Sandwell area and beyond:
Local Market Information – Careers and Enterprise
Sandwell Local Offer
The Sandwell Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) local offer provides information in a single place for children and young people with and their parents or carers.
The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) in partnership with the Department for Education has produced a series of fact sheets, films and posters designed to help children and young people understand some of the key themes of the new SEND reforms, including a Parent’s Guide to the Local Offer. Here you will find information from the Department for Education.
The Children and Families Act 2014 requires each Local Authority to produce and publish a Local Offer which sets out in one place information about provision available across education, health and social care for children and young people in the area who have special educational needs or are disabled.
You can find information on what services children, young people and their families can expect from a range of local agencies including:
- Special educational provision
- Health provision
- Social care provision
- Other educational provision
- Training provision
- Travel arrangements for children and young people to schools, colleges and early years education and Preparing for adulthood, including housing, employment and leisure opportunities.
Links to local colleges- Specialist Provision Links
Walsall College offer a range of programmes designed to support pupils with a variety of needs. There are supported learning programmes to enable pupils to take that stepping stone to college.
Supported Learning Courses | Walsall College
Sandwell College have a range of programmes designed to cater for a wide range of students, with a high level of support that ensures each individual is given a learning experience appropriate to their needs. Our students have an excellent record of progressing, and almost all go on to mainstream College courses or an advanced level of study.
https://www.sandwell.ac.uk/school-leaver-courses/foundation-learning/
The supported learning courses can be stepping stones to either higher levels of study or greater independence. We also offer individualised personal support plans that are tailor-made to suit students’ specific needs.
These courses are ideal for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities or for those who may need additional support for a variety of reasons and don’t have a Level 2 qualification (GCSE A* to C).
For some students, it may be that they just need some extra support to be successful on one of our vocational courses that they’ve chosen to study. We’re here to provide you with the learning support you need.
At City of Wolverhampton College their Futures Programme is aimed at young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and/or an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
https://www.wolvcoll.ac.uk/learning-support-needs/
Aspire Works is all geared up for students to get those all-important employability skills. There’s a commercial print room, engineering workshop and retail showroom all managed by their learners and their supportive tutors.
https://www.dudleycol.ac.uk/Our-Locations/Dudley-Aspire
The Willow Tree provides a safe and stimulating working environment for learners and all staff ensure students experience a rich and exciting curriculum tailored to their specific needs.
Staff ensure a multi-sensory approach to learning, providing a Total Communication Environment which facilitates communication for all and following strategies as outlined in individual student behaviour support or ASD plans. Students are encouraged to be as independent as possible in their learning by establishing routines and schedules. They are empowered in their learning through the negotiation of individual success criteria, adapted to their level of understanding.
Willow Tree Centre – Telford College
Natspec is the membership association for organisations which offer specialist further education and training for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.