supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education...

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


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.


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


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


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)


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


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

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


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

supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in their transition from education...

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