Preparing students in SEND schools for future careers

Working in a SEND school 

I have worked at Bradfields Academy, a SEND (special education needs and disabilities) school for 15 years. During this time, the academy has doubled in size and now offers provision all the way from year R to year 14. Bradfields Academy is a specialist SEND provision that supports students whose physical and/or learning needs may not easily be accommodated in mainstream settings. Students may have a mixture of different learning needs, including speech and language difficulties, sensory, physical, and autistic spectrum conditions. The academy aims to be a centre of excellence in the SEN sector. We want students to fully develop their cognitive, social, and emotional skills to thrive in their community and in their next steps of education or employment. 

Preparing students for future employment 

My role is teaching practical subjects such as design technology and food technology. I take a very hands-on approach to the students’ learning, with an eye on skills that they can use throughout their life. Only around 6% of the students leaving SEND specialist schools gain meaningful employment. We have therefore decided to explore supported internships to enable more students with EHCP’s gain the confidence in the workplace and help prepare them for future employment. This means placing a greater emphasis on skills and characteristics for employability in the curriculum and pursuing new ways of making these skills accessible to our learners. 

My experience of working with SEND students has taught me the importance of my role in creating opportunities for everyone's success. Not everyone can learn in the same way, with the same tools, or at the same speed. But if they're allowed to develop each new skill at a different pace and with the right resources, they will have better opportunities to succeed. This is why I have made it my professional mission to find adaptations and alternatives for the practical learning environment. This allows all learners to access the curriculum and enjoy the creativity and satisfaction of learning and making in the workshops. From custom jigs and custom-made saws, to EyeGaze linked to Tinkercad and a 3D printer. I'll turn my hand to any number of contraptions and integrations to find ways to enable my students to learn and participate. 

Benefits of the EUK Education teacher network 

I’ve been a member of the EUK Education teacher network for 2 years. The main benefit of being part of the network meetings is to hear what is happening around the UK, in a wide range of schools. I’m also able to collect and share ideas with other professionals who are also committed to making their curriculum as relevant and accessible as possible. It's always helpful to hear how others are accommodating the changes in GCSEs. Or just get a sense of curriculum developments and use of new resources in mainstream schools. A really useful discussion from a recent meeting was around virtual work experience. This resonated with the priorities for our academy trust and is something that the students can struggle with. These ideas were then shared with the relevant staff in the academy and are being explored as a future direction for some of our work experience support structures. Being part of the EUK Education network provides me with other perspectives, enhancing my subject and professional knowledge. This ultimately adds value to my own department and the wider school.

Join the EUK Education teacher network