James Reid School
Introduction
Teachers are meeting the challenge of finding worthwhile work experience for pupils with additional support needs by creating their own placements.
Aims
Now, pupils at James Reid School, North Ayrshire, are benefiting from one week's work experience each year by running a thrift shop and cafe.
Teacher Stan Babington says: 'We create our own work experience through a variety of interlinked enterprise activities and an enterprise company. And threaded through the process, pupils achieve SQA Access 2 Units.'
Method
The thrift shop sells clothes, books, shoes, toys and bric-a-brac, covering retail outcomes. The fully functioning cafe provides tea, coffee, juice, scones, etc, covering service outcomes.
Organising and managing the task is split into five enterprise activities.
The products
A traditional enterprise company was set up to produce goods (scented candles, wooden wheelbarrow planters and wooden planters). They are sold at a stall during the Thrift Shop and Cafe week
Advertising
Posters and flyers were designed and distributed to inform the local community. Letters were also written and sent to parents and schools in the area. During the week, all visitors were greeted at the door and given a visitor sticker designed and printed by the pupils.
The cafe
The pupils organised and managed the cafe, making nearly 400 chocolate crispies and shopping for the other supplies that the cafe needed.
The thrift shop
The pupils organised and managed the thrift shop and sent letters to parents asking for clothes, shoes, books, toys and bric-a-brac. They sorted the goods that came in and put up signs advertising the shop.
Staffing
Pupils also organised and managed the 'staff' (pupils). Uniforms worn during the week were sized, sorted and ironed. Separate uniforms were provided for pupils working in the cafe, kitchen and shop. Staff training was organised to explain the jobs to be completed each day. During the week, pupils worked in five main areas: the shop, the cafe, the kitchen, the enterprise stall and welcoming the customers at the school door.
Outcomes
In 2006, over 200 local people and pupils from five local schools joined James Reid's own pupils in visiting the shop and cafe.
The pupils achieved the following SQA Access 2 Units: 'Using Work-related Skills'; 'Sampling Work'; 'Contributing to an Enterprise Activity'; 'Craftwork Enterprise' and 'Working in a Business Enterprise'.
Stan Babington says: "The pupils worked hard during the week and this year raised more than £1000.”