Work experience for young people with additional support needs
Introduction
Craighead School in South Lanarkshire is a primary and secondary school for young people with moderate learning difficulties. The school role is currently 160, with approximately 43 teaching and 25 auxiliary staff. Within the school, work experience has always been a priority, and a program of placements for S4, S5 and S6 students has been running for a number of years.
The initiative
S4 students, working at Access level 3, undertake a five-day work experience placement. Through the school's work experience program, S5 and S6 students work with coordinators from vocational training programs in addition to having further placement opportunities, including extended placements where appropriate.
For some of the young people a work experience placement may not be appropriate. For these students, a program of industrial and community visits is put in place, together with a 'work awareness' course within the school, and the opportunity to 'work' in the school's Fairtrade Cafe.