Welcome

Welcome to this week’s edition of Heads Up.

Can I take this opportunity to urge as many of you as possible to take a look at Warwickshire’s Careers Strategy Consultation?

The Government’s National Careers Strategy of December 2017 showed the merit of timely careers and employability support and the role that plays in enabling people to go onto a rewarding career.  Schools, colleges and education providers are absolutely integral to Warwickshire’s aspirations and so we need your input into the all-age strategy.  Please follow the link and get involved.  The more engagement we get with some of the people who are making a difference day to day, the more the strategy will be able to address the needs of our learners as we get them ready for the working world.

On the subject of preparing people for the working world, I know that some of our colleagues in education will be at the Supportive Employers Inc. forum next Friday (12 July) at Nuneaton Golf Club. This is the second forum, organised by the county council and the Careers and Enterprise Company in Coventry and Warwickshire, that brings together businesses and education providers to share ideas and best practice on providing supported internships to people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Nationally there are nearly a quarter of a million people currently in education with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).  Of this number, nearly 80% would like to get a job but only 6% go into paid employment.  Clearly we need to do some work to address this, and this excellent forum is already making great strides to do so. Keep an eye on #supportiveemployers to see what is happening as this programme moves forward or, if you can find some time next Friday morning, there are still spaces available at the event.

Meanwhile this week, I was privileged to be with Act for Autism for their new film launch. It was powerful to witness young people communicating about their experience and how it may be made better.  We should all be passionate about supporting and empowering the children and young people that we are working with and the difference this makes.  

Best regards,

Ian

Ian Budd

Assistant Director for Education Services