Progression from school to adulthood in SEN Erasmus Project

Project Title

Progression from school to adulthood in SEN

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Disabilities – special needs; Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

Young people in Special Schools have an element of protection while in school that is not necessarily available in the community or workforce. This means that the transition from school to adult life and employment can be particularly challenging. This bilateral partnership brings together two Special Schools to share practice in identifying and overcoming the stumbling blocks that young people face in making the transition from the school to adulthood. It will look at how develop emotional resilience to manage change, new experiences and the expectations of others, it will explore different approaches in the two contexts of the UK and Spain. The project will look at the role of the curriculum in preparing for adulthood, work placements and social opportunities, and information, advice and guidance. The target groups will be the 14-19 age range with a specific focus on Post 16. Through the two study visits, the two partners will explore the following key questions:

• What does a careers curriculum look like in each of the schools and is it mapped in other areas of the curriculum?
• Is this information, advice and guidance of learning a key focus in schools? Is it embedded in the curriculum and how is it delivered?
• What is the relationship like between the school system and the community/world of work? Is it inclusive? What does opportunity look like?
• What are the expectations and aspirations of learners post school?
• What are the destinations for young people with SEN post 16/19?
• What does a focused programme of Transition to Adult Life include? How is it delivered and what is its impact?

This project addresses the Horizontal Priorities of…
• supporting individuals in acquiring basic skills and key competences in order to foster employability and social-educational and personal development
• developing social inclusion by promoting equality of learners with Special Needs

This project addresses the Erasmus+ School Priorities of…
• strengthening the profile of the teaching profession by enhancing professional development, facilitating teacher mobility and developing innovative teaching methods
• tackling early school leaving and disadvantage by improving the transition from school to work to enable success for learners with SEN

The objectives of the project are to:
• analyse and share curriculum provision and methodologies to provide relevant careers guidance for learners aged 14-19 with SEN
• explore existing strategies and resources for delivering careers guidance and building resilience
• explore links to business in providing support and opportunities for learners with SEN
• identify common areas of strength and priorities for development
• undertake study visits to partner schools to investigate the policies and practice in the context of those schools
• use the outcomes of the study visits to improve provision and practice in identifying and addressing preparation for transition to the world of work
• produce a report on the outcomes of each study visit and a set of case studies
• disseminate the outcomes widely

The methodology to be adopted will run 4 sets of mobilities, each hosted by a partner school. These will involve workshops of 5 teachers and/or teaching assistants per partner to share practice and review procedures on following topics:

• explore the 14-19 careers curriculum and its links to other key curriculum areas in schools in both countries
• share practice and review procedures on following topics:
o how SEN pupils are prepared for the world of work in the 14-19 curriculum
o practical strategies used to engage employers and provide work experience
o strategies used to improve the resilience of 14-19 learners to adapt to the needs of the world of work
o examples of success

Partners will evaluate the outcomes of the workshops and implement in-school initiatives where relevant and disseminate the final outcomes widely. All workshops will involve school visits, classroom observations and discussions with key teachers and pupils. The workshops will facilitate the sharing of expertise and peer learning but also develop potential joint curriculum activities to address the specific workshop topics. This will enable the teachers concerned to continue to share their practice and at the same time develop additional resources.

The project will develop a set of case studies covering the different topics related to transition and these will be widely disseminated both internally and externally. This will enable the partnership to achieve its objectives of better preparing professionals and will also produce an example of how the strategies can be embedded into the curriculum.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 27044 Eur

Project Coordinator

John Jamieson & Country: UK

Project Partners

• FUNDACIÓ MERCÈ PLA