Catcote Academy provides opportunities for our students to explore different pathways into employment. We have a clear focus on preparing our young people the ‘world of work.’
The Academy has developed partnerships with a number of key employers who are able to offer our students work experience placements, with a view to progression onto a programme of study where they are able to gain new skills and experience. Supported Internships are one type of study programme where students are offered a coherent personalised learning experience that offers breadth, depth and progression opportunities.
Who is the Programme for?
Supported Internships are for young people aged 16 to 24 with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. Students are based primarily with an employer and study specific qualifications that are relevant to their job role. They are intended to enable young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to achieve sustainable paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work through learning in the workplace.
What are the benefits of Supported Internships?
- Personalised and flexible programme of study;
- Tailored programme designed to meet the young person’s requirements;
- Transferrable work skills with opportunities to practice skills in ‘real life situations.’;
- A real chance of paid employment at the end of the internship;
- Support available through Access to Work funding for job coach to work closely alongside the learner;
- Real time (unpaid) work experience with a wide range of employers;
- Learning on the job opportunities.
Case Studies
Catcote Academy have two students who have started a supported internship in Sept 2016. Rosie Scott spends four days at Footprints Day Nursery working with children aged 0 to 5 and is studying towards specific qualifications in childcare at college for one day per week.
Jo Hoggarth, Nursery Manager from Footprints can’t sing Rosie’s praises enough stating that “Rosie is a valued member of the team, she interacts really well with the children in the nursery and also as a team member.”
Rosie is really enjoying her internship and states ‘I enjoy working in the nursery and like to play and support the children in my class, I feel more confident and have gained lots of different skills.’
Christopher Scott has also been successful in gaining an internship within the catering sector and he has joined the catering team at Hartlepool Borough Council’s Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. (CETL) Chris has been carrying out a wide range of duties since his placement started at the beginning of September 2016, including cooking and preparing buffets for large and small functions and meetings. He has utilised his skills in baking and confectionary, serving customers and adhering to health and safety procedures. Chris is really enjoying his new role and said “my internship is going really well, I am enjoying preparing food from scratch to a very high quality.”
Alex Docherty, Cook at HBC has stated that “Chris has made such a big difference to our workload, he is a very fast learner and is very enthusiastic.”
