The second Moving into Adulthood SEND Careers Fair, staged at Wolverhampton Racecourse in November, won the Careers Intervention category at the recent WMCA Adult Learning Awards.
More than 300 students, teachers and parents attended the fair, aimed at young people in Year 9 and above, parents, carers and staff who support the children in their current educational setting.
An exhibitors’ guide outlined the type and level of qualifications offered by providers as well as details of associated support services, and Connexions Wolverhampton careers advisors were on hand to offer on-the-spot advice to parents, carers and young people.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Outreach Service created a sensory zone for anyone who needed to regulate away from the busy exhibition hall and adults with SEND also gained valuable work experience supporting the event and served as role models.
Exhibitors reported that they felt that the engagement of the young people, parents and school staff in the event was extremely positive, and were motivated to support young people with SEND to progress their plans for the future.
Parental feedback was very strong with comments like, “10 out of 10”, “the event was brilliant, very informative”, and “well organised and creates real awareness”.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "As a council and as a city, we have made it a top priority to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities are able to live their lives to the full, and we were delighted to work with our friends at Tettenhall Wood School to stage our second Moving into Adulthood fair last November.
“We hope it gave everyone involved plenty of food for thought about the opportunities that are out there for our children and young people with SEND as they move into adulthood.
“We are delighted to receive this recognition from the West Midlands Combined Authority, and I am pleased to report that planning is already underway for a third Moving into Adulthood fair later this year.”
Ross Ashcroft, Tettenhall Wood School headteacher, added: "Tettenhall Wood School recognised that poor careers information for young people with SEND was a national issue, with huge regional variances. We wanted to ensure our pupils, and pupils within the Wolverhampton area, have the same opportunities as their peers to access high-quality career advice, work experience and job browsing and networking.
"We were delighted to work with the council to grow the careers fair from its humble beginnings with a handful of exhibitors in our school hall, to the city-wide event it has become.
"We are especially proud to be recognised for this prestigious award from the West Midlands Combined Authority. A lot of hard work has gone into making it the success it has become today, with many young people from Wolverhampton and neighbouring local authorities accessing the event. We look forward to supporting the event for a long time to come."
