Careers fair for SEND youngsters scoops WMCA award

A careers fair for disabled young people organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council and Tettenhall Wood School has scooped an award from the West Midlands Combined Authority.

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.”

At the awards presentation are, left to right, are event host Nicholas Bailey, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Service Manager for SEN Early Identification and Support Services Sarah Reynolds, Tettenhall Wood School Headteacher Ross Ashcroft, Assistant Headteacher Laura Watson, the council's Skills and Employability Manager Sue Lindup and West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker.

Pictured at the Moving into Adulthood event last November were, back, left to right, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Service Manager for SEN Early Identification and Support Services Sarah Reynolds, attendees Carter Hollis Clarke, Micheal Wevill, Asia Raul, Jake Garcha and Daniel Shelley, middle row, Brenda Wile, Deputy Director of Education and attendees Carole Wevill and Faith Whiten Coyne and, front row, attendee Aaron Wevill and Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education.