For Parents & Carers

Research shows that students say their parents help them make key career decisions, with many also adding that their parents have the most influence on their career decisions.

For many parent/carers this is a stressful time and say they don’t know where to get accurate online information to help them support their child.  

Below are a number of useful hints and tips to help you. Some have ‘quizzes’ to help start discussions about types of careers if your child has no idea about what to do.

• Talk to them about what they like doing, their hobbies and passions
• Sit down with your child, encourage self-awareness (what skills and qualities they have/ they can develop) and encourage them to explore their options (direct them to the Pupils web page, click here)
• Talk about career ideas and future plans at the right time and when they are open to speak about their future
• Research a wide range of careers yourself, particularly when your child starts mentioning a particular route, click here for links to useful websites.
• Encourage them to make the most of their Career Guidance Interviews they have in years 7 through to Post 16 with our Independent Career Connect Adviser, Ms Ruth Evans
• Attend the Meet The College & Training Provider Event which is held in West Kirby School every Autumn Term
• Find out about entry requirements for school, college and university courses or jobs they are interested in, click here for the list of colleges in your area.
• Keep an eye on changes in education, job trends and LMI (Labour Market Information). For information on LMI, click here

You can support your child:

• When they are making option choices in year 9, post 16 and post 18
• With finding and participating in work experience
• By encouraging them to make the most of their Careers Guidance Interviews in years 11-13
• By encouraging them to participate in appropriate extracurricular and out of school activities to develop a range of skills
• By encouraging them to find out about the world of work and labour market information

Try to…

• Encourage your child to make informed decisions
• Let them take the lead and get them to do the research.
• Be open-minded. Try not to judge their choice
• Do not answer a query if you are not sure about it. It’s ok to take time, research or seek professional help

Be aware…

• Your child may change their career interests as they become aware of more option choices - it is OK for them to change their mind
• Many employers look at people’s online profiles, so remind your child to be careful when using social media.

Ensuring your child is ready for their journey to adulthood, career and future financial security and a good quality of life is a challenge for every parent, even more so for our pupils' parents.

Parents have a key role to play in their decision-making and the general career path your children choose to pursue.  Whilst we know you have made every effort and done an amazing job, when it comes to their adult pathway, it can be daunting, confusing and scary for them and you. 

Until this point, you have fought for them, made difficult decisions for them and had a say in everything that they have done so far.  We know this has not been an easy journey for them or you, and West Kirby School is here to support your child and you to navigate the challenges that they face as they step towards adulthood and their career journey.

We understand the pitfalls that you will anticipate for your child’s future and we know that you will want to try to shield your child from the mistakes you’ve made or heard - whether knowingly or unknowingly. You will have heard horror stories from other parents, trust us, we have heard them as well!  That said, we hear amazing stories of success, happiness and independence from our past pupils.

Whilst you and West Kirby School staff can guide and guide our pupils away from some of the life pitfalls they will encounter along their journey, they’ll inevitably make mistakes and hiccups along their journey to adulthood.

Next destination options are:

• further education - colleges
• higher education - universities 
• apprenticeships 
• employment  
• supported internships 

For more information about the options after Year 11, please click here

Your child will spend a long time at college or in a job, so it will make a difference if they like what they are doing. Being happy and fulfilled is important for the quality of life.  If your child enjoys a course or job, it will motivate them.

So, it’s important that their choices are a good fit for them.

Due to the nature of our pupils, we offer work experience in Year 11.  This is usually after their examinations and forms part of their step towards preparing for adulthood.

Why does my child need to participate in work experience?

Work experience is an integral part of the school curriculum for all our pupils - it is not about training for a particular job. However, it should be an interesting and stimulating period for a student to gain an insight into employment.  We integrate experienced work through our amazing Enterprise Programme, The School Bakery and our Animal Care Department.  

Work experience placements offer many benefits and opportunities, such as:

• enabling students to apply skills and deepen knowledge and understanding of concepts learned in the classroom
• learning about the world of work
• providing insight into factors which may determine career choice
• prepare them for 'adulting' and making the transition from school to employment or further education
• to broaden the range of training, education and employment which students consider
• to improve attainment by making learning more relevant
• to improve student’s employability skills and personal skills

Important Information:

Work experience is about experiencing the workplace. It may assist in career choice, but this is not the main purpose. Employers receive no payment for taking young people on a placement, it is purely goodwill.  We have in the past provided charities with a donation to support them to offer our pupils work experience.

West Kirby School will liaise with the employer on your behalf and will assist with travel to and from the workplace IF it is possible.  If parents can support them with transporting their child to the employer during the work experience, we would appreciate the help!

Please contact the school about any concerns you have regarding your child and their work placement, not the employer.

How you can help?

Encourage your child to find their own placement, help them find appropriate contact information about the company they are aiming to contact. Make sure they know:

• Where they are going and how to get there
• Who to ask for on arrival
• Start, finish and break times
• Arrangements for lunch, packed lunch/money 
• What they should wear

During the placement, please ensure your child:

• Attend their placement and are punctual (if they are making their own way)
• Notify the school and employer if they are unable to attend
• Understand the goodwill of the employer and are realistic in what to expect
• Are encouraged to have a positive attitude
• Get plenty of sleep
• Talk about their day
• Keep a diary or a journal

Can I help my child secure a work placement with an employer?

Absolutely!  If you have a contact or know an employer who is willing to offer a work placement for your child, then pass the contact details to Mrs Shallcross.  Mrs Shallcross will arrange to meet the employer and carry out a risk assessment of the premises and the tasks that the pupil will be carrying out.  If the employer meets the risk assessment criteria, then our pupils will be covered by our school's insurance during their work experience.  We pride ourselves on safeguarding our pupils, risk assessments are carried out to protect your child during their work experience.  If you wish to suggest an employer for your child, please contact Mrs Shallcross via email on hshallcross@wkrs.co.uk.

How many hours will my child work?

This normally depends on the usual working hours of the industry where they are placed.  We try to encourage pupils to work school hours and we only recommend that pupils should not be asked to work more than a standard seven-hour day.

Will my child be supported by West Kirby School Staff?

Where a pupil requires 1:1 staffing, they will be accompanied by the employer and supported throughout their work day.  Pupils will have staff with them on arrival and staff will visit the employer throughout the week to check that their child is settled and they are engaged in their work experience.  Where possible, a visit to the employer prior to the work experience week will be made by the pupil.

How do students apply for a work experience placement?

At West Kirby School, we approach a variety of businesses who are disability aware, that will offer work experience to our pupils.   Not all businesses can support a whole week's worth of work experience. We graciously accept what they offer.  This means that your child may have the opportunity to work with a couple of employers throughout the week.

Please support your child to not be disappointed if they cannot secure a place with their preferred employer.  There is a great demand for work experience from all schools and often limited places available. 

Trust us, your child will have the opportunity to participate in work experience and develop the soft employability skills that employers in all job sectors are looking for.

If your child wishes to contact employers directly, here are some suggestions:

• Pupils can visit, email or telephone an employer to ask for work experience. Employers are always impressed with those that ‘knock on their door’ to ask.
• All placements must be checked to ensure they have the required health and safety standards and appropriate insurance cover. This is arranged by Mrs Shallcross. Please ensure that Mrs Shallcross knows the employer's contact details three weeks before work experience commences.
• Pupils should be discouraged from carrying out their work experience with an employer whom they already have a part-time job with or with a very close family member, as this may not allow new learning experiences of the world of work to be acquired.

What if my child doesn't get the placement that they want?

Every effort will be made to secure a placement that your child wants.  If your child does not get work experience of their choice, they will be offered work shadowing or observing an employee or workplace visits.  Their work experience week will be 'world of work' themed and they will participate and meet with employers and employees.

Here are some of the employer's we have worked with over the past few years:

We have been so appreciative to all the local employers and employees who have gave West Kirby School pupils a place for their work experience.  A huge thank you to:

             

            

If you wish to speak more about work experience for your child, please contact Mrs Shallcross on hshallcross@wkrs.co.uk.

All children and young people deserve a bright future - to belong, achieve, contribute, stay safe and be healthy.

The teenage years are a time of change and exploration as they begin the start of their journey towards greater independence and adulthood. For children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, starting early to plan and prepare for this transition into adulthood will build their confidence and help make this period in their lives a positive experience.

We hope that this information provided will help to guide you as, together, you will make some of the most important decisions of their lives.

There are a number of things parents and carers can do to make the transition period less stressful for autistic young people.  It is vital that your child is part of the process whenever plans about a young person’s future are made, even if it is felt that the young person does not have the capacity to make decisions for themselves.

This is an overwhelming time for both you and your child and West Kirby School staff are here to support you.

Planning For The Future

Helping your child to start thinking about their future is an exciting process, but it can also seem confusing and worrying. Whatever you and your child are feeling, the most important thing to remember is that your child should be at the centre of these discussions.

These are some questions you might like to discuss with your child/young person:

• What does your child enjoy? – either at school or at home
• Does your child have any hobbies?
• What sort of person are they? – E.g. Do they like being with people? Do they like working with animals? Do they like working with their hands?
• Are they outgoing or do they like to keep to themselves?
• How do they like to learn?
• What is important to them? (e.g. staying near home or being independent. Do they want to discover new places and people?) 
• What kind of environment suits them – busy and noisy or quiet?
• Have they any ideas about what sort of work they would like to do?

Please keep it simple, presenting too many options will dysregulate your child and will create high anxiety for both yourself and them.

We have created a grid that you can use to support your discussions. We can adapt it for your child if you need it adapting specifically to your child's aspirations.  To see the grid, please click here.

All young people need guidance to prepare for their future. A young person with special educational needs (SEN) may face additional challenges to achieving their goals. These include lack of information about options, low expectations about what is achievable, and difficulty in making their views heard. So they may need extra support as they move on from school to college, or from education into adult life.

All young people need help getting ready for their future. Our West Kirby School pupils may face additional challenges to achieving their goals. These include lack of information about options, low expectations about what is achievable, and difficulty in making their views heard.  At West Kirby School, we provide your child with the opportunity to access extra support that they need, as they move on from West Kirby School to college, or from education into adult life.

The system of support for SEN places particular importance on helping children and young people prepare for their future. This is referred to in the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice 2015 as “Preparing for Adulthood”.

Preparing for adulthood means preparing for:

• Higher education and/or employment.
• Independent living.
• Participating in society: friendships and contributing to the local community.
• Being as healthy as possible in later life.

Preparation for your child transition to adulthood should start early – long before your child becomes an adult.  

All schools have a legal duty to provide impartial careers advice from Career Connect to all young people from at least Year 8 upwards.  At West Kirby School, we start the process in Year 7 and we include our Year 6s in the Meet The Training Provider event to aid their decision process.  

Don’t know your doctorates from your diplomas? 

With so many different qualifications flying around, it can be hard to keep track of what each one means – not to mention where it could lead to next. But with comprehensive education frameworks put in place throughout the UK, it needn’t take too long to get to grips with the basics. No matter what stage you’re currently at.

To help you work out where to go next, here’s everything you need to know about the UK’s education levels: explained.

How many education levels are there?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there are eight different levels of education – as well as an entry level, to help you begin studying. These are set out by something known as the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

The Success at School has a good webpage that might help you, click here.

If you'd prefer a more visual understanding of qualifications, click here.

 

Success at Schools have produced a free ‘Careers for Parents and Carers – Helping Your Child Begin Their Career Journey’ ebooklet packed with advice from university about work experience and apprenticeships.

For information on how best to support your child/ward with their future career and pathways, please click here for links to useful websites.

 

Helping Pupils find their future

Unifrog is an online platform that allows students to explore different careers, from Year 10 to post-16 and post-18 options. Unifrog brings all the available information into one, impartial, user-friendly platform to help students to make the best choices, provide appropriate information, and support with the submission of the strongest applications when applying for the next steps.

Explore what subjects you would be interested in studying and how these choices can lead to different career paths and higher education.

• Discover from year 10 and sign up to online courses in areas that you’re interested in.
• See what is needed to make a successful application for post-16/18 options.
• Explore how to successfully apply for an apprenticeship or university course, including universities abroad.

Years 7-9 pupils will gain access to Unifrog in the Autumn Term of 2024/25

Want to know more about Unifrog? Click here.