West Thames College was delighted to welcome Georgia Gould OBE MP, Minister for School Standards, to the College alongside the government publishing new teacher training materials focused on supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
During her visit, Minister Gould toured the College’s SEND facilities, met with staff and spoke with students about their experiences of education, support and their aspirations for the future.
The visit came as the Government rolls out the first phase of a new SEND and inclusion training materials. The teaching materials are the first step of the wider offer, backed by more than £200 million of investment. The programme is intended to provide teachers, leaders and support staff across education settings with practical strategies to improve inclusion and support children and young people with SEND.
In an interview with Level 3 Media students, Minister Gould said:
“I have heard loads about West Thames College and the brilliant work that they do, how inclusive it is, and how they support for young people to get into work. I really wanted to learn from what was happening here. Something I’ve heard a lot from young people, parents and teachers, is the importance of teacher training and that having the right strategies in place to support students makes a massive difference. And as I’ve heard today, this is something that West Thames College really invests in.
“This is something that we as the government are really focused on and we’re rolling out £200 million worth of investment in teacher training focused on supporting young people with SEND education. We want to make sure that there is the right support in place in every different setting to make sure that their needs can be met, and that inclusion is built into the system, not an add on, which I found was really powerful to see today.”
Supporting students into employment
A key focus of the visit was the College’s work to help students with SEND develop the skills, confidence and experience they need to progress into employment and greater independence.
West Thames College’s Career Kickstart programme provides a stepping stone towards employment for learners who may not yet be ready to progress directly into a supported internship. The programme helps students build their confidence, independence and employability skills through practical work experience, including opportunities within the College and in the local community, while developing communication, problem-solving and other transferable workplace skills.
For students ready to take the next step, the College runs two supported internship programmes through Project SEARCH, working with employers to provide young people with SEND with valuable workplace experience and personalised support as they prepare for employment.
Supported internships are designed to help young people develop transferable workplace skills while gaining practical experience in an employment setting. The College works closely with employers to create opportunities that reflect the needs and aspirations of individual students.
Together, these programmes provide a pathway that supports students to progress at their own pace – from developing confidence and employability skills through Career Kickstart, to gaining substantial workplace experience through supported internships and moving towards paid employment.
During her visit, Minister Gould heard about the importance of these pathways and the role that colleges, employers and support staff play in helping young people move successfully from education into the workplace.
Inclusion at the heart of West Thames College
For West Thames College, inclusion is central to its approach to education and learner support.
Marta Gajewska, CEO and Principal of West Thames College, added that two-thirds of West Thames College students with an EHCP study on vocational and technical courses, enabling them to access a broad curriculum with appropriate support and adaptations.
She said: “Around 32% of students on programmes of study at West Thames College have a learning difficulty or disability, while approximately 20% receive high needs funding, compared with an average of 6.3% across the UK.
“This is why inclusion is central to everything we do at West Thames College. We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment where learners with SEND can develop their skills, build confidence and progress towards employment, independent living and active participation in their communities.”
Students share their experiences
Students were also given the opportunity to speak directly with Minister Gould, sharing their experiences of studying at West Thames College, the support they receive and their ambitions for the future.
Level 3 Media student Marley Evans, who aspires to pursue a career in media, spoke to the Minister about his transition from special needs schooling to further education and the support he has received at West Thames College.
He said: “I had never experienced mainstream education before, so going from supported schooling to supported further education was quite a big jump. It was difficult to adjust, but I have definitely got used to it. I see West Thames College as a great opportunity for people like me to pursue a career that we want to focus our lives on.
“The College has staff who are willing to listen to you and open communication about any issues you may have, such as bullying or harassment. It feels really secure and protective of students like me and all students. It is a great advantage to come here and build on the opportunity to go to university or get an internship.”
The students were also delighted to meet journalists from ITV, who were visiting the College to film a news item ahead of the Government's announcement.
The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the College’s inclusive approach to education and demonstrate how effective support, vocational learning and strong links with employers can help young people with SEND develop their skills and progress towards their future goals.
West Thames College is proud to be at the forefront of inclusive further education and to have shared its approach with Minister Gould, who hopes the person-centred and inclusive approach championed by West Thames College can be adopted more widely across England.
Our L3 Media students, Marley and Tanay, had the opportunity to interview Minister Gould during her visit. Watch the video below:
