Careers Information, Advice and Guidance
We follow the statutory duty for schools and colleges from the Department for Education (click here).
Careers Programme Information
Who to Contact
If you would like to discuss careers, post-19 provisions or next steps for your child then you should use the contact information below:
Ian Armstrong - Headteacher - ian.armstrong@ivy.set.org
Amanda Johnson - Post-16 Assistant Headteacher
Amanda Shipley - Post-16 teacher - amanda.shipley@ivy.set.org
You can also contact the school office on 01332 777 920 and somebody will get back to you as soon as they are able to.
Our Careers Programme
We plan a bespoke, exciting and innovative programme of careers for our learners, ensuring students have the opportunities to experience, participate and learn about the opportunities available to them when they leave school.
We understand that our students will leave Ivy House School with a range of skills and abilities and we strive to ensure that they are well equipped for their next steps into adulthood. We use a range of strategies to achieve this and you can find out more information through our Curriculum pages, as well as the points raised below.
Finding their Motivation
From Year 9 onward we provide opportunities for young people to be involved in discussions about their individual aspirations for after they leave Ivy House School. These discussions will take place during classroom activities, as well as addressing them more formally within the Annual Review of the EHCP.
These conversations provide teachers, and families, with a young person's preferred pathway and transition out of school. We do all that we can to provide opportunities to teach our students to be prepared for their final destination, including working alongside external colleges and day care centres.
The Careers Curriculum
Our secondary department support students to learn about jobs that people do within the wider community and to gain a wealth of experience to help them decide which path they wish to choose when they leave school. All young people need to know that they can contribute to their community in some way.
Due to the complex health needs of a large proportion of our children, we are sensitive to the needs of the young person and their family. We offer holistic skills in supporting their steps into adulthood and align the outcomes from their EHCP into meaningful and realistic targets for adulthood. Or staff team are well experienced in supporting the transition out of school and have excellent relationships with local charities and agencies who can further support.
Key Stage 3
Key Stage 3 students experience the world of work through a range of enterprise activities within school such as cake sales, making and selling crafts and organising activities for charitable days throughout the year.
The work based learning opportunities are often linked to the curriculum (pre and semi formal) and teachers select the most appropriate access points to these through careful planning that is linked to each student's assessments and previous learning.
All progress is evidenced through Evidence for Learning.
Key Stage 4 and 5
Key Stage 4 students build on the foundation of Key Stage 3 and in addition they begin to gather evidence of work experience opportunities through beginning the Branch Curriculum using RARPA (Recognising and recording progress and achievement) assessment. Study programmes are designed to be relevant for every student, regardless of ability and complexity of need.
Where possible, we have offered external work experience placements for students working within KS4/5. For those students where this process is not appropriate, alternative provision will be made, such as one off placements, supported placements and internal work related experience in and around school.
Measuring Impact
School Progress
We use the SEND Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for guidance in this area and to measure the progress students make in their careers education. We have evaluated our own progress on these benchmarks and set ourselves subsequent targets. To see our areas of strength and those for development please click here Ivy House Gatsby Benchmarks
Pupil Progress
We measure pupil progress through a range of assessments, including accredited outcomes at Key Stage 4/5, EHCP outcomes (shorter and longer term) and Key Skills. Further information can be found within our Assessment Results page on our website.
Preparing for Adulthood (PfA)
At Ivy House, we are committed to supporting all our students to successfully transition from school, which for most will be when they have completed Year 14. We work closely with Derby's Preparing for Adulthood team in the City Council. The PfA team support in the following way:
We work with young people with a diagnosed learning and/or physical disability who qualify for support under the Care Act 2014. Education and Healthcare Professionals can refer young people between the ages of 14 to 18 in preparation for support to start at the age of 18. We aim to support young people to achieve independent living skills and build stronger relationships within the community. We also work closely with families and professionals in meeting the young person’s individual needs. The Preparing for Adulthood team enables young people to have a bigger say in what support is provided and how it is delivered, encouraging a more personalised approach.
We involve the PfA team within the Annual Review process for students who are preparing to leave for their next destination. To support this process, we also provide a popular and well received Life After School Event, with representation from local colleges, workplaces and social care providers. This provides families and students with an opportunity to talk about the possibilities in the future and to ask questions in a safe space with familiar staff to support. This event usually takes place in February/March and we invite all families of those in Key Stage 3 and above to attend. This ensures that families are aware of where they can seek further help and support in finding suitable education, health or care support when their child reaches 18+.