Bringing work experience into school for young people with special educational needs
Only 35% of students with additional needs were offered a work placement in the last twelve months (Youth Voice Census 2025 Report). In areas where schools and families have fewer resources, these young people often miss out on this important exposure to the world of work, and online alternatives rarely meet their needs.
To change that, we’re taking the work placement experience into schools.
Our trial
In a Birmingham secondary school, we delivered a catering and hospitality work placement week for 30 students in Year 10 with special education needs and multiple vulnerabilities. Partnering with five employers we created a hands-on programme combining real world training with employability skills.
Students took part in activities exploring:
- Catering Health and Safety, event planning, customer service and chef skills.
- CV writing, mock interviews, workplace behaviour and communication skills.
The week ended with a student-run pop-up café for parents, carers and guests in the school.
Impact
The week-long programme created a ripple effect on students, families, teachers and partner employers.
Students
- Students showed a real interest in getting a job, creating CVs and talking about summer work.
- “One quiet learner with mild learning difficulties began the week reserved, but by the end, he was confidently talking with peers, working as part of the team, and even spoke with his parents about getting a summer job in hospitality. His parents were thrilled, as he rarely discusses school, showing just how much the experience inspired him and made a real impact.”
Parents, carers and teachers
- Parents saw enthusiasm and confidence in their children, bringing their new skills and passion home with them.
- One parent said they ‘didn’t recognise their child – particularly their confidence, soft skills and ability to focus on a task”.
- Shaw Trust Tutor – “This experience has inspired and motivated me as a teacher, seeing students step out of their comfort zones, grow in confidence apply new skills and the positive changes has reminded me why I love teaching and the difference we can make together.”
- Sarah Murcott, Executive Headteacher, said: “My only wish was for a truly meaningful experience for our most vulnerable young people and families and what we got was, as one carer said, ‘life changing’.”
Employers
- Employers, who gave their time pro-bono, were so impressed that they are already planning follow up sessions to keep students engaged.
- Clare Barnbrock from Edgbaston Park Hotel & Conference Centre said, “As an employer, I found the day hugely rewarding. It gave young people a meaningful alternative to traditional work experience – equipping them with practical tools and offering a real taste of working life that goes beyond a tick box week on site. I would love to be involved again.”
Join us to expand our impact
We’re ready to grow this successful model, creating new sessions across different job sectors and replicating the catering and hospitality experience in more schools.
You can make it happen:
- £50 funds a full day of hands-on training for one student.
- Businesses can volunteer staff time to help design and deliver placement weeks.
- Partners and funders can help us scale this nationally, reaching more young people with life-changing opportunities.
Get in touch today to help us give every young person the chance to experience the world of work.
