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Case Study
Michael Castle
Work It Out Programme
Ilkeston School
September 2008 to June 2009
Michael was referred to the programme because he was not
achieving at school and was at risk of exclusion. He was
struggling with some of his subjects at school because he
was easily distracted and did not really see the purpose of
putting the effort in.
At his
Initial Assessment, Michael said that he was good with his
hands, had some brick laying skills and wanted to go into
plumbing. It was clear that he would need extra help with
his literacy and numeracy.
Michael completed the Induction at our Ilkeston premises but
was still showing signs of poor attention and an
unwillingness to take any written work seriously, although
he did say that he found all the work relevant and helpful.
We
were really pleased to be able to place him at Ilkeston
Plumbing and Heating Supplies where he was closely supported
by Sarah Booth who clearly had a soft spot for him helping
him complete some of the units at the end. He very quickly
established himself as part of the team, learning how to
stock take, familiarising himself with the products, going
out on deliveries and dealing with customers. Chris Wall,
General Manager, said “Michael is a good example and cracks
on with everything. He never complains and will get on with
anything”.
Michael himself has recognised how much he has matured,
reporting that he has calmed down in his behaviour in
school and that he has enjoyed working with older people.
He particularly liked the tips he got at Christmas!
Vanessa King from Ilkeston School was particularly positive
about the effect the programme has had on Michael as she
reports:
“Whilst on the
programme we, at school, have seen a progressive personal
development in Michael. We believe that he has grown in
maturity and this is shown by his more mature outlook and
positive response towards adults.
A fine example
is when Michael was expected to attend school to complete
his Science coursework on his work placement day. He
approached me in a calm manner and explained succinctly that
he had tried to phone his contact at his work placement with
no avail and that he was needed elsewhere and was concerned
that his work wouldn’t know why he wasn’t attending. I
offered to contact his work on his behalf which he was most
grateful for and so issue was resolved.
What I was
impressed with was that Michael remained calm, spoke
clearly, explained the issue in a concise manner and was
polite and respectful throughout his conversation with me.
It was good to witness that positive change in Michael’s
development.
ACCESS TRAINING – THE PROGRAMME
We found the
Access Training programme a positive experience for our
students who took part and successfully completed the 8
month course. It was a fantastic opportunity for our young
people and gave them a privileged and valuable insight into
the world of work.
It has
successfully helped to prepare them by nurturing their life
skills and has given their personal development a positive
step up the ladder towards entering the next phase of their
lives. “
Michael will be
put forward to receive his NOCN Step Up Award which is part
of the new Foundation Learning Tier qualifications. Units
covered have been “Preparation for Work” and “Work Based
Placement”. He then plans to go to college to continue his
studies.
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