At Cambian Wing College we strive to provide a balance and well-rounded curriculum to our students. As part of that curriculum, we ask that all students undertake work experience whilst here at the college.
It is our intention that all students should undertake at least 30 hours of work experience a year, 10 of those hours should be externally placed work experience.
We offer a variety of different types of work experience here at Cambian Wing College:
We work with all of out students to try to find relevant virtual work experience as a starting point in the careers curriculum and this is incorporated into the Work Preparation Programme here at Cambian Wing College.
There are a number of opportunities for students to obtain work experience right here in the college. We run several small enterprises including Glasswing Café, Glasswing Tuckshop and Snackbox Catering. We also have arrangements with local businesses/charities including Nick’s Farm and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation to enable our students to experience local workplaces within their timetabled curriculum.
One-Off Placement – we have made arrangements for some of our students to attend a one-off work experience placement. This is ideal for students that have career aspirations which do not fit the typical mould, for example we recently arranged for one of our students to attend work experience with the National Trust at the Beatles Childhood Homes in Liverpool as this had been a longstanding dream for this particular student.
Block Placement - we can arrange for students to attend a work placement for a block of time, e.g. a week or a fortnight. This arrangement usually suits those students with a heavy academic load or those taking several exam subjects. We can make arrangements for those students to attend work experience after they have taken their exams in May/June allowing them to focus on what is important to them at different times of the academic year.
Regular Placement – We can make arrangements for our students to attend work experience with a provider on a regular basis, e.g. a morning or a day a week for example. This tends to work well with our students who aspire to work in childcare for example.
See news about successful work experience placements below:
Many of our students at Cambian Wing College attend mainstream college for three days each week while spending two days at CWC accessing specialist therapies and Preparation for Adulthood support.
This allows students to adapt gradually to the pace, environment, and support available within mainstream settings, whilst developing confidence and independence. Upon leaving CWC, many students transition into full-time mainstream education, typically progressing onto Level 2 or Level 3 courses linked to their interests. Other students may move into Access or Foundation programmes to prepare for university study, while some progress directly onto degree-level courses, supported through tailored transition planning.
Post-college living options are tailored to each student’s needs and aspirations. Students may move into supported living, independent living, or university halls of residence, depending on the pathway they choose.
Our Preparation for Adulthood Lead, Dominic Chandler, works closely with students and families to explore suitable options and build the skills needed for next steps. We also offer 1:1 Next Steps sessions and University Bitesize sessions, which help students understand and prepare for future living environments.
These sessions cover a wide range of practical skills, including budgeting, household maintenance, and organisation of daily routines. Students also explore areas such as meal planning, travel training, managing appointments, and understanding tenancy responsibilities, ensuring they feel confident and equipped for supported living, independent living, or university life.
It is our aspiration for all our students to have meaningful as part of their future.
All students at CWC have access to a wide range of work experience opportunities, including bespoke placements aligned with their career aspirations. These experiences help students build familiarity with different workplace environments, develop a strong work ethic, resilience, and strengthen a range of other employability skills, including; communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time management. Many students choose to progress into a Supported Internship, which is a structured, work-based programme designed to help young people with EHCPs gain the skills and experience required for paid employment. Other students may move into Apprenticeships, combining practical work with industry-specific training. We work closely with a range of local providers and partner organisations across multiple local authorities to ensure each student is matched with the right opportunity.
Tracey Costello
Email address: Tracey.Costello@cambiangroup.com
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