HSDC is a College that is incredibly proud of its commitment to students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and recently hosted a visit to its Employability Hub at South Downs Campus. The SEND Employability Hubs are a recent initiative by Hampshire County Council to maximise the progression of young people with SEND into employment, preparing them for a life of financial and social independence.
Employability Hubs seek to help SEND students with CV, cover letters, job applications and work experience. In particular, the Employability Hub at South Downs takes an accessible and holistic approach, ensuring that all students are aware of its existence and the help that they can receive from it. The event at HSDC South Downs was organised through a partnership of Hampshire County Council and the Education and Training Foundation.
Various SEND specialists from local schools attended the event, which began with a tour of South Downs, focusing especially on the SEND facilities offered by the campus. This included a look at the VFL Boutique, designated Safe Places and the Sensory Room, all of which play a crucial role in enriching the education of SEND students at HSDC.
Following the tour, a presentation was given, highlighting the really fantastic opportunities that come about from the existence of these Employability Hubs. Candice Reynolds, Project Coordinator of SEND Employability at Hampshire County Council, spoke passionately about the Council’s ‘All Our Talents’ Action Plan for SEND provision, and outlined how this endeavours to give SEND students an education in line with that of their peers.
Toni-Maire Leaf, Development Manager (SEND Employability), said:
“The Employability Hubs have greatly supported us in understanding what works for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The pathways established across the county have enabled our colleges to deliver a full post 16 education to young people with SEND, while providing them with the right skills and information needed to make a successful transition to adulthood. HSDC has committed to this journey with us since the Hubs first launched in 2020, and we want to thank the college for its support and dedication.”
HSDC is responsible for an extensive programme of SEND provision, which includes, but is by no means limited to: emotional literacy support assistants, resources such as fidget toys, mentors and mindfulness sessions.
To learn more about HSDC’s SEND Employability Hub, please visit: https://www.hsdc.ac.uk/send-employability-hub/