Thinking about work, jobs and helping others
The Thinking Ahead Programme at Oak Field School
Thinking Ahead – Careers Programme
If you are a local employer or provider of services and would like to support the Thinking Ahead Programme at Oak Field please contact Sophie or Matthew using the phone on 0115 9153265, or for email please complete the contact form at the end of this page.
We really appreciate the businesses and partnerships that provide employee or work place visits, work experience or run project s with us. We also welcome contact from colleges, social care providers and health services.
On our virtual trips page, you can watch some videos about different work places.
Curriculum Overview of the Thinking Ahead Programme
Oak Field School aims to prepare children and young people for the new responsibilities, experiences, independence and risks of the next stage: from a child learning to make choices about food and friends, to a young person making choices about education, training or employment beyond school.
The Thinking Ahead Programme includes:
- Careers education within the curriculum
- Experiences of work places, people in employment and services that pupils might need or use.
- Planning and recording activities that relate to future choice making.
- Access to individual guidance and support for each pupils’ individual future.
It is linked to the Preparing for Adulthood programme, keeping pupils’ hopes and aspirations as our key focus. Pupils will have the opportunity to gain experience and develop skills in these four areas: Community Inclusion, Health, Employment and Independent Living.
Thinking Ahead Career Programme – by Key Stage
The intent of the Thinking Ahead Programme is to meet the needs of all students by using highly personalised strategies, programmes and resources that are appropriate to students’ stages of learning and development.
Teams implement these intentions using a wide range of strategies that include:
- Action planning and recording achievements as part of EHCP review meetings and accreditation recording.
- Work simulations or role play.
- Curriculum linked visits.
- Visits to work places.
- Problem-solving and work skills activities.
- Extended work placements and volunteering in and out of school.
- Internal or external work experience.
- Guidance related to planning for the future, including Careers (individual planning and interviews, information and research activities).
- Involvement in the Student Council and Eco Committee.
- Visits to local day services, colleges, volunteering opportunities and supported employment.
- Enterprise and fund-raising activities.
- Support from local services such as the Futures for You advice service.
- Regular transition events involving local employers, educators and support facilities
Work Experience Placements, and Vocational Links
Work Experience placements are offered to as many 6th Form pupils as possible, balancing fair access alongside promoting young people into achieving paid work.
Portfolios of work
Pupils are encouraged and supported to keep a detailed portfolio of their Thinking Ahead experiences, using a Work Journal or electronic record.
The Thinking Ahead programme at Oak Field School
The Thinking Ahead programme at Oak Field School is linked to the Preparing for Adulthood programme, with pupils’ hopes and dreams in mind. We want every pupil to have experiences and develop skills in these four areas:
- Community Inclusion
- Health
- Employment
- Independent Living
Each stage of Oak Field School hopes to prepare children and young people for the next: from a child learning to make choices about food and friends, to a young person making choices about education, training, care or employment beyond school. These include:
- Having new responsibilities
- Doing things with less help
- Helping others
- Problem solving
- Choosing risks
- Taking part
The Oak Field Thinking Ahead Team check the programme is working using the Compass Plus tool, here’s our self assessment:
Thinking Ahead Programme Impact Assessment