In the context of a rapidly changing economic situation in the EU, reflected in a changing labour market, the international project Special Education Needs Employment Links (SENEL) focuses on supporting transition into the labour market from vocational education and training (VET) and further education (FE) for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The strategic project consortium will be made up of eight partners from England, Finland, the Czech Republic and Germany, and will include one institution of higher education from each participating country, in conjunction with one national partner of differing organisational structures including VET/HE institutions, NGOs and disability organisations. The key objective of this two-year Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership project is to support an effective transition process for students with SEND from VET into employment, by collaboratively producing and evaluating three unique communicative and informative tools. There will be a SENEL website dedicated to disseminating the project and making the tools available to the widest possible global audience for long term sustainable impact. Project activities will include administration and quality assurance, implementing a dissemination and valorisation plan, writing piloting and evaluating the three outcomes described in the following paragraphs, and running three multi national and two multinational dissemination/presentation events. The first project outcome will include a portable exhibition of documentary photographs and videos of best practices on partner countries, available with accompanying text in four languages. This is based on an analysis of shared good practice across the partners and supporting access to the workplace and continuing VET and links to the workplace. After investigating current approaches, best practices and assessing needs involved in the process of transition from VET/FE, the second outcome will be a tool for employers entitled “A Mini-Guide for Employers of Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disability”. This will be developed, piloted and evaluated by the SENEL in collaboration with a range of stakeholders including young people with SEN and employers. The Mini-guide will provide essential information and guidelines for employers and other stakeholders to facilitate and encourage accessible employment for young people with SEND. This will be followed by the development and evaluation of the third outcome: a tool for young people with SEND entitled “The Passport to Employment for Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities”. This will provide both guidance and a self-advocacy tool for VET/FE students with SEN transitioning from VET/FE to work. It can be downloaded from the website and printed, or used as an interactive online tool, as required. During 2011-2013 this consortium previously successfully completed a joint project: Towards Inclusive Learning Environments (TILE) targeted at developing inclusive environments in VET/FE institutions. This project will build on this success and will see the development of these tools as a continuation of the collaborative process with all partners. Project meetings to inform the development of the tools and the sharing of best practice will be held in each participating country. Dissemination events will include a conference to be held in each participating country.
-Project context: The key aim of the SENEL (Special Educational Needs Employment Links) project was to support transition into the labour market from vocational education and training (VET) and further education (FE) of disadvantaged learners: young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Such groups are particularly at risk of dropping out at this critical stage in their education and development in almost all countries in the EU (European Union). -Objectives: The key objective of this two-year Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership project was to contribute three dynamic, culturally-sensitive tools to support this transition process for students with SEND. National and international meetings and multiplier events supported the development of the tools which are available to an international audience on the SENEL website and the EPRP. -Organisations: This consortium comprised of 5 partners bringing direct experience and complementary skills. In England, Finland and the Czech Republic, partners included one institution of higher education (HE) in conjunction with one national partner of a different organisational structure: VET/HE institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and disability organisations. In Germany, the partner was a larger organisation offering both training for professionals and VET for young people with SEND. All partners offered relevant, specific skills and knowledge, in a wide range of contexts to maximise impact on stakeholders. -Activities: The principle activities of the SENEL consortium focused on the development and dissemination of the following Outputs: -Output 1 is a Portable Exhibition of Good Practice including documentary photographs and videos of best practices, with accompanying text in four languages. It is based on an analysis of shared good practice across the partners. It highlights access to the workplace and continuing VET, and links between VET and the workplace. It is available on our sustainable website dedicated to disseminating project outputs and fostering access to continuing VET, including groups at risk. This was the SENEL first output and continued to be developed throughout the project as a sustainable and flexible resource. -Output 2 is an innovative and flexible tool for employers: “A Mini Guide for Employers of Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disability”. Drawing on real-life case studies, it provides clear guidance about SEND for employers to support transitions into work. It emphasises the added value that people with SEND bring to the workplace, and provides a realistic view of reasonable adjustments which might be needed. -Output 3 is a unique tool for young people with SEND entitled “The Passport to Employment for Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities”. A crucial part of VET training for people with SEND is how to make effective transitions into the workplace. This is a flexible self-advocacy tool for VET/FE students with SEND transitioning from VET/FE to work, for use at various stages of their VET and as they continue into the workplace. Multiple formats are available for example PDF files, an adaptable Word version and an interactive online tool. This will be the first time such a product has been offered in these formats, focusing on disadvantaged groups to support their access to long term, satisfying employment and promoting the inclusivity of continuing VET. -Results and impact: SENEL engaged a wide range of participants: key stakeholders were employers, young people with SEND and VET pedagogical staff. The development of the Outputs and dissemination activities also involved a wide range of relevant stakeholders as participants: NGOs, counsellors and careers advisors, government institutions, trainee VET teachers, VET providers, trainer/teachers, disability and adult learner associations, university staff and students, politicians and funding bodies and the general public. The SENEL project has been widely disseminated in partner countries and at international conferences, and was invited to present at a conference in Bangkok, Thailand, to a conference of professionals from 15 countries in South East Asia. Impact ranges from a direct and ongoing significant influence on the training and development of young people with SEND, to a continuing voice in national organisations and funding bodies. -Longer-term benefits: The long term sustainability of the project is ensured by the continuing free availability of adaptable outputs on the SENEL website, and the use of these materials not only by SENEL partners but also by the many participants in the project who have engaged with the materials and are using them in a range of contexts.