A SEND School that had work experience opportunities for their students

"The majority of our students are on the autistic spectrum and it was an ambition of ours to achieve work experience placements for them because we felt that our young people could do well working for businesses and charities and show to others and to themselves that they can contribute to their own economic well being. Spark! have helped us to make this ambition a reality. The success of our work experience programme has been evident to our whole school community and the businesses we have engaged with. Spark! have been with us every step of the way, arranging informative and stimulating industry insight days, coaching interview skills and working to provide excellent placements at organisations such as the Premier Inn, Halfords, London South Bank University and the British Heart Foundation.

Spark! have helped many students in our school become more confident and realise there are opportunities for them. The relationship between Lansdowne and Spark! is a very special one and I cannot speak too highly of the team there. They are contributing to our growing reputation in our vibrant local community.

We have several success stories, such as Troy in our sixth form. Troy is a wonderful young man with learning difficulties and anxiety issues. You would not have known this from his pre-placement interview at the British Heart Foundation. He had two questions prior to his week's placement: Do I get staff discount? If I do well here can I get a Saturday job? The BHF said 'yes' to both. He started working for them at weekends straight after his placement and now is being paid by them. This is a wonderful success story that I tell often and it would not have happened without Spark! backing our students and encouraging them to make the best of themselves."