For students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), accessing meaningful work experience can be a complex and often discouraging process.
Many employers, however well-intentioned, lack the training and understanding needed to support students with SEND effectively, while few workplaces are designed to accommodate physical, sensory or cognitive needs.
Furthermore, employers may underestimate the abilities and strengths of students with SEND, inadvertently limiting their opportunities to contribute. Often, traditional models such as two-week placements can overwhelm students who may require more time to adapt.
At Manor Green College - a special school for students aged 11-19, many of whom have education, health and care plans - we had seen all these issues and more, and it had meant work experience could be seen as a negative experience for many of our students.
But over the last two years, we have pursued a different approach that has transformed our engagement with employees and given scores of pupils the opportunity to engage in meaningful work experience.
A new approach
The catalyst for this change came when we decided to focus our efforts in this area at creative industry placements. We saw that, for many students, these were placements that suited their skill sets well, as the attributes of individual expression, diverse perspectives and non-linear problem solving are often in high demand by such organisations.
However, because we lacked any real connection in these sectors, we signed up for the yearly Discover! Creative Careers Week, which is an annual initiative across England each November designed to help students access the creative industries through industry-led workshops, online resources and career encounters with employers, colleges and training providers.
Taking part immediately opened up a raft of new opportunities for our students that have proved transformative.
For example, we were introduced to Creative Assembly, a video game development company, who were able to offer numerous compelling activities to students.
This partnership enabled students to spend time at their studio learning about animation, storytelling and design, providing not just technical insights but also the inspiring message that creativity and talent can transcend traditional qualifications.
Students spent the day learning from professionals how to storyboard for video games and got hands-on experience with how CGI works; students dressed up in a CGI bodysuit and acted out various actions against a green screen, which then translated into animation that they watched.
Staff also shared stories of non-traditional pathways into the industry, a message that deeply resonated with our students.
We have also had similar success with placements with organisations in areas like music production, backstage theatre roles, animation and many more.
New perspectives
In the past, trying to achieve something like this would have involved staff having to find and approach firms - something that can be time-consuming and often futile as cold approaches fail to reach the right person.
Inclusive employers also send an important message to students: that their skills and perspectives are valued in the “real world”. For example, we had the opportunity to attend the Oska Bright Film Festival, the leading learning disability film festival in the world.
Here, students saw how creative organisations, like Carousel, actively seek and promote contributions from individuals with disabilities.
Exposure to these inclusive environments helps students envision their own futures in the industry.
Engaging parents
Of course, getting all this up and running has not all been plain sailing.
One of the biggest challenges is changing perceptions - both among students and their families - about what is possible. For some, the idea of success is tied to qualifications or university, which can feel unattainable.
Effective communication is fundamental to addressing these challenges. An updated careers programme is signposted to parents through letters alongside our annual “Next Steps” careers and transition event.
This allows parents and students to meet, gather information and discuss opportunities pertinent to them from a range of colleges, training providers and employers such as Creative Assembly.
Showcasing the Discover! Creative Careers initiative, we could show there is an established way for students to explore creative roles in an accessible way and show them and their families that there are opportunities for them.
Now work experience is something students actively look forward to as they see that there are creative careers opportunities for them beyond school - and also helping more employers consider how they embrace SEND inclusion as a core part of their operations.
Lucy Martlew is a Year 12 teacher at Manor Green College in Crawley, West Sussex.
Mel Simmonds is an employability expert who supports schools, colleges and employers.
To take part in next year’s Discover! Creative Careers week (17 - 21 November 2025), schools can click here
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