Future Skills

Future skills at Lighthouse School

Why is it important to our students’ futures?

Often the most significant barrier autistic students face when they transition to work/college is not a lack opportunity, but that they’re not ‘ready’. Professional conduct and expectations, working with others, how to revise effectively, being organised, meeting deadlines, dealing with people they don’t know/are non-preferred, etc… can be challenging to Lighthouse students. Addressing this is the purpose of Future Skills.

Future Skills is unique to Lighthouse School, and although it amalgamates Employability, Enterprise – it has a wider-focus. It focuses on developing the soft skills students need to thrive in their next setting, while giving them a broad range of experiences.

What visitors/enrichment activities take place in the subject?

• As part of the school’s Alumni – Lighthouse students who have graduated come to the school and speak to current students about their experiences in college/employment.
• Annually, each group has an average of eight employer interactions. This is in addition to those in Careers Week.
• Students visit other settings – including university, college, and specialist colleges.
• Students produce and sell items at Leeds Market bi-annually.
• Students participate in Enterprise challenges – like the ‘tenner challenge’

What does Future Skills look like in Lighthouse School? • We have a spiral curriculum that supports our learners in retaining learning and building on concepts. • Every student in the school has at least one Future Skills lesson in their timetable. This is because all students have the opportunity to engage in the world of work – whether full-time permanent employment, or through volunteering. • We deliver ASDAN Employability qualifications, although the impact of Future Skills is also evident in other qualifications

Future Skills Curriculum: