Developing creative and work skills in an online marketplace
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Information about the college
Beechwood College is an independent specialist college and care home, situated in Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan. It is owned by Beechwood Court Ltd, which is part of Ludlow Street Healthcare, under the ownership of Ancala partners.
The college offers day and residential placements to learners aged 16 years of age and over who have learning disabilities and/or autism and who may have needs associated with autistic spectrum conditions. The college grounds include a garden, polytunnel, café and woodwork area.
The college vision is to provide opportunities and experiences to prepare learners for their future lives. The principal leads a team of lecturers and learning support assistants and has responsibility for the provision and delivery of all education programmes. The college’s strategic leadership team includes the principal, assistant principal, the care home manager and the clinical lead.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
All learners at Beechwood College have complex needs and many require support to develop communication and independence skills. College leaders aim to provide a range of relevant and meaningful work experience placements and work-related experiences for learners in order to develop their independence and prepare for their future lives after college.
Description of nature of strategy or activity
The college initially provided a range of practical activities for learners as part of classroom sessions, such as making their own t-shirts, mugs and keyrings. Learners refined their skills to such a level that products were of sufficient quality that they could be sold. As a result, learners set up an internal enterprise, selling products to staff and family members.
Due to the success of this strategy, learners set up an online marketplace to sell their products to the public, ‘Beechwood bits and bobs’. Learners completed market research, calculating which items sold best online then adapted their approach to sales, for example through working towards themes each term that would tie into celebrations such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter. Within four weeks of opening their shop, learners had 5-star reviews and had sold out of one of their products.
Learners are responsible for every aspect of the shop from market research, product development to customer service and ensuring items have the correct postage by weighing and measuring and buying the items they are sending. All learners within the college are involved in running the shop. Learners each have a valued role depending on their interests, strengths and abilities. Some design the products, others pack up orders ready for posting, and others walk to the local post box to post items.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
The range of learning experiences available has increased opportunities for learners to develop a broad range of skills. For example, literacy, numeracy, digital skills, communication, self-esteem, social skills and entrepreneurship.
Learners have become more adept in using new machines and processes, this has helped in developing skills for their future lives such as work-related skills. Further, learners have
enhanced physical skills, such as fine motor skills and have reported a positive effect on their self-esteem.
How have you shared your good practice?
The college has shared its work in this area with other specialist colleges, special schools and FE colleges through their partnership working arrangements. Further, the shop exhibited at an autism trade show and has featured in a popular magazine that is read by the autistic community.