Bloxham Grove amongst specialist schools to benefit from new career advisors
09/06/2025
Teaching assistants are to be trained up for the role
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Oxfordshire are set to benefit from support provided by career advisors, based at specialist schools and colleges in the county, including Bloxham Grove.
The newly trained advisors will be existing teaching assistants, equipped with necessary experience for handling the unique needs of young people with SEND, helping to improve their education and career outcomes.
Oxfordshire County Council is providing the training in collaboration with the Oxfordshire Careers Hub, funded by a grant from the Department for Education. Advisors will receive a Level 6 Diploma in career guidance and development from Activate Learning.
The move is in response to a shortage of qualified career advisors with experience in the needs of children and young people with SEND, and to reduce the need to hire external specialists.
Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “It makes so much sense to train some of our existing teaching assistants. They already have classroom experience and can start using their learning in training straightaway to deliver immediate benefits to our young people.
“Our experience shows that one to one career advice isn’t always the most effective way of engaging with SEND children, so our new specialist trainers – teaching assistants themselves – will offer a much better alternative including group interviews involving parents, support staff and the young people themselves.
“We hope these group sessions will remove barriers, giving young people confidence to ask questions, consider options, and inspire them to pursue exciting career and further education opportunities.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
