Analysis: The work experience programme is not available in special schools and not all students in special classes in mainstream schools are offered it
A quick Google search of my local paper and the words "Transition Year" yields multiple results with articles written by Transition Year (TY) students in Galway city and county on work experience with the newspaper. Each student regales their enthusiasm and value gained from the TY experience, exploring the pros and cons and explainers on what was traditionally referred to as 'the gap year'. Indeed, there were over 60,500 students in more than 700 post-primary schools accessing TY in 2024 according to the Department of Education & Youth.
In recent years, TY has faced some criticism for creating barriers for some students owing to the financial costs incurred by parents with calls for it to be funded equally for all students. Since the introduction of the Transition Year Programme Statement, schools have autonomy to create a TY programme that fosters personal growth, leadership, civic and community engagement and career exploration.
While for some schools this may mean the exciting school trips or the production of a school musical, a core and hugely valuable aspect of TY is work experience. Many parents can be overheard in the weeks leading up to it asking friends, neighbours and colleagues "Can you take my lady for a few weeks?". While students up and down the country are encouraged to source work experience themselves, inevitably for many, it is left to the parents or guardians to source it, often resulting in the student taking what they can get in terms of a placement.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
From RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline, is Transition Year a good idea? Listeners discuss the benefits and problems with Transition Year
For some parents however, the hidden privilege of scrambling for their child's work experience does not exist. For parents of students with special educational needs and disabilities attending special schools and some mainstream post-primary schools, it is unlikely that their child will access work experience.
This is because the TY programme is not available to special schools. Additionally, not all students in special classes in mainstream schools are offered TY, a key access issue which the Department of Education & Youth have instructed schools to amend in their admissions policies:
Type of clause that must be removed:
"At post primary level, stating that the programme for the students in the special class is of five years duration, even though students in the same school who were not enrolled in the special class, have the option of a six-year programme" - Example: 'The Transition Year Programme is within the mainstream school and not part of the ASD class programme’
Some special schools may facilitate work experience through other curricula, for example through certain QQi modules or Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA). However, a recent survey indicated that this practice is limited and may not be available to all students in the school.
Special schools face challenges due to the absence of a framework to structure work experience, such as TY. In this research curricular barriers, staffing and resources issues were identified.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
From RTÉ Radio 1's Today With David McCullagh, TY students helping the elderly with their tech
Coupled with this, schools reported that many parents lacked personal resources and contacts to secure a placement. An additional barrier that was identified was that many businesses are reluctant to take on a student with a special educational need or disability due to perceived insurance costs and risks.
Despite this, there are a number of examples of companies, large and small, across the country that provide a rich and valuable work experience for this cohort of students. In a recent Irish study, students, parents and teachers provided a range of examples of the benefits of work experience, particularly when it aligns with the students area of interest.
From RTÉ Archives, 'Newsline' asked some Transition Year students in the Marist Brothers School in Athlone about their experiences in 1989.
These include gaining independence and self-advocacy skills, with some research participants reporting that they gained meaningful part-time employment as a result of their work experience. Students in one special school spoke about work experiences in car dealerships, local coffee shops, large DIY stores, nursing homes and haulage companies to name a few, with one teacher explaining how students in their school were sought after from local businesses each year.
Many Irish businesses highlighted the value of supporting a young person with a disability through work experience, with forthcoming research highlighting the retail sector as exhibiting leadership in this area. Ireland currently has one of the lowest disability employment rates in Europe, yet special schools continue to lack the resources to facilitate work experience for their students.
Given our commitments to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is necessary to support all students to develop relevant skills so they can transition successfully into employment. The Department of Education & Youth recognise and promote work experience through the new Senior Cycle Level 1 & 2 Programmes, stating in 2024 that:
"Work experience is an important aspect of Senior Cycle education as it supports many students on their progression pathways after Senior Cycle. Work experience is encouraged for students but is most beneficial when it is appropriate and meaningful for the student’s needs, interests and ambitions."
However, to date there are no modules or structures provided to special schools on how best to facilitate this key transition preparation activity.
We have developed a new website and guidelines which aim to support mainstream, special schools and potential employers to facilitate work experience. If your business is interested in supporting work experience for students with special educational needs or disabilities, get in touch to have your company listed.
Follow RTÉ Brainstorm on WhatsApp and Instagram for more stories and updates
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
