The Autism Project - CareTrade

Overview

The Autism Project - CareTrade provides supported internships for young people with autism, helping them develop workplace skills for paid employment. The report describes a "calm environment" where learners enjoy "challenging and meaningful learning experiences" and receive strong support from well-trained employers. Most learners succeed in moving into sustainable employment, reflecting the provider's "high aspirations" for their future careers.

Strengths

• Learners benefit from "good-quality individual programmes" and personalised curricula linked to their career aspirations.
• Employers are "well trained and experienced" in supporting learners, ensuring successful work placements in sectors like catering and administration.
• Tutors create an "inclusive learning centre" where learners participate enthusiastically in exciting lessons.
• Effective assessment tools and journaling help tutors tailor teaching to individual needs, with most learners making "good progress".
• Learners receive helpful careers advice through job clubs and taster placements, leaving them "well informed" of post-course opportunities.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure learner progress is recorded in "sufficient detail" to provide a comprehensive overview of achievements over time.
• The curriculum needs more frequent opportunities for learners to develop knowledge on "personal and social relationships and health topics".
• Leaders should expand access to "high-quality extra-curricular activities" so learners can fully explore their talents and interests.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective," with leaders having "significantly strengthened" procedures since the previous inspection, including robust recruitment and staff training on risks such as county lines and peer-on-peer abuse.