Enterprise – Northcott School

Business enterprise

Our CEIAG learning journey includes opportunities for young people to be involved in work-related learning right from Little Blossoms through to Year 14. In Post 16 this culminates with the creation of our two enterprise businesses. These provide formal opportunities for our young people to contribute to the running and management of two key businesses, under the guidance of our sixth-form staff. Our 6th formers are involved in the face-to-face running, the behind-the-scenes management, or the financial element of business management such as stock taking and budget planning.

Learn transferrable skills

Our third area of focus is Enterprise. We recognise that enterprise activities offer a wealth of transferrable skills that our young people can apply to further study, the world of work and builds self-reliance and self-confidence.

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Brand new sixth form facilities for students aged 16-19

Offering adaptable, bespoke learning opportunities. To encourage independence and move young people towards adulthood.

The Salon

‘The Salon’ is a purpose-built hairdressing salon that allows pupils to wash and style hair as well as offer manicures. This business has two hair washing stations, two styling stations and a nail bar. Pupils will use techniques learned at college to wash and style hair, give manicures and hand massages as well as allow them to work on social communication skills and front-of-house customer service. They are responsible for the health and safety of products and equipment in ‘The Salon’ as well as the cleanliness of the business at the close down of each day. It is open formally to staff, pupils, and visitors and to peers for social time.

Reducing sensory overload

This business also helps our younger pupils to accept that hairdressers are a safe place, as pupils with autism often are distressed by the sounds and smells of a hairdressers. We work with these pupils through social stories to support parents with hair styling and reducing the sensory overload that a hairdressers may give some of our younger pupils.

The Bistro

‘The Bistro’ is a purpose-built catering kitchen. All the pupils complete appropriate Food Hygiene certificates before working in ‘The Bistro’ and many will gain BTEC Food and Nutrition L2. It is open to staff, pupils, parents, events and for the sixth formers to cater for themselves. The young people are expected to be involved in all tasks such as ordering ingredients and stock taking, preparing and cooking food, taking payment, serving and clearing tables cleaning. This provision also provides an on-site café for those unable to successfully access offsite cafes due to the unpredictability of queueing, noise or sensory overload.

Developing work-related skills

‘The Bistro’ is an enterprise project aimed at developing work-related skills but it is also aimed at increasing our 6th formers social communication skills and independence.