Career-Related Learning
Career-Related Learning at Ocker Hill Infant and Nursery School
Empowering Futures from the Start
At Ocker Hill Infant and Nursery School, we believe that every child has a world of possibilities ahead of them. We are passionate about providing our youngest learners, aged 3-7, with an exciting, inclusive, and age-appropriate introduction to the world of careers. Through our Career Related Learning (CRL) programme, we aim to inspire our children, raise their aspirations, and help them understand the importance of learning in reaching their future goals.
Why Career-Related Learning?
Research shows that children start forming ideas about the world of work from an early age. By providing career-related learning experiences in a meaningful, engaging way, we help children see the value in learning and how it connects to real-life possibilities. Our goal is not to direct children down specific career paths but to challenge stereotypes, build confidence, and encourage curiosity about different roles and responsibilities.
Our Vision
Our vision is to - empower every child to soar into their future with curiosity and courage, grounded in our love of learning and diverse community that celebrates each unique journey.
Values
•Understand that all types of jobs and roles have value.
•Feel encouraged to explore their strengths and interests.
•See the importance of diversity and representation in the workplace.
•Challenge stereotypes and learn that anyone can pursue any career, regardless of background.
Meet 'Cam Careers' – Our Learning Character
To help children relate their learning to careers, we have introduced "Cam Careers," our newest learning character. Cam represents curiosity, ambition, and self-belief, guiding children to ask questions and make connections. Through Cam, we encourage children to think about their interests, skill development, and how they can apply what they learn to the broader world.
Our Approach to Career-Related Learning
1. Embedding Careers in the Curriculum
•Our career-related learning (CRL) is naturally integrated into the curriculum, connecting children's learning to real-world skills and professions. Whether it's a science lesson about animals linked to zoology or maths activities that hint at careers in engineering, our teachers find ways to relate classroom topics to careers.
2. Real-Life Role Models
•We invite diverse visitors from various professions to speak to our children. These role models help bring the world of work into the classroom, showing children many possibilities for their futures.
3. Engaging Families and the Community
•Families are an essential part of our CRL programme. We will encourage parents and carers to share their career stories and work closely with local businesses to create meaningful experiences for our children. This partnership will help children see the support they have from the school and community. Each class shares career-related events and experiences on Microsoft Teams which is accessible to our pupils and their parents or carers.
4. Challenging Stereotypes
• We work to challenge stereotypes around gender, race, and social background. We ensure that our displays, resources, and visitors represent the diversity of our community and broader society. We aim to provide children with positive examples of people from all backgrounds succeeding in various careers.
Our Key Objectives in Career-Related Learning
1. Raising Aspirations:
By introducing children to various careers and people, we aim to help them dream big and understand that their future is full of possibilities.
2. Embedding Career Learning Naturally:
CRL is woven into everyday activities, allowing children to understand the relevance of learning to the real world.
3. Challenging Bias and Celebrating Diversity:
We encourage our children to see that they can aspire to any career, regardless of gender, background, or ethnicity.
4. Building Strong Community Connections:
By engaging with local businesses and families, we help children learn about the community around them and the jobs that contribute to it.
Parents and Carers
We welcome and value the involvement of parents and carers in our CRL programme. Whether supporting our CRL events or activities, sharing stories about your work, or encouraging your child to explore their interests, you play a crucial role in helping your child understand and connect with the world of work.
If you are a parent or carer interested in participating in our career-related learning programme, please contact our CRL Lead, Chantelle Charlerie, at admin@ockerhill-inf.sandwell.sch.uk and on 0121 556 1119 for more information.
Preparing Our Children for a Bright Future
Our CRL programme is an exciting and integral part of the education at Ocker Hill Infant and Nursery School. By promoting early curiosity and confidence, we are helping our children grow into resilient, knowledgeable, and inspired individuals ready to take on the future. We are proud to start our children's learning journey in a way that opens doors to a lifetime of opportunity.
