How Employers and Training Providers Can Improve Overall Retention Rates
Retention rates are a critical measure of success for any apprenticeship programme. High retention not only indicates that apprentices are engaged and supported but also that training providers and employers are effectively nurturing talent.
Improving retention rates benefits everyone involved, from the apprentices themselves to the organisations investing in their development.
One key area that often requires more attention is supporting apprentices with learning difficulties and disabilities. These apprentices face higher dropout rates, and addressing their needs can significantly boost overall retention.
Understanding the Higher Dropout Rates
Apprentices with learning difficulties and disabilities often encounter unique challenges that contribute to higher dropout rates. Here’s why:
Societal Barriers and Misconceptions:
These apprentices frequently face societal barriers and misconceptions. Misunderstandings, biases, and low expectations can create an unwelcoming environment, making it difficult for them to succeed.
Inadequate Support:
Without adequate support tailored to their specific needs, apprentices can struggle with both the practical and academic aspects of their programmes. This lack of support can lead to frustration, decreased confidence, and ultimately, a decision to drop out.
Why It Matters
Improved Performance:
Providing the necessary tools and support enables apprentices to work more efficiently and effectively, leading to better performance and successful completion of their apprenticeship programmes.
Everyone Can Do Their Best:
Creating accessible and supportive workplaces ensures that every apprentice has the opportunity to succeed. This allows individuals to showcase their true talents and skills, benefiting both the apprentice and the organisation.
More Ideas and Creativity:
Hiring a diverse team brings fresh ideas and innovative solutions. An inclusive environment that values different perspectives encourages creativity and problem-solving.
Better Team Morale:
Inclusion and support nurtures a positive and collaborative work environment. When everyone feels valued and included, team morale and cooperation improve.
Fairness and Equality:
Making workplaces accessible ensures that all apprentices have an equal chance to succeed. This commitment to fairness promotes a culture of equality and respect.
How We Can Help
Our 5 step wrap around support services at Optimum Student Support help reduce dropout rates by removing barriers and providing the necessary support for apprentices to complete their programmes. Learn how
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is characterised by a predominance of either inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, or a combination of both. The condition involves challenges in managing attention, with considerable variability in how individuals focus on tasks based on their relevance. ADHD individuals often seek sensory stimulation and may have a strong need for movement, which can aid in concentration, anxiety regulation, or serve as a form of release. Organisational tasks can be particularly challenging, and there may be difficulties in retaining information in working memory. Written instructions or note-taking can be beneficial. Support in breaking down tasks and managing organisation is often needed.
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Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity acknowledges the natural variations in human brain function and behavioural traits as integral to human diversity, viewing conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia not as disorders but as different aspects of neurocognitive functioning. It advocates for societal shifts towards greater acceptance, rights, and accommodations for those with neurological differences, emphasizing inclusion and support. The concept of a "spiky profile" integrates with this view, illustrating how individuals may exhibit significant strengths in certain areas while facing challenges in others, further highlighting the diverse spectrum of human abilities and the need for tailored support.
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Dyspraxia
Dyspraxia affects both fine and gross motor skills, significantly impacting writing, typing, and self-care activities. Dyspraxic individuals may also face challenges with memory, attention, perception, and processing, leading to difficulties in planning, organisation, executing actions, or following instructions in the correct order.
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Dyscalculia
Individuals with dyscalculia struggle with mastering arithmetic skills, calculations, number sense, and mathematical reasoning. Challenges often extend to understanding quantities, time, and abstract numerical concepts. Dyscalculia is frequently accompanied by working memory difficulties. Approximately 50% of individuals with dyscalculia also face reading challenges, and many experience significant maths anxiety.
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Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects the ability to develop automatic and fluent word reading and spelling skills. It is often associated with challenges in phonological awareness, which involves understanding and manipulating the sounds in words, and may also impact orthographic processing—the recognition of whole words, letter strings, or spelling patterns. Dyslexic individuals might be self-conscious about reading aloud, which can also hinder comprehension, and may avoid using complex vocabulary in writing to prevent spelling errors. Though not officially part of the diagnostic criteria, dyslexic individuals often struggle with organisation, sequencing, and may have low academic self-esteem. A notable discrepancy exists between their confidence in verbal tasks versus written tasks.
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Autism
According to current diagnostic criteria, autistic individuals face challenges primarily in social communication and exhibit restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour. The severity of these challenges can vary significantly. Many autistic individuals have sensory sensitivities that are particularly challenging in new and unfamiliar environments. Furthermore, they often prefer structured and predictable settings, benefiting from ample time to process information and adapt to changes. Social anxiety can pose a significant challenge in unstructured and unpredictable social situations. While the challenges of autism might be less visible in certain settings, they can still have a profound, cumulative effect on mental health, well-being, and may lead to burnout.
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