Supporting Your Child's Future
At First Rung we are committed to supporting your child to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for their future.
During their time with us, your child will receive careers guidance and support to help them explore their options and make informed decisions about their next steps. We provide a range of opportunities for learners to build important life skills and core competencies that employers value.
These include:
Employment and enterprise activities
Employer engagement, industry insights, careers fairs
Development of key skills such as confidence, communication, and teamwork
We recognise the important role that parents and carers play in supporting young people with their career development.
How parents and carers can support
You play a vital role in supporting your child’s career development. Here are some practical ways you can help:
Talk regularly about their interests, strengths, and future ideas
Share your own experiences of work and different career paths
Encourage opportunities such as workplace visits or work shadowing (where possible)
Help them explore local and national job trends and opportunities
Look out for open days, careers events and training opportunities
Support participation in activities outside their programme, which help build confidence and skills
Encourage them to think about their next steps early and discuss the options available
Support them in preparing for careers guidance sessions or adviser meetings
We also share regular updates about careers activities on the website and in the centres, so please keep an eye out for opportunities your child can take part in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will my child be supported to make career decisions? Your child will have access to structured careers guidance, including 1:1 support, group sessions and exposure to employers and training opportunities.
Will my child learn about different pathways? Yes — we provide information on a wide range of progression routes, including employment, apprenticeships, further education and training.
How do you support learners with additional needs? We tailor our support to meet individual needs, working closely with pastoral and safeguarding teams to ensure all learners are supported effectively.
Can parents be involved in careers discussions? Yes, we encourage parents and carers to support their child’s decision-making and welcome any conversation or questions.
Who can I contact if I have concerns or need advice? You can contact our team directly at:
Ponders End – John Craig or Shelley Burke (020 8803 4764)
Colindale/ Hemel Hempstead – Toni Davison or Ron Akoobo (020 8201 3111)
Useful Careers Resources
You may find the following websites helpful when supporting your child:
If you would like further support or guidance, please don’t hesitate to contact us — we are here to help you and your child plan for a positive future.