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The most widely used career guidance programme in the country! |
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REACH+ is a comprehensive career and college preparation programme from CareersPortal.ie, spanning TY through to 6th year, with some Guidance Counsellors even starting the programme in 3rd year. It also supports the TY, LCA and LCVP programmes and can be customised for each year group.
REACH+ is now the most widely used Career Guidance Programme in the country. It has been devised by and for Guidance Counsellors in Ireland and continues to be developed based on direct feedback and input from the guidance community.
REACH+ is designed to be engaging – it includes questionnaires, inventories, action plans, assignments and supporting videos. The Programme is divided into five main areas spanning the requirements of most school guidance programmes.
- Career Planning and Research
- Self-Assessment
- Study Performance
- World of Education
- World of Work
Most topics have corresponding lesson plans and exercises developed by Guidance Counsellors, to assist in delivering the programme. There are 67 exercises in the handbook and many additional exercises on-line.
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REACH+ is an integrated programme. It uses classroom-based learning through student handbooks, combined with web-based learning through the dedicated REACH+ area within the CareersPortal website. Whether you have access to a computer room or not, the programme works well in all settings.
- In a classroom setting, the REACH+ programme can be run successfully using a whiteboard and the handbook
- Where IT facilities allow it, REACH+ can be run entirely online
- Or, using the handbook in a standard classroom setting, where students complete the online work at home or on their smart phones / tablets.
Optimal use of the programme is realised when both the handbook and online tools are utilised. The programme is activity based – learning by doing. It encourages class interaction, co-operative learning and reactive thinking.
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3. Unique On-Line Student Career File
Students are encouraged to record their progress on-line throughout the programme, and information stored online is accessible to their Guidance Counsellors. A students’ progress over a range of topics can be easily monitored and tracked, and reports can be viewed or printed as required.
Below is a screen shot of a standard on-line Student Career File. You can see that it mirrors the handbook and is divided into the same five main areas.
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4. LCVP and TY Modules
The LCVP modules have also been incorporated in the World of Work section. The careers investigation and diary of work experience for TY programmes are also integrated.
LCVP, LCA and TY Co-Ordinators can have administration access to the apps relevant to their programmes in REACH+.
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5. Guidance Administration |
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An innovative part of the REACH+ Programme is the Guidance Administration. Guidance Professionals have access to a complete online administration tool from where they can manage their REACH+ programme. Through this area, they are provided with a wide range of resource materials to assist in the delivery of the programme, including a suggested programme plan for 4th, 5th and 6th year, Lesson Plans, PowerPoint presentations and videos. This private area is only available to Guidance Counsellors and is accessed by a login and password. |
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6. Unique Features & Developments
Online Feedback Facility
Reach+ facilitates easy communication between the GC and students. Administrators can provide feedback directly on the work that students have completed in the apps on their online portfolio. Individual class groups can also be emailed.
Customising your Programme
The online programme includes a facility enabling administrators to tailor the Student Career File to include only those Apps appropriate to their particular school programme. So TY students, for example, can access a different set of Apps to LC students, or even LCVP students.
Online Student Appointments Diary and Calendar
Administrators can manage their appointments diary and calendar online. Students can request a meeting through their REACH+ file. This facility also includes a video call option for remote appointments when students or guidance counsellors are not in school.
Sharing documents through REACH+ with Students
Important docments / worksheets / forms up to 50MB can be shared with students at the click of a button through REACH+ and at the same time also made available for parents on the dedicated guidance webpage.
Personalised reports for each student
Each student can have a personalised report printed off based on the work and research they have completed on the REACH+ Programme. These reports are generated instantly and can be customised easily by you to include or exclude different elements of their work. These reports are ideal for one to ones, parent teacher meetings and for sending home with report cards.
New PowerPoint Whiteboard Presentations for each REACH+ topic are being rolled out. These will be available in both English and Irish to support the delivery of your REACH+ Programme
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7. REACH+ Training and User Support
CareersPortal provide training in the use of REACH+ on an annual basis in schools and educational centres around the country and remotely via the online video conferencing platform 'Zoom'.
Support is also available by phone, email and through all our social media channels including a dedicated WhatsApp group.
Training dates are posted in the Guidance Professionals area of the CareersPortal.ie website and are also available on the Career Guidance Events Calendar.
We also have a dedicated FAQ page for users of the programme and a series of administration support videos which talks you through everything step by step.
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8. REACH+ Guidance Website
As part of the REACH+ programme we have designed a website template for Guidance Counsellors which can be customised for your own school guidance deparmtent and can be linked to from your main school website as well as being readily available to students from within their REACH+ online portfolio.
The Guidance Website can be quickly and easily updated from within the administration area. It is now possible to avail of the REACH+ Website facility as a stand-alone facility. Contact us for details. This facility is also available in Irish.
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9. REACH+ Testimonials
What Guidance Counsellors using REACH+ say about it ...
Using REACH+ has transformed the delivery of guidance in the classroom for me. Beginning with Transition Year students, the programme provides a great opportunity to introduce students to Career Interest Assessments, subject choice information, general career information and using the CAO and PLC routes as entry into colleges. The website is very user friendly with information at your fingertips.
Apps like the Guidance Interview, Exam Targets and Self-Assessment are particularly useful when meeting with the students for individual guidance. The ease of access to student information helps to maximize the time spent with them. The guidance noticeboard with daily postings of upcoming events, college notices and career updates keep students abreast with information essential to the career process they are engaged with.
I cannot underestimate the benefits of using REACH+. I would highly recommend to anyone who is looking for an all in one guidance resource.
Marjorie Aherne Guidance Counsellor – Scoil Mhuire – Ennistymon – Co Clare
To see what other Guidance Counsellors have to say about the programme check out this link
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10. REACH+ Order and Purchase Process
The REACH+ programme comes in the form of a handbook imprinted with a licence code. Students register to careersportal.ie and input their code. Their REACH+ student account is then valid for the duration their senior cycle and can be accessed from any device, anywhere.
A licence only version of REACH+ is available for schools who do not require the book. Licence-only purchases come in the form of an A4 leaflet imprinted with the access code, for distribution to students. These include full registration instructions and access is valid for the duration of senior cycle.
Ordering
The REACH+ programme, along with our popular WorkXperience Diary and Dialann Taithí Oibre can be ordered directly from CareersPortal. To place your order:
Should you require a quotation to raise a Purchase Order (PO) number, this can be supplied in advance on request.
Direct Purchase
When purchased directly from CareersPortal, REACH+ handbooks will be delivered directly to your school, together with a complimentary Teacher Copy for Guidance Counsellors who are new to the programme. Administration access will also be given at this stage and the Guidance Counsellor will be set-up up with a demo student account on REACH+ so that he/she can experience the programme from the student’s perspective.
Bookshops
It is possible to order REACH+ directly from a school bookshop. If you would prefer this option, simply contact the CareersPortal office in advance, with details of your school bookshop and we can discuss the necessary arrangements. You can then put REACH+ on your school booklist in advance of the summer holiday break.
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For additional information on the programme please do not hesitate to contact us on 01 - 209 0797 or 01- 440 2314 or you can email the office directly at info@careersportal.ie
Download Programme Brochure here
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