FOUR Keighley College students with special needs are excelling in a pioneering partnership with a Steeton firm.

The quartet – Tom Waddington , Kassam Khan, Ahdnan Younis and Max Soundy – is taking part in weekly work placements at Acorn Stairlifts.

The students have been doing sub-assembly work and making special boxes used to connect stairlift rails.

Keighley College job coach, Shameem Koser, said: “Watching the students’ faces on their first day was a picture and you could see their sense of achievement, as they’d never travelled out of Keighley on their own before.

“It’s been fantastic working with Acorn. Staff have made the students feel part of the workforce and ensured adjustments were in place to meet their needs.

“The college is proud to be working with local companies to offer students real industry experience to hone their skills and prepare for the working world.”

Acorn manufacturing manager, Andrew Longthorne, said the company was delighted to host the students.

“They’ve had a positive effect on the production team – surpassing daily targets and looking to get involved in more complex work,” he added. “Having them here has been well received within the factory.”