Preparation for adulthood

Post-16 education and employment

Support at school to help prepare for adulthood

Schools provide support to help the young person as they grow up in lots of different ways and their form tutor or the school SENDCo can discuss this.

Schools have a legal duty to provide impartial careers advice and guidance to all young people from at least Year 8 (12 - 13 years of age). This must be adapted to the needs of pupils with SEND. Under the Equality Act (2010) this is called ‘Making reasonable adjustments’.

Schools should work with employers, housing agencies, disability organisations and arts and sports groups to help young people to understand what their options are as they get older. The young person’s current school should help advise and support the young person to explore the options and find suitable courses in good time to make the right decision.

As well as getting advice from the young person’s current school, information can be found on the National Careers Service website.

If the young person has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) then this discussion and preparation should be part of their Annual Review from Year 9 onwards. At every Annual Review it is important to prepare for the next stage, and it is good practice to start preparing for adulthood earlier than Year 9.

From Year 9 the Annual Review format will change to incorporate the 4 pathways:

1. Employment
2. Independent living
3. Community Inclusion
4. Health

Education Health and Care Plans (EHC plans) can be ceased for a number of reasons – See SEN Code of Practice Section (3.2MB PDF), Section 9 page 202 for further detail .

Discussions will take place at the annual review about recommendations to maintain, amend or cease an EHC plan.
 
If the Local Authority agrees with a recommendation to cease an EHC plan, a proposal to cease letter will be sent to the young person and parents/carers can be copied into this letter. Reasons why a proposal to cease has been sent will be indicated in the letter and a chance to discuss this will be given in case of any concerns. If no response is received to this letter a final cease letter will be sent out 15 days after the proposal to cease letter.
 
If you have any concerns about a proposal to cease letter that has been sent to you please get in touch to discuss this further. Contact details will be on the letter you receive.
 
EHC plans do not automatically remain in place until the age 25. Young people are expected to be making progress with their learning and this will be discussed at the annual review meeting.

Education options at 16

There are a number of options for the young person to consider for after the school year that they turn 16 (year 11). Preparation and planning for after the young person is 16 should start well before they reach this age.

A young person can legally leave school on the last Friday in June at the end of the school year in which they turn 16 (normally the end of year 11).

Education has a wide meaning after the age of 16. It does not have to lead to qualifications and employment and can include a personalised programme of small steps of learning towards a particular skill, such as communication or a social skill. For students with severe or complex needs a study programme to develop independent living skills may be more appropriate to their needs.

However, all young people must do one of the following until the age of 18:

• stay in full time education, for example at school or college (full time study at Further Education (FE) college is typically 18 hours a week over 3 or 4 days)
• start an apprenticeship or supported internship
• start a study programme at a training provider
• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering while in part time education or training

Staying at school

The young person could stay on into Post 16 / sixth form at their current school if that school has post 16 provision or a sixth form that can offer the courses / provision that the young person wants and needs.
Alternatively, they could move to another school with a sixth form or post 16 educational provision. Staying in school may provide continued structure and stability for them if they are not quite ready to move on.

If the young person has an EHCP, whatever option they choose, they can still keep their EHCP as long as they are doing some form of education or training that helps them to achieve the outcomes in their EHCP and they continue to make progress with their learning.

It is important to know that you still need to apply for a place at college or an independent learning provider through their website or enrolment centre, as well as requesting a change of placement at the next Annual Review of the EHCP. Colleges will have information on the application process on their websites.

It is helpful to visit the different options with the young person to see what is on offer. Open days at colleges and training providers are usually advertised and happen throughout the year.

If you think the young person might need special arrangements to help them to have a successful visit, then talk to the college support and training provider team beforehand so they can put this in place.

Sometimes colleges and training providers will offer taster sessions for young people with SEND to support their transition. This usually happens in the summer term. Talk to the young person’s school about what happens in the area.

Mainstream Further Education (FE) colleges

Mainstream colleges offer lots of different courses and a range of qualifications to suit a range of levels of learning, for example:

• academic courses such as GCSEs
• apprenticeships
• T Levels
• vocational education programmes (such as BTECs)
• 'stepping stone' courses in Maths and English
• study programmes (which all include work experience).
• 'life skills' courses to help young people prepare for adult life, work and participating in the community

Statutory duties on post-16 institutions

Further education settings must make reasonable adjustments for all students with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

They also have a duty to use their best endeavours to secure the special educational provision that the young person needs. This duty applies to further education colleges, sixth form colleges, training providers and 16-19 academies.

Its purpose is to ensure that providers give the right support to their students with SEN. They must fulfil this duty for students with SEN whether or not the students have EHC plans. This duty applies in respect of students with SEN up to age 25 in further education.

Young people should be supported to participate in discussions about their aspirations, their needs, and the support that they think will help them best.

Support should be aimed at promoting student independence and enabling the young person to make good progress towards employment and/or higher education, independent living, good health and participating in the community.

Post-16 colleges

Young people over 19 without EHC plans can be charged tuition fees, depending on the type and level of course they’re studying. Learners on certain benefits may be exempt: check the college’s fee remission policy.

Certain courses may be free, for example basic maths, English or employment skills, or a first GCSE or A level course. Colleges may be able to help point you in the direction of bursaries and financial support.

There is no cost if the young person has an EHC plan, as long as the course meets the outcomes in their EHC plan.

The young person’s needs and wishes are important. Courses need to match their interests and abilities. The young person’s current school can help to explore the options, and local providers will also be able to help the young person to decide.

They may have some smaller classes or special provision to support the young person to access the provision. It is worth having a look at courses and qualifications on offer at different providers and the support they provide for young people with additional needs before visiting.

If the young person has chosen a suitable college, they will need to apply for a place through the college enrolment process. Their school will be able to help with this and should work with the new setting to ensure a smooth transition into the next stage of their study.

A full time course is typically delivered over 3-4 days.

If the young person has an EHC plan, the local authority will consider whether support across five days a week is required to meet their needs. This does not have to be at one provider. Some of this support may be funded by adult social care.

Education for young people can include a mixture of college-based learning and other activities such as work experience, volunteering, independent travel training, managing money or communication and self- help skills.

Support available in FE provision

Mainstream further education (FE) colleges must make reasonable adjustments for students with special educational needs. Colleges should not refuse to admit a young person who has special educational needs (SEN) but doesn’t have an EHC plan.

Many young people with SEN will also be disabled. Under the Equality Act 2010, mainstream FE colleges must do everything they reasonably can to remove all the barriers to learning for disabled students.

Students with SEN who do not need EHC plans are given help through SEN support. This includes following the special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0-25 years.

There should be a named person in overall charge of SEN provision, similar to the school special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), and the college must make sure that students with SEN know who they can go to for help.

Extra help the young person receives should be detailed in an Individual Learning Plan, which is like a SEN support plan. The college should involve the young person in planning their support and keep records of the additional support given and progress made.

This should be reviewed at least three times a year with the young person and, where appropriate, the family. Colleges should refer to specialist services for further advice and support where needed.

Support might include:

• accessible information, like symbol-based materials
• mentoring
• assistive technology, specialist tuition or note-takers
• one-to-one and small group learning support
• access to therapies
• developing independence skills

Young people who need more help and support than a mainstream FE college could normally provide from their own resources may need an EHC plan. They may transition to college with an EHC plan or you, the young person or the college can request an EHC Assessment.

Specialist colleges and learning providers

Specialist post-16 institutions provide education for young people with SEN who have an EHC plan who need to access a specialist curriculum.

Some specialist colleges also help their students to attend courses in mainstream colleges as part of the curriculum.

The local authority can be asked to consult with a specialist college following an annual review of the EHC plan. The local authority will need to consider their choice alongside alternative options that can meet the young person’s needs. If there are other options that can meet their needs, they may refuse the request but if this is the case further discussions will be held. 

Local provision for post-16 education

You can find local colleges, specialist colleges and training providers on the Local Offer directory.

You will still have to make an application to the College if the young person has an EHC plan.

Training or work experience / finding a job

Education does not have to be all classroom-based learning in a school or college. There are also training options, which give a young person the chance to experience a workplace and develop the skills they will need in finding or doing a particular job while continuing to study.

There are a range of options which include:

• supported internship
• study programme with work experience placements 
• study programme
• apprenticeship
• paid job
• voluntary placement

Supported internship

A supported internship is a type of study programme that helps support and prepare a young person aged 16 to 24 with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for employment.

It is anticipated that this will lead to employment with an employer who has supported the internship or another employer. Most of the learning for a supported internship is done at work, with some delivered through the provider.

They are designed to enable young people with SEND to achieve sustainable, paid employment by helping them to learn the skills that they need for work. Internships normally last for a year and include unpaid work placements of at least 6 months.

Young people complete a personalised study programme which includes the chance to study for qualifications relevant to that particular type of workplace as well as appropriate levels in English and Maths. Job Coaches provide in-work support for young people which reduces as the young person becomes more familiar with their role.

Young people can apply for a supported internship though the Provider.

A range of providers offer supported internships locally and in the surrounding area - see a list of supported internship providers on the Local Offer directory.

16-19 study programme

All study programmes are designed to provide students with a structured and challenging learning programme that supports their development and progression in line with their career plans.

Study programmes are individually tailored, but will typically combine:

1. substantial qualifications that stretch students and prepare them for education at the next level or for employment
2. English and Maths, where students have not yet achieved a GCSE grade 4
3. work experience to give students the opportunity to develop their career choices and to apply their skills in real working conditions
4. other non-qualification activity to develop students’ character, broader skills, attitudes and confidence, and support progression

Work experience

If a young person does not really know what they want to do when they leave school, work experience is a good way to try out different options, as well as giving them an introduction into what it is like to be in the world of work.

It helps to identify areas of strength and areas the young person may want to work on. Young people may need support to help them make the most of work experience, for example helping them to work out what questions they want to ask other employees about what it is like

Work experience shows possible future employers that a young person is interested and motivated to work in a chosen career.

If the young person is still at school or college, then they will help them to find work experience. Work experience can also be arranged directly by the young person or with support from their parent.

University

Young people may progress to a higher education course (degree level) at university when they are 18 if they achieve the required qualifications.

An EHC plan automatically ends once a young person moves into higher education. However, extra support is still available. Universities have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students. This can include support such as flexible seminar times, support for study skills or access to specialist computer software.

A planned transition to Higher Education should be as smooth as possible. Once the young person’s place has been confirmed at a Higher Education Institution, if the young person asks them to, the local authority must pass a copy of their EHC plan to the relevant person in that institution at the earliest opportunity.

Students with higher needs may qualify for a Disabled Students’ Allowance to fund specific help such as note takers, sign language interpreters or computer equipment.

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships can be available to young people over 16 with or without EHC plans, and they can lead to qualifications from GCSE level up to degree or diploma level.

Apprenticeships provide on the job training and a qualification with an employer alongside some study at college. Apprentices get paid a salary which includes paid holidays and pay while they are at college. They provide a mixture of practical (on the job) learning with formal learning in FE College or with private training companies.

Apprenticeship training can take between 1 and 5 years to complete, depending on its level, the type of job and the skills the young person already has.

Apprenticeship providers receive funding for all young people, and the amount is increased for a young person with an EHC plan.

You can search for an apprenticeship on the Gov.UK website.

Paid work

A paid job might be with a business or a supported enterprise through a Supported Employment Scheme. A Supported Employment Scheme provides support to a young person to develop their CV, learn interview and work skills and apply for jobs and keep a job.

Find out more about the West Northamptonshire Supported Employment Scheme.

Funding for travel and equipment may be available if the young person has a disability via the Access to Work grant.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a really good way for young people to use their talents, learn new skills, get experience in a workplace, meet new people as well as doing something useful to support others.

It is also good for their CV as many employers are looking for people who have some workplace experience and somewhere they can call on for a reference. Volunteering can be flexible.

Volunteer agencies include:

• Daventry Volunteer Centre
• South Northants Volunteer Bureau (SNVB)
• Adult Social Services: Learning, Independence, Volunteering, and Employment (LIVE)
• Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire

Search the Local Offer directory.

Last updated 09 January 2024