A young person must be in education or training until at least their 18th birthday. There is information below on the options available. The eligibility criteria for each option may vary. Please check each section for individual criteria.
After 18, a young person may decide to continue their education or choose options that help them develop independence, life or work skills.
When should I think about it?
It is important for you and your young person to start to consider options a few years before they leave statutory schooling. A careers adviser will arrange meetings with you and your young person and may attend EHCP reviews from Year 9 to find out more about your young person and to answer any questions. In Years 10 and 11. Many Post 16 education providers will offer open days and provide information on the courses they are offering and explain how they support young people with SEND.
Young people will be offered the chance to do some workplace experience during their time in education. This can be anything from 1/2 a day to several weeks, spread over many weeks during a term. Schools and colleges have a responsibility to help students prepare for these kinds of experiences.
What support is available?
Schools and colleges have a duty to provide opportunities for students to meet with employers during their time in education. This could be an employer coming to the school or college to talk about their job, help with a project, give students opportunities to take part in a mock interview or act as a mentor. Many schools and colleges hold careers fairs where students get the chance to talk to lots of employers in one day.
If you and your young person have not been able to meet a career’s adviser before the end of Year 9 it would be best to contact the SENDCO at the school or college.
If your young person has an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan), your EHCP Co-ordinator may be able to provide further information and advice.
Details of further careers advice and support can be found on the SEND Rotherham Local Offer website. Visit SEND Local Offer.
Rotherham SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service) can provide you with impartial advice and support on post 16 options. Visit Rotherham SENDIASS
