Easy Read Education and Employment

The majority of young people with SEND leaving school after year 11, with either SEN Support or an EHC Plan, will access a local further education or sixth form college. Further education and sixth form colleges have a statutory responsibility to meet the needs of young people with SEND. There is a named person who oversees SEND provision and co-ordinates support similar to the role of the school SENCo.

Some young people with SEN, attending either a local mainstream or special school for their secondary education, will continue into the sixth form or post-16 provision of the school, if this is available. Other young people may join these schools for year 12, place dependent. Others may leave and attend a local further education or sixth form college.

Work based learning opportunities are offered by a number of colleges and training providers across Wakefield. These include:

Apprenticeships:

These are paid jobs that incorporate training, leading to nationally recognised qualifications. Apprentices earn as they learn and gain practical skills in the workplace. Many lead to highly skilled careers. Apprenticeships - are a different form of training because they only last for a set time. This could be between one to four years, the young person gets paid and has holiday time whilst they learn. The employer and the training provider are each responsible for aspects of the EHC Plan outcomes. Young people with EHC Plans can retain their EHC Plan when on an apprenticeship.

Traineeships

These are designed to help young people who want to get an apprenticeship or job but don’t yet have appropriate skills or experience. They last for a maximum of six months and include core components of work preparation training, English and Maths (unless GCSE 1-4* standard has already been achieved) and a high quality work experience placement. They are currently open to young people aged 16 to 24, including those with EHC Plans. Young people with EHC plans can retain their plan when undertaking a traineeship.

Supported internships:

These are structured study programmes for young people who retain their EHC Plan’s and based primarily at an employer. They enable young people to achieve sustainable paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace. Supported internships are unpaid work placements, and last for a minimum of six months/year. Wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme. Alongside their time at the employer, young people complete a personalised study programme which includes the opportunity to study for relevant substantial qualifications, if appropriate, and English and maths

 

Project SEARCH Wakefield

Project SEARCH Wakefield is a unique pre-employment programme (Supported Internship) based at Pinderfields Hospital and NEXT Distribution Centre which helps young people with SEND gain the skills they need to acquire meaningful paid jobs.

 

Project Search aims to promote social inclusion, increase confidence and overall independence for individuals aged 16 plus with SEND. The internship provides specialist support for young people with barriers to finding and remaining in work through training, assessment and individual development.

 

Additionally, Project Search post support aims to enable an employee to remain in work and offer support with sourcing adaptations/further training in the workplace.

 

Wakefield Project SEARCH consists of, 2 Qualified Teaching staff for both sites at Next and Pinderfields Hospital and 4 dedicated Job Coaches.

The programmes remit includes,

• Supported voluntary placements
• Travel training (if required)
• On-the-job support through the Job Coaches
• Benefit guidance where possible
• Sign posting to other agencies/organisations
• Job search support including 1:1 and group job search, CV building, completing application forms and interview techniques
• Support while attending interviews
• Support during classroom accredited training
• Assist in the transition between Children’s Services/education into Adult Services

You can read a case study on a young man and how his Supported Internship led to paid employment as well as finding out more about our supported internship pathway here.

Read more about Wakefield College courses and pathways to find out what they offer.

Work based learning opportunities are offered by a number of colleges and training providers across Wakefield. These include:

Apprenticeships:

These are paid jobs that incorporate training, leading to nationally recognised qualifications. Apprentices earn as they learn and gain practical skills in the workplace. Many lead to highly skilled careers. Apprenticeships - are a different form of training because they only last for a set time. This could be between one to four years, the young person gets paid and has holiday time whilst they learn. The employer and the training provider are each responsible for aspects of the EHC Plan outcomes. Young people with EHC Plans can retain their EHC Plan when on an apprenticeship.

Traineeships

These are designed to help young people who want to get an apprenticeship or job but don’t yet have appropriate skills or experience. They last for a maximum of six months and include core components of work preparation training, English and Maths (unless GCSE 1-4* standard has already been achieved) and a high quality work experience placement. They are currently open to young people aged 16 to 24, including those with EHC Plans. Young people with EHC plans can retain their plan when undertaking a traineeship.

Supported internships:

These are structured study programmes for young people who retain their EHC Plan’s and based primarily at an employer. They enable young people to achieve sustainable paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace. Supported internships are unpaid work placements, and last for a minimum of six months/year. Wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme. Alongside their time at the employer, young people complete a personalised study programme which includes the opportunity to study for relevant substantial qualifications, if appropriate, and English and maths

 

Project SEARCH Wakefield

Project SEARCH Wakefield is a unique pre-employment programme (Supported Internship) based at Pinderfields Hospital and NEXT Distribution Centre which helps young people with SEND gain the skills they need to acquire meaningful paid jobs.

 

Project Search aims to promote social inclusion, increase confidence and overall independence for individuals aged 16 plus with SEND. The internship provides specialist support for young people with barriers to finding and remaining in work through training, assessment and individual development.

 

Additionally, Project Search post support aims to enable an employee to remain in work and offer support with sourcing adaptations/further training in the workplace.

 

Wakefield Project SEARCH consists of, 2 Qualified Teaching staff for both sites at Next and Pinderfields Hospital and 4 dedicated Job Coaches.

The programmes remit includes,

• Supported voluntary placements
• Travel training (if required)
• On-the-job support through the Job Coaches
• Benefit guidance where possible
• Sign posting to other agencies/organisations
• Job search support including 1:1 and group job search, CV building, completing application forms and interview techniques
• Support while attending interviews
• Support during classroom accredited training
• Assist in the transition between Children’s Services/education into Adult Services

You can read a case study on a young man and how his Supported Internship led to paid employment as well as finding out more about our supported internship pathway here.

Read more about Wakefield College courses and pathways to find out what they offer.

The SEND Code of Practice 2015, chapter 8.49 says “Local authorities should be ambitious for children and young people with SEN, raising aspirations and promoting high expectations about what they can achieve in school, college and beyond”. Local authorities should ensure and young people have access to the right support and opportunities that will prepare them successfully for adulthood by helping them achieve the agreed outcomes in their EHC Plan. This will enable many more young people with SEN to complete their formal education.

One of the most important things you need to consider, and possibly one of the biggest challenges, is getting a job. If you want to move straight into employment after education you should be looking and applying for jobs at least 3 months before leaving. In our Employment section you will find information about different types of work and routes into employment available such as employment focused courses, supported internships, apprenticeships, work experience, and supported employment. You will also be able to filter the search results by the type of Special Educational Need, Age and Post Code.

Please see the Info Page Employment to learn about finding a job.

Ambitious About Autism now has a Transition to Employmnent Toolkit. You can download this for free. It is for young people, but parents, carers and professionals also might find it useful.