cosmicfutures

Feb 28, 20224 min read

Options at 16+

Updated: Mar 3, 2022

‘An option is something that you can choose to do in preference to one or more alternatives’

Today we are focussing on options for 16 – 25 year olds.

You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.

You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

•stay in full-time education

•combine work and study

•volunteer or work part-time and study

Young people aged 16 and 17, who have not attained level 3 qualifications are under a duty to continue in education or training until the young person’s 18th birthday. The statutory duty does not extend until the end of the academic year in which the young person turns 18. Young people should however be encouraged to complete the education or training they are undertaking beyond their 18th birthday.

Staying in full time education

Can include:

•courses that prepare you for adult life, work and taking part in the community

•English and maths skills

•academic subjects leading to GCSEs or A levels

•work-related courses like T Levels or BTECs

You can do a study programme at a:

•mainstream or special school sixth form

•sixth form college

•college of further education

•specialist college for students with special educational needs

Combining work and study

Can include

Traineeships:

•A course that includes a work placement that will get you ready for an apprenticeship or a job.

•You’ll get work experience and some help to apply for your next steps. You can also improve your maths and English skills.

Supported internships:

•For young people with learning difficulties or learning disabilities, who need extra support to get a job.

•You'll spend most of your time on placements with an employer, learning skills for work. You'll also get help from a tutor and a job coach in college or with a specialist provider.

Apprenticeships:

•Intermediate, advanced, higher and degree apprenticeships combine practical on-the-job skills training with off-the-job learning.

•You'll get training that is relevant to your job and be paid a salary.

•Start at a level to suit you, with support if you have special educational needs or a disability.

Work or volunteer and study part-time

•Between 16 and 18 you can work or volunteer for 20 hours or more if you combine it with part-time study or training.

After your eighteenth birthday options include:

•Post-16 School or Further Education (Schools can only be funded to have students within their post-16 provision until the academic year in which you turn 19)

• Higher Education

•Training including Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Supported Internships

• Voluntary Work

• Employment

• Self-Employment/Entrepreneurship

• Community-based activities

Is there support available for Disabled young people?

•Colleges and training providers are not allowed to turn students away due to the cost of their support, nor are they allowed to charge students for their support. Under the Equality Act 2010, they must make reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled students being placed at a ‘substantial disadvantage’. They receive money from the ESFA to meet the costs of reasonable adjustments. In colleges this is usually called Learning Support and it is provided in a way to enable them to be flexible in the way they support all their students.

•If you’re aged 19-24 and have very high support needs you may have an EHC plan and get individual funding from your local authority. If not, the college can apply for extra money called Exceptional Learning Support.

•Whatever your situation, you can expect extra disability-related study costs to be covered by the education provider under the Equality Act.

You can apply for Access to Work www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview towards extra work-related costs.

Access to Work can help pay for support you may need because of your disability or long term health condition, for example:

•aids and equipment in your workplace

•adapting equipment to make it easier for you to use

•money towards any extra travel costs to and from work if you can’t use available public transport, or if you need help to adapt your vehicle

•an interpreter or other support at a job interview if you have difficulty communicating

•other practical help at work, such as a job coach or a note taker or lip speaker

Traineeship or apprenticeship:

•Apprentices with an EHC plan or ‘legacy statement’ can apply for an adjustment to the minimum standards of English and Maths required.

•With the employer’s agreement, Entry Level, Level 1 or 2 Functional Skills can be included in an apprentice’s training package. British Sign Language can be an alternative to English Functional Skills for Deaf people whose first language is BSL.

•Providers can apply for Exceptional Learning Support if support costs exceed £19,000 in any one funding year.

•You can also apply for Access to Work support - including the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service for Apprentices

•If a disabled adult has been assessed as having needs for care and support from the local authority, they will receive a care and support plan and advice about decisions on how to meet their needs. They might have some of their needs met via direct payments.

•The Care Act also provides rights for carers of adults aged 18 and over. Carers can ask for an assessment if they ‘appear’ to have needs for support. •If a disabled adult has been assessed as having needs for care and support from the local authority, they will receive a care and support plan and advice about decisions on how to meet their needs. They might have some of their needs met via direct payments.

•The Care Act also provides rights for carers of adults aged 18 and over. Carers can ask for an assessment if they ‘appear’ to have needs for support.