Post-16 education and training

Mainstream colleges will provide extra support to make sure you are included in the same way as other students. Depending on your needs, this may include:

• assistance in class
• additional sessions
• specialist equipment
• adapted learning materials
• support during lunchtime and breaks
• exam support
• individual adaptations

You can find out more about studying at a mainstream sixth form or college.

Find a college

Specialist colleges are specifically for students with special educational needs or disabilities.

Some have residential facilities and offer what is called a waking day or 24-hour curriculum. This means that learning continues after the end of the college day, with special activities and support.

Your local authority will have to agree to your request to attend a specialist college. You will need to meet the entry criteria and you may have to show there are no other appropriate options available.

To apply for a place at a specialist college, you should start by speaking to your school or SEN advisor.

A supported internship is a kind of work experience that will last a minimum of 6 months. They are unpaid, but the aim is to help you secure the skills and experience you need to help you secure a paid role at the end.

If you are at school before you start your internship, the careers leader at your school will help you arrange a suitable placement. Your placement will be named in your Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.

What are supported internships easy read guide.

Supported internships can be provided by colleges, sixth forms and independent specialist providers. They will work with local employers to put together a study programme to give you the training, support and work skills required to help you get a job. The employer will provide you with work experience and train you in the role. You will also be supported by a tutor and a coach.

There are a number of supported internship schemes in Buckinghamshire.

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning

Buckinghamshire College Group

Talkback work experience and supported employment

Buckinghamshire College in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council run Life Skills programmes at the Aylesbury and Wycombe campuses. These programmes support young people with SEND to learn and work in the local community.

The ACHIEVE Life Skills programme is an entry-level life skills course teaching young people independent living skills alongside the qualifications they need to progress onto further education, apprenticeships, or employment.

They offer work experience and work closely with local colleges to prepare learners for their next steps.

The Internships Work programme will enable 4500 young adults, aged 16 to 25 with additional needs, to benefit from a supported internship per year by 2025.

The project is funded by the Department for Education and delivered by:

• NDTi - The National Development Team for Inclusion
• DFN Project SEARCH
• BASE - The British Association of Supported Employment