SEND local offer - post 16 education

Sixth form options

Sixth Form in school

If you are a Young Person eligible to apply for Post-16 education or you would like information on admission procedures, please contact the school directly. If you would like information on Post-16 education in other authorities, please contact each authority directly.

Sixth Form Colleges

Sixth Form Colleges offer the same provision as Sixth Forms but are not connected to a school. Find out more about post-16 education options in stockton-on-Tees. You can visit the UCAS website to find a University or Level 4 course.

Higher education and university

Higher Education begins at RQF Level 4 and often times takes place at a University. An EHCP will not continue when a Young Person begins a Level 4 qualification and will be ceased accordingly. Please refer to the Education, health and care plans page of the local offer website for more information.

Apprenticeships 

Apprenticeships are structured programmes that teach you the skills you need to perform well in your job.  

They allow you to: 

• learn practical skills in your workplace  
• build up valuable knowledge and skills 
• gain qualifications and earn money at the same time 

You will be based in a workplace most of the time, as most of the training takes place on the job.  

You will usually attend off-the-job training once a week and you could be working towards a qualification, such as National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), other nationally recognised qualifications or a certificate of achievement. 

How much can I earn? 

National Apprenticeship Minimum Wage (NAMW) is currently £5.28 per hour. The National Apprenticeship Minimum Wage applies to those aged 16 to 18, or 19 or above on their first year of the apprenticeship. For those who are 19 or above, after the first year, the National Minimum Wage will apply. 

There is no maximum wage, apprentices can earn as much as the employer is willing to pay. 

How long do apprenticeships last? 

All apprenticeships must last a minimum of 12 months, but some can take up to 4 years to complete. 

The length of an apprenticeship varies depending on skill level of the apprentice, the qualification being obtained and the industry sector of the apprenticeship. 

What apprenticeships are available to me? 

There are over 200 different types of apprenticeships available in a wide range of sectors including:  

• business, administration and law 
• health, public services and social care 
• education and training 
• information, communication and technology (ict) 
• construction, planning and the built environment 
• arts, media and publishing 
• leisure, travel and tourism 
• hospitality and catering 
• retail and commercial enterprise 
• agriculture, horticulture and animal care 
• engineering and manufacturing technologies 

There are endless career opportunities under each sector. 

I have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), what support will I receive during the apprenticeship? 

Young people can keep their EHCP whilst on an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) who are committed to making sure that everyone has the opportunity to do an apprenticeship, including those with learning difficulties or disabilities. This means making sure the right level of support is available to remove barriers to education and training so that learners can make the most of their potential. Learning support funding will also provide funding for you to meet the costs of reasonable adjustments to help you do the job. 

Higher and Degree Apprenticeships 

For young people who want to learn at a higher level Higher and Degree Apprenticeships are available at levels 4 to 7.  These programmes combine work and off-the-job learning which can lead to foundation degree, standard degree or professional qualifications in your chosen career. 

Find out more about apprenticeships on the government website.

Traineeships 

The aim of traineeships is to help young people gain the skills and experience they need to go on to an apprenticeship or job as quickly as possible. 

Traineeships are available to young people up to age of 24 (25 for young people with Education Health and Care Plan) who are not currently in a job and have little work experience but want to get into work. 

Traineeships may be suitable for: 

• those aged 16 to 18 years old who are qualified below Level 3 
• those aged 19 to 24 years old who have not yet achieved their first full Level 2 qualification (a GCSE or something else at that level) 
• those aged 16 to 24 years old who have a reasonable chance of being ready for employment or an apprenticeship within 6 months of starting a traineeship 

Traineeships include work preparation training, an English or Math qualification or both and a high-quality work placement. Traineeships last a minimum of 6 weeks and maximum of 6 months (they must include a work placement which lasts at least 6 weeks and no more than 5 months) 

Supported Internships

Supported Internships are based on a partnership that includes a business and a training organisation/college. The goal is to provide on-site work experiences for Young People with learning disabilities and/or autism to acquire necessary skills leading to competitive employment.

Each day, students attend the business premises, learn employability skills in the classroom and job skills while participating in 3 to 4 internships/experiences during the year. Students also participate in monthly progress meetings to define their career goal and plan necessary steps to achieve that goal.

Students get continual feedback from managers, co-workers and project staff. Students end their day by reflection, problem solving, planning, and journaling their key learning. The goal upon programme completion is to gain employment utilising the skills learned on the internships and throughout the programme.

Who can apply?

Supported Internships are open to all applicants with learning difficulties, disabilities and/or autism who are aged between 18 and 24 on the 31 August of the current calendar year (some take applicants at 16) and who are keen to seek paid employment at the end of the programme. (This may be with another provider rather than the business hosting the Supported Internship)

Applicants must be able to commit to the full length of the programme (38 weeks) and attend up to 5 days a week (with holidays). A full list of eligibility criteria and the application process for each internship are available from the contact names listed with each programme.

All applicants for a Supported Internship must either have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) provided through their Local Authority or be in the process of obtaining one. Applicants must also be capable of travelling independently to and from their places of training and home or be willing to be trained to do so.

What to do? 

Look at the different options in the programme and check out the application information as each Internship is different.

The Further Education Colleges will plan to hold open days or open evenings about the Supported Internship(s) they offer, usually between January and April, to enable young people and their families to gain a better understanding of the opportunities they can offer. The open events are also a chance for interested students and their families to ask questions and to submit application forms.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a skills and capabilities assessment day (usually held between February and May) where they will take part in a short informal interview and be asked to participate in some given tasks.

Successful applicants will be enrolled as students at a Further Education College at the start of the autumn term (except for those internships where a school or other organisation is indicated as the education partner), while the internship itself takes place on the premises of the host business or organisation in normal circumstances.

Find out more by visiting:  

• the Tees Valley Careers Service website 
• the Stockton on-Tees Borough Council Learning and Skills Service website 
• the National Apprenticeship Service website 
• the Education and Skills Funding Agency website 
• the All About School Leavers website  

Choice's College 

Choice's College is an unpaid supported internship programme for young people aged 16 to 24 with learning disabilities, difficulties or autism (LDDA). NHS Health Education England, support NHS Trusts to deliver the programme nationally. The focus is work readiness and matching skills to employment through vocational profiling. Interns will also be supported to develop socially and increase their self-confidence. Ultimately the Project will help interns to understand the pathway into employment and achieve their own goals and aspirations. 

The project team ensure there are placements across the host Trust and within select external organisations looking specifically at entry-level jobs to make sure the right learner is allocated to the right role based on their interest and skill set.  

The interns are supported throughout their placements by: 

•  the Project Team 
• work based mentors  
• work colleagues 

The Project Team also have a pool of Job Coaches that can be used if increased support is needed.   

In addition, the programme offers training to staff to become work-based mentors, working alongside and supporting learners. Over 200 staff have been trained to support LDDA, developing unique teaching techniques and skills, which can be transferred across the organisations. 

The young learners spend a year within their internships with 3 placements which each span 10 to 12 weeks for up to 4 days a week and are flexible around location and work hours - depending on need and job roles.  In addition, interns spend one day studying Maths, English and Employability. In their placement they are embedded in the team.  

Placements are tailored to meet individual needs and there are a wide range of roles available including:  

• administration 
• retail 
• clinical work  
• catering  
• animal care 

The Choice's College team uses this time to look at any barriers and potential areas of development. Throughout, the learners are gradually assessed on how ready for employment they are. 

The scheme also incorporates a work experience element (Stage 1). This gives students an opportunity to develop skills for the workplace and ensures young people with LDDA understand the importance of matching their skill sets to work while still in education. 

Watch a student video to find out more about Choice's College

Additional support

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

A bursary is money that you, your education or training provider can use to help to pay for clothing, books, other equipment for your course, transport and lunch on the day that you train.

If you are a disabled student and get both Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (or Universal Credit in place of ESA), and either Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your name you may be able to get financial support from the Government's 16 to19 Bursary Fund.

Find out more about the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund