Post 16

Embarking on a life journey after the age of 16 is an exciting time, but it can also be difficult for some young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Doncaster has a local offer for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities with services to help learners access the education they require to fulfil their ambitions for the future

What does the SEND Code of Practice tell us?

Inclusive Employability Options

Post 16 Settings

Supported Internships

Apprenticeships

Internship

Work Experience/Voluntary Work

Supported Employment

Further Education/ Higher Education

Post 16 Settings

Training Providers

Colleges

Sixth Forms

Specialist Post 16 Options

Training Providers

Local training provision is offered mainly by independent providers and is available at all levels from Entry Level to Level 3. Some providers also lead on the delivery of apprenticeships. This page includes a directory of some local providers and their websites. 

Start - Post 16 Training Providers

Colleges

Colleges offer a range of vocational courses (focused on developing practical skills and technical knowledge needed for a particular career), like a BTEC, and academic courses, such as A Levels.

Start - Colleges

Sixth Forms

Most sixth forms offer A-Levels, with some offering the option to take BTECs or A Levels combined with BTECs. 

Start - Sixth Forms

Specialist Post 16 options for young people with SEND

A specialist post 16 provider offers education to young people with learning difficulties and/ or disabilities.

Start - Specialist Post 16 Providers

Supported Internships

Supported Internships are a structured study programme based primarily at an employer. They are for young people aged 16-24 on the SEND register or with an Education, Health and Care plan to achieve sustainable paid employment. Supported Internships help young people gain the skills they need for work.

Supported internships | Employment Website (employmentisforeveryone.org.uk)

Providers in Doncaster

Apprenticeships

After Year 11 there are two types of Apprenticeship that are available, Level 2: Intermediate (equivalent of 5 GCSEs) and Level 3: Advanced (equivalent of 2 A Levels). The Higher and Degree Level Apprenticeships are only eligible to young people if they have a Level 3 qualification already.

Start-Apprenticeships

Amazing Apprenticeships

SEND Advisory Network - Amazing Apprenticeships

Internships

An internship is a period of work that gives people – mostly students or graduates – the opportunity to gain new skills and experience in a profession they want to get into. They are great for young people to learn new skills, and can range in length from a couple of weeks to several months or even a year.

Work experience can be called a ‘placement’ or an ‘internship’. Internships are sometimes understood to be positions requiring a higher level of qualification than other forms of work experience, and are associated with gaining experience for a professional career. However, the term ‘intern’ has no legal status under minimum wage law. Entitlement to the minimum wage does not depend on what someone is called, the type of work they do, how the work is described (such as ‘unpaid’ or ‘expenses only’) or the profession or sector they work in. What matters is whether the agreement or arrangement they have with the young person makes them a worker for minimum wage purposes. See ‘Who gets the minimum wage’.

Some forms of work experience, including placements and internships, may be referred to as ‘unpaid work’ or ‘expenses only’, where someone gives their services free of charge in order to develop or maintain their skills. Organisations offering such positions should check if the person is a volunteer for minimum wage purposes or if an exemption applies. If the person is not a genuine volunteer and is not exempt, then the employer must pay them at least the minimum wage.

Work Experience/ Voluntary Work

Volunteering involves a young person doing unpaid work in different industries and contributing to their community. It allows the young person to gain experience in various industries, improve skills and form connections with others. Volunteer work often has a flexible schedule, which benefits young people who may be busy with other tasks.

The term ‘work experience’ generally refers to a specified period of time that a person spends with a business, during which they have an opportunity to learn directly about working life and the working environment.

Some work experience positions offer people the chance to try their hand at particular tasks, others simply provide an opportunity to watch and learn. The nature, length and arrangements for work experience vary greatly. Someone’s entitlement to the minimum wage will depend on whether the work experience offered makes the individual a worker for minimum wage purposes.

Volunteering | Employment Website (employmentisforeveryone.org.uk)

Supported Employment

The Supported Employment Team help people with Learning Disabilities or Autism to learn new skills and flourish in the workplace. The Department of Work and Pensions is teaming up with Community Autism and Learning Disability Team (CALDT) to support people in Doncaster to find a job and stay in work. They can help young people to find and keep a job that they enjoy.

Support includes:

• help to find out what kind of job would be good for the young person
• training so the young person can build basic skills that employers value
• travel training
• job searching tips
• support to write a CV and prepare for interviews
• job coaching and support at work so the young person can learn their role
• chances to meet local employers that offer work experience, taster shifts or working interviews

To find out more, please email CALDTDuty@doncaster.gov.uk or call 01302 736705.

Support to work/work skills | Employment Website (employmentisforeveryone.org.uk)

Further Education/ Higher Education

Higher education is third level education after a young person leaves school. It takes places at universities and Further Education colleges and normally includes undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Most higher education courses can be found by searching and applying online.

Young people usually have to be 18 or older to take a higher education course. Courses are usually taught in:

• universities
• colleges
• specialist institutions like art schools or agricultural college

 Higher education courses: find and apply - GOV.UK 

Schools Adviser for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)

• Visit and support all secondary schools throughout Doncaster 
• Support students from year 7 to year 13.  Giving support on their future:
• Providing advice on routes into traineeships and apprenticeships, promoting the parity of vocational and academic pathways into work. 
• Help in sourcing and advising on work experience opportunities, using JCP’s extensive network of employers
• Introducing schools to employers and vice versa;
• Providing advice on the local labour market (including employability and soft skills that employer’s value, for example team working and commitment).
• Give information about Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is. 
• Explaining how this can be used for future employment

JCP Schools Advisers 23-24 Offer for schools

Download (283KB - PPTX)

Transport

You will find information regarding travel support on the local offer transport page.

Travel pass information can also be found on the South Yorkshire Travel website.

Resources

Start - Post 16 Providers to continue your education in Doncaster

Look Ahead Post-16 Choices in Doncaster 

Disabled Students | Advice And Financial Support | UCAS

Websites

• Start in Doncaster
• Employment Is For Everyone
• Princes Trust
• National Careers Service
• Gov.uk Apprenticeships
• Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition
• Health Adjustment Passport - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 Links

• Participation and Transition Service - Post 16
• Local Offer - Adult Transition Team

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