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Education, Employment and Higher Education
Education, Employment and Higher Education
Please see a list of education option for Post 16 young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities:
- Further education
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Local Colleges have a number of routes that can lead to employment. One option is to undertake academic qualifications (e.g. GCSE’s and A levels) which are accepted entry requirements for some jobs. Alternatively they can lead to into Higher Education and then onto employment.
Another route is to do a vocational (work related) course. These can be in anything from bricklaying and engineering to beauty, tourism and sport. Usually there are different levels of course and entry may depend on GCSE results or other qualifications. These can lead directly to a job or can lead to Higher Education
The final route is through courses run by the special needs departments. Often these courses are at entry level and enable students to have work tasters. They concentrate on gaining the skills they will need for the work place.
Qualifications such as GCSE’s, A Levels, Foundation Degrees and Degrees. Delivered in a variety of settings – schools, colleges and universities. Some jobs and apprenticeships will ask for academic qualifications
- Specialist vocational qualifications
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Courses that lead to qualifications in particular vocational areas, for example: Hospitality, Engineering, Aviation
These are usually delivered in FE colleges.
Specific work related qualifications – from IT to construction. From level 1 through to level 4. Can work through the vocational levels or enter different levels with academic qualifications. Delivered in a variety settings – colleges, training providers and employers. Not all vocational courses include ‘real’ work experience. If you don’t have GCSE ‘C/4’ or above in Maths and English (under the age of 18), have to continue ‘working towards’. It’s up to providers how courses are delivered so programmes can be from 3 to 5 days per week.
- Higher education
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Higher Education is a course of study that leads to a degree. Further Education Colleges offer Foundation degrees and Universities offer Honours degrees. Information on courses and entry requirements can be found on the UCAS website. Finance for Higher Education is through the Students loan company. Students with a disability may be entitled to the Disabled Students allowance.
Within the Higher Education sector there continues to be support through disabled students allowance etc.
- Traineeships
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A traineeship is an education and training programme with work experience. This unlocks the great potential of young people and prepares them for their future careers by helping them to become ‘work ready’.
These are designed to help young people aged 16 to 24 who don’t yet have the appropriate skills or experience. Traineeships provide the essential work preparation training, English, maths and work experience needed to secure an apprenticeship or employment.
A 6 month programme should include 6 months of extended work experience with qualifications. A wide variety of occupational areas and providers locally. Should lead to an apprenticeship or work. Should be ‘working towards’ level 2.
- Study programmes
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There are a number of local training providers who offer the study programme. Trainees will gain work experience and undertake work related qualifications. If necessary will continue with their maths and English. Trainees may be entitled to a bursary. It is possible within some study programmes for trainees who have additional needs to have 1 to 1 support.
For Newcastle residents with learning difficulties or disabilities there is ‘Working Newcastle’. This is a collaborative programme between Trinity Solutions and the Supported Employment team offering a highly support work focused programme.
Delivered in colleges and training providers across the city. These can be in vocational areas or cover life skills/independent living. Courses usually entry level/level 1. They can and should be highly bespoke to the individual. The whole programme does not necessarily have to be delivered by 1 provider – we have an increasing number of combination offers. Will have to continue working towards maths and English if no ‘C/4’ grade. Should involve some work experience (ideally this should be in a real work environment) if appropriate. What a programme involves and how many days per week will depend on the provider.
- Apprenticeships
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Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification and develop work related skills. You will earn a salary. There are usually entry requirements as young people need to be working towards at least a level 2 qualification.
Vacancies can be found on the National Apprenticeship website and on the SEND Support, Assessment and Review Team.
At level 2 or above. Placement with an employer. Apprentices receive a wage. Has an education element that is related to the job and this can be delivered either in a College or the work place. A wide variety of occupational areas.
- Example requirements for each course level
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You can ask education providers about entry requirements for specific courses.
Entry Level
Entry level is split into 1, 2 and 3. Level 3 is the hardest. Examples include Entry Level Award, Entry Level Certificate/ Diploma and Entry Level Functional Skills.
There are no set entry requirements.
Level 1
Examples include GCSE Grades 3-1, BTEC Level 1, NVQ 1 and Supported Internships.
Entry Requirements: Normally GCSE grades 2-1 or equivalent.
Level 2
Examples include GCSE Grades 9-4, BTEC First, NVQ2, CACHE Level 2, Intermediate Apprenticeship.
Entry Requirements: Normally GCSE grades 3 or equivalent.
Level 3
Examples include A Level, AS Level, BTEC National, Advanced Apprenticeship, NVQ 3, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Level 3 Cambridge, Technicals and T Levels.
Entry Requirements: Normally at least 4-6 GCSE grades 9-4 (or equivalent), including English and often maths. Some subjects require grades 9-5/9-6 .
Level 4 to 6
Examples include Degree, Foundation Degree, HND, Higher/Degree Apprenticeship.
Entry Requirements: Normally qualifications at Level 3.
Level 7 to 8 (Post Graduate)
Examples include Master’s degree or Doctoral degree (PHD).
- Post-16 Education Providers
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For more information about the options outlined below please visit our Post-16 local offer webpage.
Young people must continue in education or training until the end of the academic year when they turn 18. This could involve:
- full time study in a school, college or training provider
- an apprenticeship or supported internship
- full time work or volunteering (20 hours or more) combined with part time accredited study
There are a range of post-16 providers in Newcastle and in nearby local authorities, please see the list in sections below. Please note these are not exhaustive list and may change.
Mainstream colleges will support students with special educational needs by following a Graduated Approach or Assess, Plan, Do and Review cycle. There will be a named person in charge of support for students with SEN.
The students' Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessments and plans and the effectiveness of their support will be reviewed annually, and the college should take into account:
- progress and changes to the young person's ambitions and aspirations
- the college and young person should jointly plan any changes to support
- the young person's pathway into adulthood and progression beyond college learning onto employment, higher education, or lifelong experiences
Specialist post 16 provision
Some students and their families will seek education placements in a specialist post 16 provision. The local authority is only able to support a specialist post 16 provision when there is clear case for a young person's needs cannot be met in a mainstream post 16 provision and all local mainstream further education options have been fully explored and discounted.
There are several independent specialist colleges around the country which provide day and residential education programmes for young people with complex learning difficulties and / or disabilities, who require a high level of expertise and support to transition into adulthood.
The Department for Education website includes a list of independent special schools and colleges, including those approved on the Section 41 of the Children and Families Act.
These placements must be agreed at the local authorities Education, Health and Care (EHC) panel as part of the EHC process. The terms of reference for the panel are available here: https://www.newcastlesupportdirectory.orgEHC Panels Terms of Reference
The Newcastle SENDIASS team can be contacted for further advice and guidance regarding specialist provisions. www.newcastlesendiass.co.uk
- full time study in a school, college or training provider
- Sixth form Colleges
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Click on each Sixth Form College for a direct Link to their website.
- Newcastle Sixth Form College or for more information Learner Support Service | Newcastle Sixth Form College.
- Gosforth Academy Sixth Form
- Excelsior Academy Sixth Form
- Jesmond Park Academy Sixth Form
- Kenton School Sixth Form
- North East Futures UTC
- Sacred Heart Catholic High School Sixth Form
- St Cuthbert’s High School Sixth Form
- St Mary’s Catholic High School Sixth Form
- Walbottle Sixth Form
- Post-16 college and training providers
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Name of provision
Types of courses
Website and further information
Newcastle College
Foundation courses, vocational learning courses, sixth form, supported internships and apprenticeships. Higher Education
Newcastle Sixth Form College
Sixth form courses
www.newcastlesixthformcollege.ac.uk
Newcastle City Learning
Foundation courses, vocational learning courses, LLDD Bespoke Pathway supported internships and apprenticeships.
Adult Education 19+
www.newcastlecitylearning.ac.uk
www.newcastlecitylearning.ac.uk/high-needs-study-programmes
Trinity Solutions Academy
Foundation courses, vocational learning courses, LLDD Bespoke Pathway
Trinity Post 16 Solutions
Engagement
Bespoke Study Programmes
Supported Internship.
www.solutions.tanmat.org/trinity-post-16-solutions-ltd
Choices College
Supported Internships
Gateshead College
Foundation courses, vocational learning courses, sixth form, supported internships, apprenticeships.
Tyne Metropolitan College
Foundation courses, vocational learning courses, sixth form, and apprenticeships. Higher Education
Additional Learning Support (Support) - Tyne Metropolitan College
South Tyneside College
Foundation courses, vocational learning courses, sixth form, apprenticeships.
New College Durham
Foundation courses, vocational learning courses, sixth form and apprenticeships.
Derwentside College
Foundation courses, vocational learning courses, apprenticeships.
Northumberland College
(Kirkley Hall Campus)
Foundation courses, vocational learning courses, apprenticeships.
Learning for Life (Consett and South Gosforth)
Foundational learning courses.
NACRO
Foundation and vocational learning courses
www.nacro.org.uk/nacro-services/nacro-education/nacro-newcastle-education-centre/
Groundwork – Route2work College
Foundation and vocational learning courses.
United Response – Home Group
Supported Internships
Supported internship opportunities in Newcastle: find out more - United Response
ETS Barnardo’s
Foundation and vocational learning courses.
www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/services/ets-north-ets-north-east-yorkshire-humber
Optimum Skills
Traineeships
