Barking and Dagenham SEND Local Offer

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Transitioning into Post-16 Education

Planning the Transition into Post-16 Education

Build on achievement, progress toward Adulthood

Schools and colleges should work in partnership to provide opportunities which enable young people with SEN to familiarise themselves with the college environment and gain some experience of college life and study.

Preparing for Adulthood Focus of EHCP Annual Review:

Year 9

Help children explore their aspirations and how different post-16 educations options can help them meet them.

Year 10

Support the child and family to explore more specific courses or places to study (e.g. through taster days and visits) so they can draw up provisional plans.

Year 11

Aim to support the child and family to firm up their plans for their post 16 options and familiarise themselves with the expected new setting.

SENCO should inform young people with autism of their right to a community care assessment and their parents of the right to a carer’s assessment.
For information, please contact Adult Intake Team at the council on 020 8227 2915 or intaketeam@lbbd.gov.uk 

Next steps after year 11

Generally, at the end of year 11, you have the option to take one of the following routes:

  • Sixth Form: AS/A Levels, BTEC Extended
  • College: BTEC and Vocational Courses, T Levels
  • Employer Work Based: Apprenticeship, Traineeships, Supported Internships

While you are at school or college you will be asked to think what you want to do in the future.

You could be asked things like:

  • whether you want to stay in school or college or leave to do something else
  • whether you want to go to university

SEN Support in Colleges

Visit our SEN Support in Colleges page to learn more about what support you can receive and colleges in Barking and Dagenham.

Career Opportunities Information and Advice

Maintained schools and Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) must ensure that pupils from Year 8 until Year 13 are provided with independent careers guidance. Local Specialist Careers Advisors can meet with you in school to discuss your next steps and help you make informed choices. 

You can find information on how to get help on our Career Opportunities Information and Advice page

Young people aged 19-25

Further education colleges must continue to use their best endeavours to secure the special educational provision needed by all young people aged 19 to 25 with SEN attending their institution.

  • 19- to 25-years-olds with EHC plans should have free access to further education in the same way as 16- to 18-year-olds.
  • Apprentices aged 19 to 25 with EHC plans are fully funded on the same terms and funding rates as 16- to 18-year-olds apprentices.

For course information about Job Related Training and Everyday Skills, please visit B&D Learns

Transition to Higher Education

Securing a place in higher education is a positive outcome for many young people with SEN.

Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) are available to help students in higher education with the extra costs they may incur on their course because of disability.

For information and application, please visit Help if you’re a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability: Disabled Students’ Allowance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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