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Preparation for adulthood - education and employment

Education, training and employment opportunities for young people with SEND.

It is vital that young people with special educational needs and disabilities have high aspirations in further education and employment and we all encourage and support them to do so.

Education

North Yorkshire is home to a number of further education and training providers and there is a diverse range of provision available. This may be sixth forms (both mainstream and special settings), general further education colleges, our personalised learning colleges, Special post-16 institutions and vocational learning and training providers in the private or voluntary sector.

Post-16 education

Every young person must continue in some form of education or training until their 18th birthday. You should follow a study programme which stretches you, prepares you for adulthood and supports your progression into work or other successful destination. For special educational needs and disabilities students who have an education, health and care plan plan, this could apply up to the age of 25.

Some students benefit from programmes which concentrate on high-quality work experience and other non-qualification activities to help you prepare for employment and adult life.

Please see the list below of Post-16 education providers.

Post-16 education providers in Northern England

Access Creative College - York

Adult Learning and Skills Service - County Wide

Askham Bryan College - Middlesbrough

Askham Bryan College - Shipley

Askham Bryan College - Wakefield

Askham Bryan College – York

Bishop Burton College - Beverley

Bradford College

Craven College

Darlington College

East Riding College – Bridlington

Goole College

Harrogate College

Harrogate Skills 4 Living

Hartlepool College

Henshaws College - Harrogate

Keighley College

Kendal College

Lancaster and Morecambe College

Leeds City College

Leeds College of Building

Middlesbrough College

Myerscough College - Penrith

Nelson and Colne College - Skipton

New College Pontefract

Prior Pursglove College - Guisborough

Redcar and Cleveland College

Evolve Ripon

Selby College

Shipley College

Scarborough Sixth Form

Scarborough TEC

Scarborough UTC

Stockton Riverside College

Stockton Sixth Form College

Supporting Choice - Scarborough

The Northern School of Art - Middlesbrough

The Skills Village - Scarborough

Wakefield College

Whitby Sixth Form

York College

Supported internship providers in Northern England

Blueberry Academy - York

Craven College

Disability Action Yorkshire - Harrogate

Groundwork Yorkshire

Health Education England - Darlington

Henshaws College - Harrogate

Middlesbrough College

Scarborough TEC - Northallerton site

Supporting Choice - Scarborough

Personalised Learning College

At the Personalised Learning College, the team is passionate about creating exciting, tailored opportunities for young people aged 16 to 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Their hands-on, interactive programmes and dynamic learning experiences place learners at the heart of everything they do. With a truly personalised approach, they design learning journeys that meet individual needs and empower every young person to grow, learn, and shine.

The College operates across four campuses in North Yorkshire, Ryedale, Scarborough, Selby, and Harrogate, each offering bespoke learning that makes the most of its surroundings. At Scarborough, learners can catch a wave by the sea, while in Ryedale, they gain hands-on experience growing plants in the nurseries.

Learners benefit from exceptional on-site support, including physical therapy, speech and language therapy, sensory support, signing support, and more.

The College is committed to fostering independence and preparing learners for life beyond their programme. Their curriculum includes essential life skills such as cooking, independent travel, home management, personal care, and employment and enterprise.

With a Good rating from Ofsted, learners and families can be confident that the Personalised Learning College provides a high quality, supportive service. 

Get in touch with the Personalised Learning College

If you think that the Personalised Learning College (PLC) would be a good fit, you can book a visit to look around your chosen campus and meet the team.

To book a visit, or find out more about the PLC, email them or give them a phone call. 
 

For more information and to speak to the team, contact us.

Employment and Training

Table of personalised learning colleges

Type of provision Name of provider Location Qualifications available More information
  Entry level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 / A-levels / T-level Link Prospectus Other
Personalised Learning College Northallerton PLC Northallerton         Northallerton PLP virtual tour Preparation for adulthood - education and employment

David Hoggett

David.Hoggett@northyorks.gov.uk

07856 077740

Personalised Learning College Harrogate PLC Harrogate         Harrogate PLP Virtual Tour Preparation for adulthood - education and employment

Susan Welsh

Susan.Welsh@northyorks.gov.uk 

07973 692577

Personalised Learning College Scarborough PLC Scarborough         Scarborough Hub Virtual Video Preparation for adulthood - education and employment

Carl Sellars

07813 408975

Carl.Sellars@northyorks.gov.uk

Personalised Learning College Evolve (Ripon) Ripon Yes Yes     Evolve college guide 2021-22 Evolve Ripon website

Bev Skaife

bskaife@craven-college.ac.uk

01765 608999

Personalised Learning College Selby PLC Selby           Preparation for adulthood - education and employment

Cherie Adamson

Cherie.Adamson@northyorks.gov.uk

07970 509385

Looking for work

You can find information and advice on our jobs and careers advice page.

There are also useful links and advice on the looking for work if you're disabled page on the Government's website.

You can find out about jobs in your area, talk to jobs advisers and find out about support schemes for disabled employees via the job centre website.

When you're looking for work, look for the disability confident employer campaign symbol on adverts and application forms. The symbol means the employer is committed to employing disabled people. If a job advert displays the symbol, you'll be guaranteed an interview if you meet the basic conditions for the job.

Image
Disability confident employer logo

Disabled student allowance

If you are a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability you may be entitled to a disabled student’s allowance. This is to help you get the most from your course by helping to pay for special equipment and general expenses. 

This is intended to help students attending full-time and part-time higher education courses benefit as fully as possible from their course and is designed to cover special equipment, non-medical helpers and other general expenses. See the GOV.UK disabled student allowance web page for more information.

Supported internships and apprenticeships

Supported internships

Supported internships are structured study programmes which incorporates study and work placements with an employer. They are unpaid and last for a minimum of six months.

They are aimed at equipping young people aged 16 to 24 with special educational needs with the skills they need for work. They can sometimes lead into paid employment once the internship is finished.

Alongside their time at the employer, young people complete a personalised study programme which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications, if appropriate, as well as English and maths.

If you're interested in accessing a supported internship you can contact us.

See the Preparing for Adulthood website for more information and resources on supported internships. The site is a project run by the National Development Team for Inclusion.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. As an apprentice you will:

  • work alongside experienced staff
  • gain job-specific skills
  • earn a wage and get holiday pay
  • study towards a related qualification (usually one day a week)

Apprenticeships take one to four years to complete depending on their level, and are available from level 2 to level 5. They are available within a wide variety of sectors depending on your interests and aspirations.

You can find more information on apprenticeships on our apprenticeships, graduates and work experience page. Further information can be found on the GOV.UK apprenticeships web page.

Travel and transport

Travel and transport to college or work

You can find about the options for help and support with transport on our transport for special educational needs and disabilities children and young people page.

This includes post-16 and post-19 information as well as guidance about bus passes, disabled railcards and independent travel training.

Explaining the options for employment and training

More information is available on post-16 support:

  • UK Government 'Extra help for children with special educational needs and disabilities' web page
  • Contact, the charity for families with disabled children 'Education beyond 16' web page

and in the video below:

Volunteering

Volunteering can provide alternative opportunities for you to gain skills, achieve your goals, and develop a better sense of civic duty and responsibility.

  • See our children and family hubs volunteering page for more information and opportunities.
  • The North Yorkshire Partnerships website brings together a range of information for partners across the county, including a link to the North Yorkshire Connect directory.

We have information on finding work, support at work and training options on our support employment disabled people page.


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The council provides services across North Yorkshire including Harrogate, Ripon, Scarborough, Whitby, Northallerton, Thirsk, Selby, Tadcaster, Malton, Pickering, Richmond, Skipton and more.

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