What are your options?
Schools and sixth forms
You may need to look further than your young person's existing school. Every school has a variation on what they offer, and how it is taught. You may want to contact several schools to find out the differences in teaching, to see if one might suit your young person better.
There's a consortium system in Hertfordshire, meaning that different groups of schools offer a range of subjects between them. If your young person’s subjects are split between schools you’ll need to decide if it’s practical for them to be travelling during the day.
Staying at a SEND school
Some young people may benefit from staying in school after Year 11. A number of special schools in Hertfordshire have post-16 departments where young people with complex needs may continue their learning until Year 14 when they reach 19 years of age.
Dual placement
This is where a student spends some time in school, and some time in a college. It's a great way to access further education with some of the stability and familiarity that school offers. Speak to your current place of education and your preferred college about this.
College
Natspec have a directory of specialist colleges for children with very high needs, usually for young people who have been to a special school or had very high levels of support in mainstream education. These would need to be agreed through the EHCP process.
The are 4 colleges in Hertfordshire - they will all have a SEND team that you can chat to about the courses and support on offer.
Oaklands College
View Oaklands College's courses
Enquiries: Springfield/Supported Learning Tel: 01727 737780
Email: life@oaklands.ac.uk
Mainstream Additional Learning Support Tel: 01727 737113
Email: Laura.Ansell@oaklands.ac.uk
Hertford Regional College
View Hertford Regional College's courses
Enquiries: Inclusive Learning Tel: 01992 411854
Email: sfrench@hrc.ac.uk
Mainstream Additional Learning Support Tel: 01992 411617 / 602
Email: djames@hrc.ac.uk / celliott@hrc.ac.uk
North Hertfordshire College
View North Hertfordshire College's Supported Studies (SEND) courses
View North Hertfordshire College's Springboard (SEND) courses
Supported Studies Tel: 01462 424 242
Email: CCondon@nhc.ac.uk
Mainstream Additional Learning Support Tel: 01462 424 363
Email: SDove@nhc.ac.uk
West Herts College
View West Herts College's courses
Enquiries Foundation Studies Tel: 01923 812521 / 01923 812526
Email: mahul.trivedi@westherts.ac.uk sarah.lane@westherts.ac.uk
Additional Learning Support Tel: 01923 812371
Email: susan.lomas@westherts.ac.uk
Higher education - University
For some young people higher education is the next step on from further education. When studying at university or college, your young person will work towards one of a range of qualifications, such as a degree, a foundation degree, or a diploma/certificate of Higher Education. Young people can go into higher education at any age but most people enter when they are around 18 years old. There’s a lot to consider if your young person is planning to go into higher education, you'll need to give plenty of thought to:
- where to study
- the support needed whilst studying
- support with day-to-day living
- money and funding.
You can find out more through UCAS.
What services are available?
Get guidance on personal development opportunities
If your young person is in school or college, they need to speak to their school or college about meeting with the school/ college’s personal/ careers adviser.
If your young person is not in employment, education or training, call the Services for Young People SEND Team on their duty line or email them.
SEND home to school transport
Think about how you will travel to work or college.
There is no automatic entitlement to free home-to-school or college travel after 16 years of age. You may have to contribute to the cost of your transport.
Hertfordshire has a transport policy for 16–18 year olds in education and for full-time students aged 19 -25 years.
Hertfordshire can't provide travel support to work experience placements, medical appointments or other off-site visits. Responsibility for this remains with the parents or carers, or school or college as appropriate.
Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
If you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability you could apply for Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) to help with the costs of studying. The allowance could be used to pay for things such as special equipment, a note-taker or transport costs to and from university.
You can get the allowances on top of your other student finance and you won't have to repay DSA.
16-19 Bursary Fund
If you're in further education or training you could apply for a 16-19 bursary to help with education-related costs.