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Further education

EHCP and further education

If you have an EHCP and attend a college, or if you're over 16 and not currently in education, you will be assigned an EHC Coordinator from the Services for Young People SEND team. If you are attending a sixth form at a school, or are at a special school, you will have an EHC Coordinator from the School Aged SEND Team.  If you're not sure who to contact about your EHCP, you can find out on our 'Who should I contact about my EHCP page'? 

Transition plans

Your Personal Adviser/EHCCo will attend your Year 9 review and work with you and your parents, and professionals to create a Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) Transition Plan. To do this, they help you gather information ‘All About Me’, reflecting what is important to you as you make the transition from school to what comes next. The PfA transition plan is updated in year 11 (or years 13/14 for special schools with sixth form) and includes the support needs of each young person. This information can be passed on to the appropriate colleges or training providers to help them plan for that transition. A copy of the your PfA Plan is also sent to the you and your parent/carer.

Your education health and care plan (EHCP) can continue until the age of 25 if you choose to stay in education or training. If it's a higher education setting however, where a you are working towards a higher education qualification in a college or university, the plan will end. The plan will also end if your education progress is complete - i.e. you have met all of your learning outcomes and no more can be set.

For further information visit EHCP preparing for adulthood reviews

Sixth Forms and Colleges

Schools and sixth forms

You may need to look further than your 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 needs better.

There's a consortium system in Hertfordshire, meaning that different groups of schools offer a range of subjects between them. If your chosen subjects are split between schools you’ll need to decide how you will travel between them. 

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.

College

The are 4 main colleges in Hertfordshire - they will all have a SEND team that you can chat to about the courses and support on offer. They all offer a range of courses specifically for students with SEND including supported learning programmes and internships, vocational training and apprenticeships.

Some young people with SEND may experience anxiety about change and unfamiliar places, and may need additional support.  The My Futures programme from Services for Young People is for young people who would benefit from additional support at an early stage as they transition to college.

Oaklands College, St Albans

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

The Springboard programme from North Herts college also operates in Watford. 

 Colleges in bordering counties

 

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.

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.

University and Higher Education

You might decide that you'd like to continue your studies at university and work towards one of a range of qualifications, such as a degree, a foundation degree, or a diploma/ certificate of Higher Education.

All universities and higher education establishments have a SEND department who can support you and make sure that adjustments are in place to overcome barriers to learning. If you're thinking of applying to university, speak to their SEND department as soon as possible to discuss your support needs and how they can be accommodated.

Your school or college will support you through the application process (UCAS).  The Services for Young People team can also offer support to help you to fill in your UCAS form if you don't receive help from your educational setting. 

Your EHCP will end once you attend university. However, you might be eligible for Disabled Students Allowance. 

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.

Information:

You will typically need a formal diagnosis to be eligible for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).   

Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability: Eligibility - GOV.UK

 

Who can help me decide?

Careers advice for young people with an EHCP

A young person with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and an EHCP attending a special school, can request help from a Personal Adviser from the Services for Young People SEND team.  A young person with an EHCP attending a mainstream school can ask for support from a Personal Adviser in the relevant Services for Young People local area team. 

Careers advice for young people without an EHCP

Careers information and guidance should be provided by all schools and colleges.  Many schools buy in the careers advice services of Services for Young People. To find out about the support offered at your young person’s school, you should contact the school directly.

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.

01438 844999

sfyp.SEND@hertfordshire.gov.uk