Post-16 for SEND
This page provides information and resources to help students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) explore their career options and make informed decisions about their future after Year 11.
Our Goal: To empower every young person with SEND to achieve their aspirations and transition successfully into meaningful employment, further education, or training.
Key considerations
- Transition Planning: Start planning your transition early, ideally in Year 9 or 10.
- Communication: Communicate your needs and aspirations clearly to your school, college, and other support providers.
- Self-Advocacy: Develop your self-advocacy skills to ensure your voice is heard.
- Building Confidence: Believe in your abilities and celebrate your achievements.
We are committed to helping you achieve your career goals. Please explore the resources on this page and contact us if you need further assistance
Understanding Your Options:
Further Education (FE) Colleges:
- Many FE colleges offer specialist provision and support for students with SEND.
- Explore courses tailored to individual needs, including vocational qualifications, supported internships, and independent living skills.
- Look for colleges with dedicated SEND departments and experienced staff.
Milton Keynes College
-
Personalised support tailored to individual needs, with close monitoring of progress.
- Friendly staff and a safe, confidential environment to discuss concerns.
- Coaching for life beyond college and access to resources, including laptop banks with accessibility features.
- Quiet, staffed spaces for study and peer-support opportunities.
- Strong partnerships with local authorities and regular assessments of academic and wellbeing needs for SEND students.
- A firm approach to addressing behavioural issues and the serious handling of any targeting of students with protected characteristics.
Find out more: https://mkcollege.ac.uk/student-info/additional-learning-support/
To find out more information about learning support, please email ineedsupport@mkcollege.ac.uk or call us on 01908 684155.
Bedford College Group
If you have an identified learning difficulty and/or disability, the Additional Support team are on hand to provide support and give you the assistance you need to complete your course.
Our committed team can provide you with:
- Learning Facilitators offer small group support to make your assignments fantastic and develop your English and maths skills further
- Specialist equipment, adapted materials and other resources to support your learning
- Special exam arrangements if required
- Support with accessing the College
- Hearing and autistic support specialists
For more information:
The email address for main Additional Learning Support queries for the group is ALSteam@bedford.ac.uk
Our phone number is 01234 291333
If you have any EHCP-specific queries, please email: EHCP@bedford.ac.uk
Bucks College Group
Learning Support is a support service for students with a range of additional needs. We can provide additional support for you if you have a learning difficulty, disability, medical condition, literacy, numeracy or language need. It's available to all students subject to assessment and agreement of need and resources.
Provide support in a variety of ways:
- In-class assistance
- Out-of-class additional sessions
- Specialist equipment
- Adapted learning materials
- Break and lunchtime support
- Exam Support
- Individual adaptations
Work with students with a range of additional needs:
- Specific learning difficulties such as ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Autism.
- Physical and Sensory Disabilities
- Moderate Learning Difficulties
- Medical Conditions
- Mental Health Conditions
Levels of Support
The support offering will be different for every person and will depend on individual needs. Criteria for support depend on the degree of need and evidence of a learning difficulty or disability. Your support will be regularly reviewed and may be increased or reduced during the year.
For more information:
https://www.buckscollegegroup.ac.uk/about-the-college/student-learning-and-support
Learning Support
learningsupport@buckscollegegroup.ac.uk
Amersham 01494 585 341
Aylesbury 01296 588 540
Wycombe 01494 585 341
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Gain valuable work experience and qualifications while earning a wage.
Traineeships can provide a stepping stone to apprenticeships.
Explore supported apprenticeships designed for individuals with SEND.
https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/
See more on our page Apprenticeships
Amazing Apprenticeships are passionate about widening access to opportunity through apprenticeships, and this means ensuring that information and inspiration are available in a variety of accessible ways.
Please use this page to explore the different resources that we have developed, working closely with the SEND Advisory Network – a collaboration of more than 100 careers professionals from throughout England.
https://www.amazingapprenticeships.com/send/
Supported Internships
Structured, work-based study programmes for young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
Focus on developing employability skills through real work experience.
Lead to paid employment where possible.
Specialist Post-16 Providers
Some organisations offer specialist provision focusing on specific types of SEND, such as autism or learning disabilities.
These providers often offer personalised support and tailored programmes.
Search the Bucks Family Information Service for post-16 providers.
Employment Support
Access to services such as Access to Work, which can provide financial support and practical advice.
Information on Disability Confident employers who are committed to employing disabled people.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign
Resources and Support
Bucks Skills Hub
Resources for Students with SEND https://bucksskillshub.org/career-seeker/special-educational-needs-and-disabilities
Local Authority SEND Teams:
Your local authority can provide information and support on post-16 options in your area.
Post-16 Education and Training
Buckinghamshire Council have a dedicated site for young people with SEND
SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Services):
Provide free, impartial, and confidential advice and support to young people with SEND and their families https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/bucks-sendias-service/
Disability Rights UK:
Provides information and advice on a range of issues affecting disabled people, including education and employment.
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/
Preparing for Adulthood (PfA):
PfA is a program that helps young people with SEND move successfully from childhood into adult life.
https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/resources-0/preparing-adulthood
Specific disability charities:
Many charities exist that provide information and support for specific disabilities. Search online for charities related to your specific needs.
Transitions work with young autistic people and other learning disabilities. So, we help make the important transitions in each stage of their life. As well as dealing with anxieties and life’s challenges. Because they can often be overwhelming.
Alternative Learning is for people who, for any reason, feel unable to study within the standard college setting. Because we understand college is not for everyone. So making provisions to ensure those who do not attend college can still develop their life skills is a key part of what we do https://talkback-uk.com/our-services/transitions/
Higher Education Access for All: Understanding the Disabled Students’ Allowance
University is a challenge for anyone – but when you have a disability, it becomes all the more tricky to traverse the pitfalls of life on campus. Often, at the forefront of these worries is finding the money to be able to fund day-to-day living expenses, the cost of accommodation, and your lifestyle.
Thankfully, more is being done to account for the financial needs of students with accessibility requirements than ever before. Increasing levels of funding are being given to students, with the chief amongst those being the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).
Introduced in 1993, the DSA gives someone in higher education a small bursary to help support them financially through their time at university. But how much can they expect to receive? And who qualifies? There are lots of ifs, ands, or buts regarding the allowance. That’s why we’ve compiled this handy guide discussing all aspects of the DSA, and what they mean for you.
Read on to discover how much you might be able to claim, as well as how to, if you’re a student with a disability.
https://www.comparethemarket.com/loans/content/disabled-students-allowance-guide/
Planning Your Career Journey
- Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans:
- Your EHC plan should include clear outcomes related to your future career aspirations.
- Regular reviews should focus on progress towards these outcomes.
- Ensure your plan reflects your strengths, interests, and support needs.
- Careers Advice and Guidance:
- Speak to your school's careers advisor or a specialist SEND careers advisor.
- Utilise resources like the National Careers Service for impartial advice and information.
- https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
- Work Experience and Volunteering:
- Gain valuable experience and develop employability skills through work experience or volunteering.
- This can help you explore different career paths and build your confidence.
- Personalised Support:
- It is vital that all support is personalised to the individual.
- Consider assistive technology, reasonable adjustments, and individual learning plans.
Bucks Skills Hub | Confident Futures Skills Show 2025
The Confident Futures Skills Show is a progression event that explores the next steps and provides career inspiration for students with SEND and other barriers. It breaks down obstacles and enables young people, their parents and carers, and jobseekers to explore the future with a range of employers, supported internship providers, next-step education and social care providers.
Event details
Date: 10th June - Book via Eventbrite
Time: 3:30pm to 5:30 pm
Location: Bowls Centre, Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 9PP
TICKETS
