Advice for Parents
At Hillside Specialist School and College Careers is embedded into the curriculum all the way through school. All teachers use the Work Ready Lancashire Shared Common Language with our pupils to support our young people to gain a better understanding of essential skills required in a workplace.
In year 7 all our pupils start working on Preparation for Adulthood ASDSAN programmes in which Employability is covered. Pupils also start to work on their self-awareness skills and start to be made aware of different careers available.
From Year 9 onwards, in the Education, Health and Care Plans Annual Review there will be a focus on goals and aspirations for the future. As a parent, you have a key role in this important career planning process.
By the end of Year 11 your teenager will have made decisions about their future. This might be to remain at school or to move into further education, apprenticeships or training. Pupils who it is appropriate for, will have had independence careers guidance.
The calendar below shows what they need to do during Year 11 and the support available to help them make the right choices. The school can support with any transition days and visits to the local college forms part of the careers programme.
September - December
Explore the range of options in employment, training, sixth forms and further education colleges.
Use the National Careers Service website (nationalcareers.service.gov.uk) to explore career ideas.
Consider pathways that fit around their skills, interests and predicted grades.
Weigh up all the pros and cons of different options.
Check out schools, colleges and training providers own websites and prospectus for more information.
Encourage your teenager to ask tutors or teachers for more information or advice.
Go to college and sixth form open days and events.
There are deadlines for making applications – ensure that your teenager is aware of these dates; don’t let them leave everything until the last minute!
Use the SEND Local offer to help you and your teenager find out more about the support available to meet any specific needs
Check that your teenager has had their individual careers guidance interview and support them to complete the actions outlined.
January - March
Application forms need to be completed by the end of January for some popular courses.
College and sixth form interviews begin. Recruitment for apprenticeships and other vocational training begins.
If looking for training or work register with the National apprenticeship website www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship
Contact colleges/sixth forms if your teenager is likely to need additional support. The support needs will also be included in the Education, Health and Care Plan and the colleges/sixth forms will need a copy of this.
If your teenager is looking for work with training or apprenticeships, they need to start contacting employers; they might also need a back up plan such as a full-time college course or school sixth form.
April - June
Check any costs for courses such as equipment for post 16 options.
Discuss with student advisers if any finance is available for travel or equipment.
Teenagers interested in getting a part time job or an apprenticeship need to have an up to date CV ready.
National Insurance numbers should have been issued by now but if not call 0845 915 7006.
July - August
Your teenager needs to enrol at college if they have applied for a course starting in September; there may be also be summer enrolments for those with unconditional offers.
If they are continuing into sixth form make sure that they have completed their transition day and know term dates.
If your teenager is looking for work they need to update their CV with exam results.
Child benefit should still be payable if your teenager is continuing in full time education, for more information visit www.gov.uk/child-benefit.
Careers Website Links
Preparation for Adulthood
Preparation for Adulthood Lancashire toolkit
Careers
The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance for people looking at
learning, training and work.
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
The National Autistic Society work with employers to support candidates to access job opportunities.
They provide information around working conditions and jobs coaches. They will advertise
vacancies. There is a free module on ‘finding employment’.
https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/employment/job-opportunities
This website looks at the local labour market:
https://lancashire.startprofile.com/page/local-area
Internships and Training Providers
Project Search is a supported internship for young people with learning disabilities and autism. They
offer opportunities yearly based within companies in east Lancashire, Preston and Lancaster.
https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org/
Further Education
There are two routes for those people wishing to continue in education – mainstream and ISP
(independent specialist provision).
It needs to be identified that the mainstream provider can support the needs of the individual, and
the qualifications available will depend on those that have already been achieved. For some of our
learners, there are routes such as Foundation Learning or Pathways that will have a more supportive
environment for those with EHCPs that develops independence of employability. Some offer specific
vocational pathways such as Performing Arts or Animal Studies. Here are some examples:
Newman College - https://www.cardinalnewman.ac.uk/our-courses/foundation-learning
Preston’s College - https://www.preston.ac.uk/14-19-school-leavers/
Runshaw College - https://runshaw.ac.uk/study-at-runshaw/entry-requirements-2/vocational-entry-requirements/foundation-learning/
Myerscough College - https://www.myerscough.ac.uk/courses/foundation-learning/
Blackpool & the Fylde College - https://www.blackpool.ac.uk/subject/Gateway-courses
Accrington and Rossendale College https://www.accross.ac.uk/16-18/choices-learning-difficulties-or-support-needs/
ISPs will need a panel to agree to the funding of these placements, and this is only confirmed once it
is seen that mainstream providers are unable to cater to the needs of the individual. ISPs are
specialist day and residential colleges, providing individual programmes of support.
Arden College - https://www.aspriscs.co.uk/ardencollege/
Beaumont College - https://www.beaumontcollege.ac.uk/
Midstream- https://www.midstream.org.uk/
Expanse Learning Wigan-https://www.expanselearning.co.uk/expanse-learning-school/wigan-school/