Further and higher education

When you have decided what you want to do as a career, you need to look at education and training courses that will support you to achieve this. Young people all need to stay in education or training until they are 18. This does not mean you have to stay in school. You will able to choose from:

  • full-time education (eg at a school or college)
  • an apprenticeship or traineeship
  • part-time education or training combined with one of the following:
    • employment or self-employment for 20 hours or more a week
    • volunteering for 20 hours or more a week.

  • Staying on at school

    You may choose to continue your education at the school you currently attend if it has post-16 provision. The school will already know what additional support you need and can continue to support you, but now following a post-16 curriculum.

    Information about each academy and maintained school in Devon can be found on the individual school’s website and this information should include details about the SEND support the school offers, its SEND policy and a SEN information report.

    Changing school or going to college

    You may choose to go to a different school for your post-16 education or may find a college course better suited to what you want to do. All colleges should provide support to help students with SEND to complete their courses to the best of their abilities and some offer courses designed for people with SEND. Colleges for Devon learners include:

    Details about the SEND support each college offers can be found on the individual college’s website usually by searching for ‘support’. Additional support should be provided following an ‘assess, plan, do, review’ cycle to make sure that it is effective. For more information about this please see the Graduated Response section of the Local Offer. You can also find out more about choosing a school here (including information about specialist colleges).

     

    If you choose to change school or move to a college you should be supported in this by your current school and the establishment you are moving to. This transition should be discussed in your SEND review meetings including Statement or EHC plan reviews from year 9.

    For more information on the schools available in Devon and how to apply see our School admissions webpages.

    • University

      If you choose to go to university to continue your education, your school should give you advice about which subjects to study in order to prepare for a degree course and how to apply for university.

      University applications are through UCAS and include a personal statement which the applicant should write in order to show that they have the enthusiasm and relevant study skills such as:

      • ability to work independently
      • ability to collaborate on projects with others
      • wider knowledge of a subject beyond that required at A-level
      • ability to reflect on work and learn from mistakes
      • ability to manage study tasks.

      A teacher at the school or college which you attend will be able to give help you with writing a personal statement and completing an application form.

      Universities should provide additional support for students with SEND. To find out what support is offered at a particular University, visit their website and search for ‘student support’ or ‘disability’. UCAS also offers advice about the support which should be available to students with disabilities.

      If you have an EHC plan you can ask us to share this with your higher education provider so that they can support you. We must do this within 15 days of your request. However, higher education institutions are not named on EHC plans and the plan ceases to have any statutory protections once you enter higher education.

      It may be possible for you to get additional money to support your studies through Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) depending on your circumstances.

      Disability Rights UK has information on a range of topics relating to disabilities and further education.

      What is good about going to university?

      • most graduates will earn a higher wage than non-graduates once they start working
      • you can meet lots of people and make new friends
      • you will learn to manage your studies and your budget
      • some jobs will require you to have a degree
      • you will study in depth a subject that you have chosen
      • better qualifications can lead to a better job.

      What is bad about going to university?

      • there is no guarantee that you will succeed in your studies, you will need to work hard, budget your weekly spend and manage all aspects of your life
      • it takes 3 to 4 years to get a degree. Tuition costs £9,000.00 a year plus the cost of accommodation rental and food
      • during these 3 to 4 years at university you will not be earning or gaining any experience of work
      • dependant on your career path, some employers will prefer action learning to book learning
      • not all graduates secure well paid jobs
      • for some students university is an extremely stressful time, you may possibly need to leave home, family and friends and start a new life in a new city living with people you do not know.

      The Open University

      The Open University is open to all with most of the under graduate courses having no formal entry requirements.

      It is a distance learning course and you can study when and where it is convenient to you. All you need is a computer and an internet connection.

      You maybe eligible for a Disabled Students’ Allowance but allow plenty of time to get this set up. The funding may be limited and is awarded on a first come first served basis.

      Find out more about how The Open University supports students with disabilities.

      What is good about The Open University?

      • you can be employed and earning money and still work toward your degree
      • The Open University enables you to study from home when convenient for you
      • there is less cost
      • you will not have the social distractions that you would at a traditional university
      • most of the undergraduate courses have no formal entry requirements
      • most Open University students registered with a disability are eligible for Disabled Students Allowance.

      What is bad about The Open University?

      • The Open University is definitely not an easy option
      • there is little face to face time with other students
      • there is no ready-made campus life
      • your fellow students may be in a different age range to yourself.

      • All young people in Devon have an entitlement to access education until they are 18. This is the same for all learners with and without SEN. The SEN Code of Practice and Department for Education guidance states that all learners should be able to complete their education by the time they reach 18. This applies to learners with EHC Plans as well.

        From year 9 onwards the focus of each EHC Plan must be on preparation for adulthood and what each child/young person wants to achieve in their education. As each learner progresses through their education the EHC plan will be reviewed and updated. When the learner reaches 18 their EHC plan should outline what ceasing the plan should look like, the plan should outline what outcomes the learner needs to complete their education.

        Learners with EHC plans can access education between 19-25 if it is identified that they have incomplete outcomes in their EHC plan. Each learners EHC plan should identify what they need to accomplish to complete their education. They should have clear outcomes linked to their aspirations.

        Learners without EHC plans can continue to access education between 19-25. Support can be accessed through their FE college for their SEN needs. Any learner can request an assessment of their SEN until the age of 25.

        • Updated 10/04/18 sendlocaloffer@devon.gov.uk

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