Options at 16
Young people have a duty to participate in some kind of education, employment or training until the end of the academic year in which they are 18. The purpose of this is to ensure that as many people as possible achieve at least Level 2 qualifications by the time they are 19.
The Local Authority has a duty to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate opportunities available to young people and will have a duty to monitor and record what young people are doing. The Local Authority will have to ensure that all young people currently in Year 11 and Year 12 have been given an appropriate offer of a place by the end of September. This is called the September Guarantee.
Schools have a duty to ensure that young people receive independent careers information, advice and guidance (IAG) prior to the end of Year 11 and also have a duty to report to the Local Authority the Year 12 destination offer made to their current Year 11 students by the end of September.
What options are available?
- College/Further Education
- Sixth form
- Apprenticeships/traineeships
- Training providers
- Working with training
- Volunteering
Higher Education Advice
Intended for Teachers, Social Workers, IROs and Foster Carers and associated professional to consider in Cared For Review/Pathway Plan meetings.
Year 11 and below:
- Has the Young Person been supported to attend widening participation activities, open days or campus tours of any university?
All of the Universities in Merseyside offer activities to raise aspirations and can offer 1:1 visits for Cared For Children. Each university has a designated member of staff who can help to arrange this.
Academic Year 12:
- Has the Young Person been supported with their Higher Education journey?
- Have they visited the preferred universities?
Academic Year 13 and beyond:
- Has the young person been supported with their UCAS application and finance through Student Finance England? In some schools, the young person may be required to start their university application at the end of academic year 12. Some schools/colleges offer workshops to help with the application process. If more help is needed, please contact charlie.smith@sefton.gov.uk for further guidance.
- Is the Young Person aware of the Local Offer provided by the Local Authority regarding higher education? The Virtual School offer a bursary of £500.
The Care Experience team offer £2000 spread over the three years of the University course.
- Have accommodation plans been confirmed and approved for the first year and holiday?
Generally, if the young person living away from home, the first year may be in Halls of Residence, in some cases this can be all year round, or the young person may wish to return to another placement during the holiday times. This needs to be discussed and confirmed with the University.
- Has a plan been formed to support the young person to move into their accommodation?
This can be a really daunting time for anyone, so ensure there is someone in the Care Experienced Service:
- To help the young person move into their new accommodation.
- Help them to familiarise themselves with the local area.
- Check in with the young person regularly over the first few weeks.
- Address any concerns that the young person is having.