Careers websites and information (suitable for SEND students)
Your Future Black Country – focused on the Midlands but job profiles presented in accessible format for SEND students
Success at School – straightforward, easy to understand advice and information
Youth Employment UK – useful for entry level roles – comprehensive job and sector information
Jed Careers (Subscription Required)
General
Kent County Council – Kent
SEND Local Offer, including – community directory with activities, clubs and societies across the county
Kent County Council – Who to contact
CXK & Partners SEND Provision Map for Kent & Medway – list of SEND provision – schools, employment, organisations (NB this link might be relocated after March 21)
Kids.org SENDIASS – advice service for parents of SEND young people
IASK – Helpline and free impartial advice for SEND parents, carers and young people in Kent
Post 16 choices (see here for Kent FE Colleges)
NASS – membership organisation for non- maintained, independent, and voluntary special schools
Natspec – membership organisation for SEN further education colleges
Kent County Council – College, sixth form, employment, and training
Kent Choices – lists all full time FE College, sixth form as well as short courses, traineeships, employability courses and functional skills training for students with and without SEND (also see individual training providers below and note that the ‘readytowork’ website (which listed traineeships etc) has been discontinued
Kent County Council – list of post 16 specialist schools and schools with specialist resources
Travel
Kent County Council – explains financial and practical travel support for SEND students
Kent County Council –independent travel training
Specialist colleges/special schools with units/post 19 provisions
Residential Colleges – Mount Camphill, Wadhurst, Orpheus, Godstone (performing arts), St John’s School and College, Brighton, and St Piers College, Lingfield
Post 19 SEND provision – open or in development:- Grow 19 (Kirstie Hemingway) East Malling – www.grow19.com; The Oaks, Tonbridge – https://www.theoaks.ac.uk/; LINK 19 Learning with Ifield at North Kent College, Gravesend; https://www.link19college.ac.uk/page/?title=Curriculum&pid=7 ;and Beacon School, Folkestone, (Beacon Plus – Mel Winter); Grange Park (Wrotham); Trinity School, Rochester – independent day school with Post 19 Gateway provision http://www.trinityschoolrochester.co.uk/; Blue Skies School –Chatham (Age 16-25 provision for ASD students) http://www.blueskiesschool.co.uk/
(Speak directly to schools for information – this is not an exhaustive list)
General – finding apprenticeships/traineeships – Kent and UK based
Kent Choices – lists all full time FE College, sixth form as well as short courses, traineeships, employability courses and functional skills training for students with and without SEND
CXK Resources – general advice on applications, finding work experience/part time jobs/ employment and apprenticeships in Kent and more generally
Kent County Council – KCC guide to apprenticeships
Amazing Apprenticeships – general information and resources for teachers, students, and employers plus vacancy snapshot
Disability Rights UK Guide – useful info on apprenticeships for people with disabilities
CXK Blog: How to Find an Apprenticeship
Supported employment and sources of support (including internships, apprenticeships, and traineeships)
Base – national trade association for supported employment – explanation, members, sources of support
The Education People – leading provider of supported employment in Kent (Alicia Moyles, Head of Services – based at KCC). NB EHC not needed for supported internships
Bradfields Academy and Forward 2 Employment offer supported internships – Medway, Aylesford but expanding locations
DFN Project Search – supported internships/training for work programmes at NHS hospitals (Maidstone and Medway)
Liberty Training – supported internships for students with EHCs
Bemix – offer courses and supported employment
Kent County Council – ways to prepare for an apprenticeship (including traineeships and supported internships)
Ambitious about Autism – leaders in developing supported internships
Apprenticeships care leavers’ bursary policy summary – one off support for care leavers
Buttle UK – can provide financial support for education and training for young people without family support/children in crisis
Entitled To – help to calculate benefit entitlements
Base and Access to Work – travel and other work assistance
Disability Rights UK Guide – apprenticeship guide for people with disabilities
Kent Training and Apprenticeships – supported internships, traineeships, apprenticeships, work ready/work-based training
Study programmes (including functional skills, vocational courses, and employability)
www.whiterocksfarm.co.uk – provides BTECs in land based and animal care, plus carpentry, catering, and mechanics for young people with additional needs (mainly 14-16 years, some 19+) (Sevenoaks)
www.squirrellsridingschool.co.uk – deliver ‘changing lives through horses’ programme for NEET young people (with or without EHCs) – (Chatham)
www.catch-22.org.uk/services/maidstone-skills-centre – provides vocational training course/ study programmes for schools and PRUs – construction, catering, hair and beauty, and land based (Maidstone)
www.physicalfolk.org.uk – offer NEET and vulnerable young people courses in acting, film making and the media industry (Medway and Kent wide)
brogdalecic.co.uk/about – provides disabled young people with land-based courses and qualifications in horticulture, conservation, animal care, crafts, functional and employability skills, along with short courses and activities (Ashford, Faversham, Dover, Swale, Canterbury sites)
NUYU – skills and employability training centre for young people aged 16-23 (unemployed) (Dover)
runwaytraining.co.uk – provide function skills and employability training and deliver traineeships and apprenticeships (Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge)
Sports Connect – deliver sports-based study programmes, apprenticeships, traineeships, and alternative curriculum for disengaged learners (Aylesford). Use this link to register interest – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSC_bo-fVvJ1QHbNjoqBuWYMO0l2f-Pf1z_ZzoCKyNFKkfbA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0
www.libertygroupltd.co.uk – functional skills, employability training plus traineeships (Ramsgate)
ksports.co.uk/education-training – based in Aylesford – deliver sports-based study programmes, apprenticeships, traineeships, and alternative curriculum for disengaged learners
www.bemix.org – courses and supported employment (Canterbury, Swale, Medway and Gravesham)
www.cxk.org/our-services/services-young-people – includes Princes Trust, NEET Support, Elevate and Launch Pad – helping NEET, SEND and other young people into employment
www.supajam.com and www.semmuk.com – offer music courses for young people with SEND (Swanley and Canterbury)
sekgroup.org.uk/employment-support – social enterprises supporting unemployed and people with health or disabilities with employability
www.theeducationpeople.org/our-expertise/specialist-employment – KCC’s specialist employment team
www.withgrassroots.co.uk – alternative provision for children with complex SEND – offers equine assisted learning, including animal care courses – ages 11 to 25 (Crowhurst, Surrey – on Kent border)
www.kentmentorsupport.co.uk/post16 – alternative post 16 provision for disengaged young people and young people with SEND (Broadstairs)
www.romney-resource.co.uk – offers alternative post 16 education and mentoring (18+ for vulnerable adults). Employability, catering, creative curriculum (New Romney)
www.nacro.org.uk/education/education-centres/nacro-chatham-centre – qualification and skills courses for vulnerable YP – sport, motor vehicle, construction, childcare, animal care, ESOL, hair and beauty, hospitality and more…
www.westkentymca.org.uk/our-work/training-education The Horizon Project – carpentry and joinery, employability, personal and social, functional skills training for young people with SEND (Tonbridge)
Day care and volunteering activities and SEND charities
www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/care-and-support/disability/local-activities-and-support/day-activities-for-people-with-a-learning-disability – full lists of day activities in different areas of Kent
local.kent.gov.uk/kb5/kent/directory/results.action?localofferchannel=0 – community directory showing clubs, societies and activities across the county
www.ableize.com/disabled-groups-and-clubs-by-county/kent – list of activities for people with disabilities and SEND
www.kent.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/50414/Kent-Pathways-Service-easy-read-leaflet.pdf
skillnetgroup.co.uk/about/ – represents the rights of people with learning difficulties and disabilities
aspens.org.uk/services/day-services – a merger of Pepenbury and Autism Sussex – helps people with autism and SEND into independent living (South East England)
www.touchbasecare.org – community and creative events and activities (Folkestone)
www.hadlow.ac.uk/life-at-college/our-campuses/princess-christian’s-farm – courses and day activities on the college farm (Hildenborough)
brogdalecic.co.uk/about – provides disabled young people with land-based courses and qualifications in horticulture, conservation, animal care, crafts, functional and employability skills, along with short courses and activities (Ashford, Faversham, Dover, Swale, Canterbury sites)
communigrow.org.uk – community vegetable growing project which takes volunteers, including SEND schools (Aylesford)
spadework.net – provide meaningful support and work to people with SEND (Offham)
www.boreplace.org/what-we-offer/schools/send– supported placements for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people on Commonwork’s Organic Farm. Also offer Saturday club for 8 – 17 years olds with additional needs (Edenbridge)
www.rbli.co.uk – help veterans, injured service personnel and unemployed people back into work – CV, interview, self-development, maths, English, ICT, business admin, CSCS, warehouse and storage, H&SC, retail & customer service
local.kent.gov.uk/kb5/kent/directory/service.page?id=i3DVR76KN14&localofferchannel=1 – for young people and adults with SEND – (based at Mount Lodge Farm, Biddenden)
www.woodpeckercourt.co.uk – outdoor activities and courses, employability support, skills development, English, maths (Eythorne, Deal)
www.fifthtrust.co.uk – daycare activities including arts and crafts (Elham Valley, Canterbury)
www.karoben.co.uk/ – farm offering opportunities to people with disabilities to engage with animals, plants, horses and donkeys, to develop life skills and independence (Ashford)
lilyscommunity.org/ – Lily’s Kitchen offers 16-24 year olds with an EHCP internships and apprenticeships in catering and hospitality (including barista skills), office admin and customer service (Ashford)
www.findavoice.org.uk/ – offers a social club and the chance to gain qualifications from Pre-entry to Entry Level 3 for people with communication difficulties and helps people find assisted technology
www.c-o-t.org.uk/about-us (Canterbury Oast Trust) – includes a range of enterprises offering activities (art, animal care, horticulture, catering, wood craft, conservation work etc) for people with learning disabilities – Art at the Farm, Rare Breeds Centre, and Granary Restaurant (Woodchurch), Coterie Tea Room (Rye), Poulton Woods Nature Reserve
thejohngrahamcentre.co.uk – indoor and outdoor day activities on a farm for adults with learning disabilities (Blean)
www.activelives.org – vocational and educational centre for adults with learning disabilities (Canterbury)
mxcp.co.uk – Motocross Alternative Project (Dover) – employability courses, motocross and mechanics training for NEET and vulnerable young people (Dover)
https://www.westkentymca.org.uk/our-work/bike-project/ – social enterprise teaching young people how to repair build their own bike (Tonbridge)
www.archwayyouthproject.org– Archway motorbike project – cycle and motorbike workshop sessions, qualifications, cookery, IT. 11-19 years or up to aged 25 (for SEND) (Thamesmead)
livewellkent.org.uk/how-to-get-help – support for mental health and community wellbeing
www.choicesupport.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/kent-medway-essex – adult day services in Kent and Medway and social enterprises (Tuck by Truck, Growing Concern) teaching employability skills
www.shawtrust.org.uk/what-we-do – national social enterprise supporting people back into employment and other services
contact.org.uk/ – support for families with disabled children
www.devilstorque.com – also known as Ignition Support – day activities for SEND young people to learn mechanics
squarepegsarts.com – run theatre, arts groups, music and projects for children, young people and adults who have learning disabilities, autism, social communication difficulties or who struggle to ‘fit in’ with mainstream activities (Kent and Medway)
nhscadets.sja.org.uk – programme for disadvantaged young people aged 14-18 to explore roles in the NHS (includes online elements for SEND students)
www.confidance.org.uk – dance courses for people with SEND (Canterbury)
skybadger.co.uk/about-sky-badger – provides help and adventure for disabled children and families – UK wide
www.curlyslegacy.co.uk/schools-young-people – farm that offers education, learning, employability, and respite care opportunities for schoolchildren with SEND, young carers, and vulnerable adults (Isle of Sheppey)
Other organisations/recruitment agencies helping people with SEND into employment
www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/discover/topic/work-placements – offer help for disabled people to obtain work placements
www.pluss.org.uk/about – disability employment specialists
www.vercida.com/uk/articles/jobs-and-careers-for-autistic-people
www.ndcs.org.uk/our-services/information-for-deaf-young-people/work-and-careers/finding-a-job– information for young people with hearing impairment
exceptionalindividuals.com/ – employment support plus some useful information on neurodiversity
www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/professional-development/training-and-conferences/employment/finding-employment – National Autistic Society course providing advice on finding employment
Technology and support for people with SEND
braininhand.co.uk – a digital self-management support system for people who need help remembering things, making decisions, planning, or managing anxiety
Resources for guidance/ background info
www.talentinocareers.co.uk/send-gatsby-benchmark-toolkit.pdf
www.unitedresponse.org.uk/what-we-do – national charity offering person centred support. Blog for careers advisers for national careers week on how to support SEND students:
- nationalcareersweek.com/syp/
- nationalcareersweek.com/syp2/
- nationalcareersweek.com/supporting-young-people-disabilities-employment-part-3/
www.ndti.org.uk/our-work/our-projects/preparing-for-adulthood1/ and www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/SiteAssets/Downloads/wpykaifl636379632195713341.pdfA – workbook that can be used to help with supported employment (contains resources that might be good for guidance with SEND students)
www.ndti.org.uk/uploads/files/How_to_Support_Young_People_With_Special_Educational_Needs_into_Work_FINAL.pdf – really helpful summary of approaches to support and routes for SEND students
