Further education is when you study after 16 and it usually means at a college or sixth form.

The courses you can take here at 16-19 vary and they best way to find out is to look at the local college to you and search courses. Colleges usually have a large variety of courses at different levels from E3-Level 3 or higher if there is a University Centre attached.

When you are 19 you are eligible to access Adult Education, these can be short courses, or longer vocational courses.

In the Useful links section on this page there are links to the colleges & sixth forms in the Wakefield District and Wakefield Adult Education.  

There will be both further education colleges and adult education wherever you live in the country.     

Study Programme providers - how to access them and decide which programme is right for you to move forward in your learning, ask your PA is if you would like to know more about what study programme offer

If you’re not job or apprenticeship ready there are opportunities available to experience a work environment to gain employment knowledge, experience and skills.

Traineeships:

‘A traineeship is a course that includes a work placement. It can last from 6 weeks up to 6 months.

Traineeships help 16 to 24 year olds - or 25 year olds with an education, health and care (EHC) plan - get ready for an apprenticeship or job if they don’t have the appropriate skills or experience.

To be eligible you need to:

• eligible to work in England
• have little or no work experience but are motivated to work
• aged 16 to 24 - or 25 with an EHC plan - and qualified below level 3’

There are lots of short courses available.

Princes Trust can deliver ‘Team’ – a 12 week personal development course, offering work experience, practical skills, community projects and a residential with a reference on completion. There are teams in Wakefield and Pontefract.

Further information: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk or

NCS https://wearencs.com/

The Council has work experience opportunities so if you don’t know or are unsure what you want to do, you can see if it is an area you would want to pursue.

Wakefield Council Youth Services also run a NCS program, you can find more information here: wfyouth.co.uk

‘The term ‘work experience’ generally refers to a specified period of time that a person spends in a business, during which they have an opportunity to learn directly about working life and the working environment.

Some work experience positions offer people the chance to try their hand at particular tasks, others simply provide an opportunity to watch and learn. The nature, length and arrangements for work experience vary greatly.’ www.gov.uk

Work placements are similar to Work Experience but tend to be linked to ongoing study. So if you are at college and as part of your course you need to find a placement that enhances your learning in the subject you are taking at college you could contact us to see if we can support you in finding a placement. Work placements can be for up to a year.

Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to earn whilst you learn. The best way of finding out about what is available locally is to register with https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship

If you are interested in going to University or studying at a University College there is support available. 

Please ask your Social Worker or PA to arrange for you to meet with the SLCW who will ensure you have the right information about the support you can receive from Wakefield Council alongside the support available from universities. 

Please see Useful Links

For young people who are leaving care and who are looking for employment we will try and prepare you for the world of work.

Wakefield can offer support in the following areas as well as support you in looking for job vacancies and opportunities. The opportunities such as work experience, traineeships and voluntary work will support you to develop the skills needed.

Your PA will offer you support

Next Steps will offer you time at the EET clinic which runs in drop in times

Check the useful links section for information about the other services who can provide support.

Wakefield can offer you

• advice and guidance on Employability Skills;
• Knowing your rights and responsibilities within the work place.
• Local job vacancies and apprenticeship details.
• CV preparation and interview techniques from Work force development and Engie
• Phone and Internet Applications
• Additional support where it is required and applicable to stay within employment.
• Support with travel costs and lunches when you begin employment.
• Support with costs of work related clothing for first job.

Volunteering is about giving your time to do something useful and is flexible and largely dependent on when you are free to give your time. It is useful to you as you gain experience, improve your career prospects and meet new people. Link to NOVA

Do you have a business idea? Step up provides support for you and help you get a business plan together, source funding and potential grants to help you kick start the business.

If you are interested in any of the above Wakefield Council has opportunities for you, please check the ‘opportunities with Wakefield Council Link 

If you have additional needs we will work with our SEND team to do what we can to maintain your Education, Health, Care Plan to make you keep the support you need in place as you make the transition from provider to provider.

But what happens if you are not engaging in learning, work or training?

We know that we need to get you involved and engaged in some kind of purposeful activity as without it, when you are 18, the Job Centre will expect you participate on their many programmes to get you into work.

We would prefer you to be prepared for this by taking all the support we can offer you. You are welcome to come to Connect Cafe for support with CV building and Job Searches. 

Remember if you choose not to participate in these programmes or expectations the Job Centre may choose to sanction you. This means you will be without some or all of your benefit.

We will support you wherever possible but we all need to work together to get you into work or training or education. If these options are not right for you we will help you get the evidence you need which will show the DWP you aren’t ready.