Virtual School Post 16 support

Virtual School Post 16 support

In the Worcestershire Virtual School team there are two learning advocates supporting young people who are Post 16 children looked after.

The Post 16 Worcestershire Virtual School team supports young people who are Post 16 Children Looked After (CLA) aged 16 to 18 years old (in years 12 and 13) both in and out of the county who are in Education, Employment, Training or NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training)

All young people who are looked after must have a Personal Education Plan (PEP) also known at Post 16 as a Personal Progression Plan (PPP) which is reviewed 3 times a year. The PEP/PPP forms part of the young person’s statutory Care Plan.

Post 16 Learning Advocates (LA’s) will facilitate the PEP process. They work in partnership with Post 16 Providers, Social Workers, Outreach Team, Personal Advisers, Designated Teachers or the Practitioner within the setting (i.e. Employer, Training Provider, Apprentice Lead). LA’s work closely with these professionals to monitor the progress within the setting. They also ensure that any barriers to success are challenged, thereby promoting a culture of high aspirations for every individual post 16 young person in Local Authority care to improve and maximise post 16 opportunities and outcomes.

Please go to the Post 16 Information Library where you will find a wealth of information, guidance and links to websites providing you with great ideas to support your young person.

Virtual School Post 16 Information Library

In these sections you find a wealth of information, guidance and links to websites providing you with great ideas to support your young person.

16 to 19 bursary

Any young person who continues into Education at Post 16 may apply for the 16 to 19 bursary.

Applications can be made regardless of whether the student has a conditional or unconditional offer for September.

It is recommended that these applications are submitted at the earliest opportunity as evidence is required to support the application and this can take time.

The application needs to be made directly to the college/training provider.

The application form can be found on the website for each college/training provider.

For more information please visit: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund

16 to 19 Bursary guidance for Post 16 Institutions

This is a link to the guidance for post 16 institutions to use when they are administering the bursary. If an institution is administering the bursary for the first time then see how to ask a question about the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund from GOV.UK 

Post 16 careers, information, advice and guidance

If a CLA young person aged 16 to 18 (Year 12 and 13) is NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) they can speak to a qualified Careers' Adviser from the NEET team for a careers guidance interview and to discuss what their post 16 options are in Worcestershire:

If a Post-16 CLA young person is engaged in a provision but is seeking careers advice they should seek advice directly from the provider, they are engaged with in the first instance.

Any CLA young person can access information, advice and guidance from the Skills4Worcestershire website: Careers and Education (Post 16 Options) (Skills4Worcestershire)

Blended Learning Resource

This project has been commissioned by Worcestershire Virtual School to HOW College providing useful information about Post-16 learning choices in Worcestershire beyond experiences in school.  

After completing this resource, adults supporting young people, particularly children looked after, will:

  • be well informed to help young people to make Post 16 choices about Further Education
  • have a greater understanding about the key differences between school and Further Education
  • provider a greater awareness of support they can expect to receive from an FE Provider, including academic, pastoral and financial support
  • understand the expectations of Post 16 Study.  

Statutory guidance

This is statutory guidance from the Department for Education (the department). A local authority must have regard to it when exercising its functions relating to the participation of young people in education or training.

Post 16 education providers

Young Adult Learning Worcestershire

We offer a combination of Traineeships and Study programmes designed to support you to access vocational learning in a friendly environment.

Study programmes are classroom based and take around 12 months in length whereas Traineeships can take around 6 months with an extended work placement within an employer getting you ready for your next steps into the world of work.

See, 16 to 24 Training Worcestershire, for more information.

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