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This website is only one part of the Local Offer; we also have a directory which you can visit at 1space.eastsussex.gov.uk/localoffer

College, Courses and Education

A photo being taken of an adult and a child who is sat in a wheelchair, in front of a college. Another child is stood holding a book in the background.

Overview

From year 9 onwards, it’s time to start thinking about what you want to do after you leave school. You need to stay in some form of education or training until you are 18 years of age.

Your choices are often dependent on:

The Careers East Sussex website goes into more detail about this, including options such as:

You can visit the Careers East Sussex website to find out more:

iCan (Careers East Sussex)

iCan is an annual careers event for secondary schools and colleges in East Sussex. This event provides students with additional needs the opportunity to meet and hear from:

Topics can include pathways and opportunities that will be available to them post-16.

To see upcoming events, please visit the Careers East Sussex site and search for ‘iCan’:

Careers East Sussex share details on how to attend these events closer to the date.

Finding a College in East Sussex

Careers East Sussex

The Careers East Sussex website allows users to search for courses from a range of colleges throughout East Sussex. You can search by provider, sector, qualification, level or area:

Independent Colleges and 6th Forms

Independent special schools and colleges are self-managed. They are not directly funded by the Local Authority. Accessing them can be a different process to mainstream settings.

You can find a list of independent special schools and post-16 institutions (including colleges) on the main government website:

Transitioning into College and Adult Life Guide

We have developed an online resource to support parents and carers with the planning and preparation for their young person’s transition into post 16 and adulthood. You can use this guide with your parents or carers or on your own. 

Supported Employment, Inclusive Apprenticeships and Internships

You can also visit our page on Supported Employment, Inclusive Apprenticeships and Internships.

University and Higher Education

Universities have a statutory duty to try their best to support students who have SEND. This can include things such as:

We call these changes “reasonable adjustments”. They make sure that young people with SEND have the same access to a university education.

If you have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), this will no longer apply when you go to university. It could still be a good idea to share your plan with the university you want to go to. This will allow them to understand your needs. It will also help them put the right reasonable adjustments in place.

UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service), is an independent charity, and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education. We recommend you visit their site if you have any queries about applying for and attending university. They provide lots of useful information:

The UCAS site also has further insight on what support young people with SEND can expect from universities:

Travel and Transport with SEND

There are various discounts and support services for children and young people when it comes to transport. This includes children and young people with and without SEND. This section aims to highlight some of the support available.

SEND School and College Transport

If a young person with an EHCP is unable to travel independently to their college due to their SEND, they can apply for post 16 travel assistance. Their application and family circumstances will be assessed to determine whether there are barriers to stop them from getting to college without assistance.

East Sussex County Council's website contains a page that provides more information and a way of applying:

Personal Travel Budget (PTB)

A personal travel budget could help to arrange a young person’s travel. We may offer you a PTB if we can’t offer you other travel assistance. 

You can use it to help pay for the cost of transport to school or college. 

Find out more about PTB, by visiting the main East Sussex County Council website:

Bus Travel

Anyone aged 5 and over with a qualifying disability can apply for a disabled person's bus pass. This pass allows for free off-peak travel on local buses. The main East Sussex County Council site provides more information. This includes the meaning of a qualifying disability, and how to apply:

There are further discounts available to children and young people who use buses. A child or young person does not need to have SEND to access the discounts below:

Train Travel

There are train discounts and railcards available to those with disabilities, and for their companion. The main East Sussex County Council site provides more information:

Southeast Communities Rail Partnership offer a ‘Try a Train’ experience. This provides an opportunity for those who lack confidence travelling by train. It allows them to visit their train stations and to experience a train journey.

They are for people who have any form of disability or access needs who wish to build their confidence when travelling. The trips are also available to those who may encounter other barriers to travelling. For example, senior citizens, non-English speakers, low income families.

A vehicle with disabled access at the rear. An adult stood behind a young person who is in a wheelchair, on the vehicle lift.

Additional Help and Support

East Sussex Local Offer directory of services

You can visit our SEND-specific online directory, hosted on East Sussex 1Space. The directory lists many different services both throughout the county and online. Services cover many topics, including:

Visit the East Sussex Local Offer directory.

Youth Employability Service (YES)

YES is a free impartial service which offers education and careers support and guidance to young people in the East Sussex area. They work with young people aged 16-18 who are:

They can support up to 25 for young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

East Sussex County Council commission YES.

Amaze SENDIASS

Amaze SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) are a local charity. They offer free, independent, and impartial advice for all matters relating to SEND. Contact Amaze SENDIASS by:

Visit the Amaze SENDIASS web page.

Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms

We explain some of the terms used on this website on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.

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