About
All young people must stay in a designated learning environment until the age of 18. The study programme should provide stretch and progression and help them to achieve the best possible outcomes in adult life. We call this phase ‘post-16’.
This does not always mean staying at school. Young people can choose from different options, including:
- full‑time study at a school, college or training provider
- full‑time work, or volunteering with part‑time learning
- an apprenticeship or traineeship
You can read more about these options on our Your Future page. Somerset education Business Partnership also has helpful resources on their Imagine the possibilities page for young people with SEND and their families.
There are more than 20 school sixth forms, colleges and training providers in Somerset. Choosing where to study can feel like a big decision, especially if a child or young person has SEND . Below you can find out more about the different types of school or educational settings for full-time post-16 study.
Some young people with an EHC plan may need more time in education or training to achieve their outcomes and make an effective transition into adult life. If needed, an EHC plan can continue until the age of 25. This is not automatic. Read more on our when an Education Health and Care plan might end page.
Helen from SENDIAS explains post-16 support in the October 2022 Local Offer Live sessions.
Mainstream Sixth Form
What is offered in mainstream and sixth form?
Schools and academies with a sixth form offer a range of mainstream courses for young people aged 16 to 19. These can include A levels, AS levels, maths and English GCSE, or some vocational courses.
All mainstream schools must publish a SEND Information Report on their website. This explains how they support children with special educational needs and disabilities. You can find a link to this using the find a school search below.
You can view the draft graduated response of provision that the local authority expects to be available for Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities in Somerset schools at post-16. You will be supported by the SENCO in a similar way to your time during school.
Find your local school offering 16 to 18 provision
How do you get a place?
All schools have admission criteria to decide which young people get places in the sixth form. Admission criteria are different for each school, and each course. Schools will let you know what grades you need to get into their sixth form, and what grades they would really like you to have. You normally apply through the school website. If you already attend the school, you may just need to complete an options form. Somerset Council does not manage post‑16 applications.
For young people with an EHC plan, placements are agreed through consultation as part of the Annual Review process.
General Further Education (FE) Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges
What is offered?
Colleges offer a wide range of different courses. From those that do not need any specific GCSE Grades (Foundation Studies and access courses) through to GCSEs (including English and maths), A levels, apprenticeships, degrees and professional qualifications. Most learners are aged 16 to 19, but colleges also support adult learners.
You can view the draft graduated response of provision that the local authority expects to be available for Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities within Somerset colleges at post-16. There will be a person at College in charge of supporting young people with special educational needs. This person may be called a SENCO similar to in schools, or the SEN Lead. The college must make sure that students with SEN know who they can go to for help.
Colleges will have an additional learning support team who will work across the college to support learners with specific learning difficulties and/or disabilities. They may also provide students with one to one or small group work to help with their studies, and examination access arrangements, specialist equipment and software and supporting strategies for alternative ways to learn. You can find our more on the college websites below.
Abbi, a SENCO, talks about reasonable adjustments for a medical condition in college.
How do you get a place?
All colleges have admission criteria to decide which young people get places in the college. Admission criteria are different for each college, and also each course. Colleges will list minimum entry requirements, and preferred entry requirements. Applications are usually made through the college website. Somerset Council does not manage post‑16 college applications.
For young people with an EHC plan, placements are agreed through consultation during the Annual Review process.
Special Sixth Form
What is offered in special sixth form?
Specialist schools and academies with a sixth form offer a bespoke pathway through post-16 for pupils aged 16 to 19 years with more complex or multiple special educational needs and disabilities, and an EHC plan, whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream setting. The curriculum focuses on preparing for adult life. It includes functional literacy and numeracy and aims to build independence and life skills.
Details are available in each school’s SEN Information Report:
- Selworthy School, Taunton
- Polden Bower, Bridgwater
- Avalon School, Street
- The Mendip School
- Fiveways Special School, Yeovil
- Fairmead School, Yeovil
How do you access special sixth form?
Placements are agreed through consultation as part of the EHC plan Annual Review process.
Training providers
These offer a range of different courses to all ability levels. From courses that do not need any GCSEs to professional qualifications and higher level apprenticeships. Most offer work-based training and apprenticeships. Many specialise in training for specific job areas. Many offer courses to develop employability skills, including traineeships.
Find training providers on Step Up Somerset.
Find out more about organisations geared up to help you find the right job or training placement on our Finding and keeping a job pages.
Alternative Provision
What is offered with alternative provision?
There is now a range of alternative day service providers. Examples of Alternative Provision can be accessing experiences of work on a farm, in cafes, shops, running enterprise projects, working with animals, as well as therapeutic service. Others will have opportunities to develop life and work skills, build friendships, access their community; offering diverse provision for young people and adults with SEND .
How do you access alternative provision?
Alternative provision will not be full time. Decisions are made together with the young person, parent carers and relevant professionals in adult social care.
Independent Specialist Post-16 Institution
What is offered at Independent special schools and colleges?
Independent special schools and colleges charge fees. To be considered for a young person with an Education Health and Care plan, the setting must be approved by the Secretary of State for Education under section 41 of the Children and Families Act.
Find your local Specialist Post-16 Institution
How do you access Independent special schools and colleges?
Where children or young people have an Education, Health and Care Plan, Somerset Council’s key aim is to meet their needs locally wherever possible. This means they can usually stay near their family and friends while getting the help they need.
The local authority will only in exceptional circumstances agree to offer to place in a local specialist post-16 institution if there are no suitable places in a local maintained special sixth form and if the:
- college is suitable for the young person’s special educational needs
- head teacher agrees to offer a place
- placement is an efficient use of public money
The independent setting decides its own admissions. Placements are agreed through consultation as part of the EHC plan Annual Review process, but the final decision to admit always sits with the independent setting.
Universities
What is offered at universities?
University learning usually starts after age 18. This is called higher education. It includes degrees, professional qualifications and short courses. Find out more about the support available for studying at Higher education with additional needs.
Many people choose to move away from home to attend a university. There are 3 higher education offers in Somerset:
- University Centre Somerset part of UCS College Group (with The Open University, University of Plymouth, Oxford Brookes University and University of the West of England, Bristol)
- Yeovil College University Centre (with University of Gloucestershire, University of Plymouth and Open University)
- Bournemouth University Yeovil nursing campus
How do you access universities?
All higher education settings have admission criteria to decide which young people get places. Admission criteria are different for each setting and each course. Settings will list minimum entry requirements, and preferred entry requirements. All applications need to go through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). When you apply through UCAS , you can share any individual needs or circumstances, including SEND . This helps universities offer the right support. They may send you more information, or contact you to discuss what would help you succeed.
Some universities offer ‘contextual offers’. These adjust entry requirements if you have faced challenges. Not all universities do this.
Distance Learning
What is offered with distance learning?
Distance learning lets you study mostly from home or work. Support is given online, by phone or email. There may be some face‑to‑face sessions. This option lets you choose when and where you study. Many courses are for people aged 18 and over.
Find distance learning offers from the Somerset colleges.
Find undergraduate distance learning providers on UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).
How do you access distance learning?
All higher education settings have admission criteria to decide which young people get places. Admission criteria are different for each setting, and also each course. Settings will list minimum entry requirements, and preferred entry requirements. Applications will either be direct with the setting, or through UCAS . See the information about universities above for further information.