Get careers advice
Start getting help from your school, family and friends with your employment choices.
Your teachers and school or college have an important role to play in helping you make choices about your future by offering support and guidance. Your family may also be able to offer support. Start conversations to ask for help.
How your school may help
While you are still at school, you may have the opportunity to go out into the community on a work experience placement.
From year 7 onwards, you should think about careers you would like to explore and the skills and experience you might need for the future.
A vocational profile could help you decide what type of work would suit you and help you find suitable work placements. The National Development Team for Inclusion has information on vocational profiles.
If you have an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), your teachers can help you make sure that it includes what type of work you want to do, an idea of where you would like to work, and the steps to get there.
State-funded schools and further education colleges in England must provide careers guidance to their pupils from ages 11 to 18 and up to age 25 for students with an EHCP.
How your family and friends may help
We know that family and friends are a big influence on young people. Support from the people around you can help you challenge yourself and feel more confident when you think about jobs you could do.
Paid work can be a very positive part of our lives. It can give us financial independence and help us make new friends. It can also be good for our physical and mental health.
Start talking about the world of work as early as possible both at home and at school.
Borrow accessible books about getting a job and being employed from your local West Sussex library.
Look together at the different types of training and employment on the Local Offer website. You can also look at the Your Futures website for ideas.
You can get employment and training advice and support, including help writing a CV and interview skills from your nearest Find it Out Centre.
Myth-buster quiz
Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are willing and capable of working. Take our quiz below and uncover the truth about supporting people with SEND reach their career goals.
Are these statements true or false?
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True
The SEND Code of Practice makes it clear that all professionals working with young people with SEND should start with a presumption of employability. This prevents them from missing out on important preparation for adulthood.
Employers are not allowed to discriminate against you because you have special educational needs and disabilities. At all stages of recruitment and once you are in work, you can ask for reasonable adjustments.
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False
This may have been the case in the past but was most likely because nobody asked them.
Young people with SEND have the same dreams and aspirations about a career as young people in general. Working needs to be part of their conversations as early as possible.
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True
The SEND Code of Practice says it is important that young people start to think about their work aspirations as early as possible.
It also says that from Year 9 at the latest, there is help to start planning for a successful transition to adulthood.
This includes moving into paid employment and higher education.
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False
Work preparation is valuable but it can be difficult to be completely ready. Learning about working often starts when people are in their job. People with SEND will benefit from extra support in the workplace.
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False
It is important to contact your local Jobcentre Plus for individual benefits advice relating to employment. Earning a small weekly wage or earning money for a fixed period may not affect benefits. It is often a good way to ease into employment.
Find your local Jobcentre Plus.
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False
16 to 18 year olds can spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering if it is combined with training. Training is required until they are 18 years old.
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True
According to the government’s Work, Health and Disability Green Paper ‘Improving Lives’, the evidence is clear that work and health are linked.
Appropriate work is good for an individual’s physical and mental health. Being out of work is associated with a range of poor health outcomes.
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True
Employers want to employ people with disabilities when they are made aware of the benefits and supported with any concerns they may have.
Businesses have reported that employees with disabilities have a positive impact on the workforce. For more information visit the British association for supported employment website.
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True
Research carried out by Cardiff University on behalf of Mencap found that disabled people tend to:
- stay in their jobs longer
- have less time off for sickness and other problems
- arrive on time
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False
The government has lowered the English and Maths requirements you need to complete an apprenticeship for people with a learning difficulty or disability and have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
You can also get Access to Work funding for Apprenticeships or Supported Internships.