What to do next...
Education
You might be thinking about what you are going to do after you leave your current school. If you have a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN), then you should have a transition plan. A Transition Plan should be drawn up for you at your annual review of your statement in Year 9. This plan will help all those agencies involved to plan and monitor your move into adulthood. You should be fully consulted about this. If you have a statement, this will only continue whilst you are in a school setting.Here are some organisations that can help you if you need more information about transition or what to do next:
Connexions
Provides information, advice, guidance and support for young people as you make decisions about education, training, employment and other life choices. You should have access to a Personal Adviser either at your schools, college or in your community. Contact Connexions Gloucestershire on 01452 833640.After 16 – What’s New?
A service designed to give young disabled people and your family information to help you make decisions about your future. Website www.after16.org.ukChoosing a College
You might want to continue after school and attend a college. You can either attend a mainstream college or a specialist college. For details of specialist schools contact the Association of National Specialist Colleges on 020 8462 1656 or go to the website at www.natspec.org.uk.Other useful contacts are:
Skill – National Bureau for Students with Disabilities
A National voluntary organisation that provides free information and advice for individual disabled people with physical and learning disabilities in post-sixteen education, training and employment. Contact 0800 328 5050 or visit the website at www.skill.org.ukNational Star College
A specialist residential further education college for students aged 16 to 25, with a physical and/or an acquired brain injury. Students come from all over the UK and usually remain at the college for three years, although this can vary. There are also non-residential courses for adults (16 plus) with a disability in Gloucestershire. Contact 01242 527631 or visit the website at www.natstar.ac.uk.Ruskin Mill College
A residential/day specialist college for pupils aged 16-25 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Colleges has developed according to the principles of Rudolph Steiner, William Morris and John Ruskin and adopts a holistic approach to all aspects of education. Tel 01453 837500 .Stroud College
Stroud College offers full-time courses, including Access to Education Programmes which provide learning opportunities for young people from 16 to 25 years who may need extra support with their studies. They offer education opportunities on different levels: Pre-Entry, Entry and Level 1. Courses are designed to meet individual needs, and a realistic Individual Learning Plan will be drawn up. Contact 01453 761126 or visit the website www.stroud.ac.ukWilliam Morris Camphill Community
A residential college and training centre that offers further education and skill-training for young adults with learning disabilities. The aim of William Morris is to assist in developing independence through home-life, education and vocational skills. There are 31 places and a limited number of day places for training and work experience. Contact 01453 824025 or visit the website www.camphill.org.uk/guide/william/william.htmEmployment
You might want to get a job after you leave school, or if you have gone onto study at college you might now be looking for work. You can go straight into paid employment, or maybe you would like to gain some experience doing some voluntary work. Whatever you choose to do, hopefully some of the following information may be of some help to you.Connexions Gloucestershire
The information, advice, guidance and support service for young people as they make decisions about education, training, employment and other life choices. Contact 01452 833640 or visit the website www.connexionsglos.co.uk.Disability Employment Service
Disability Employment Advisers are based in Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham Jobcentres, covering the whole county. They visit all the other local Jobcentres (Cinderford, Cirencester, Coleford, Dursley, Lydney and Tewkesbury) regularly. Their role is to provide advice and guidance for people with disabilities who are seeking to enter – or re-enter – employment, or who are experiencing difficulties in their work. Contact via local Jobcentres – call The Key on 08456 583857 for details of your nearest Jobcentre.Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities (South West)
This is a regional Office, which is a nationally registered charity that specialises in helping people, with all types of disability and from all walks of life, to find jobs. All services are free of charge to disabled people. Contact 0117 925 5751 or visit the website at www.opportunities.org.ukGloucestershire Lifestyles – Cheltenham (GL50 and GL51)
‘Lifestyles’ is a registered charity and voluntary support organisation aiming to help physically disabled people in Gloucestershire to gain quality and equality of life. Through the co-ordinator, Lifestyles matches trained volunteers to clients, to undertake work ranging from assistance with practical tasks to offering long-term personal support. ‘Lifestyles’ offers information, a Newsletter, advocacy and support. Advice also given towards training and employment opportunities, support to try new activities and meet new people, including those facing similar barriers in life. Contact 01242 243771 or visit the website at www.gloslifestyles.co.uk.Gloucestershire Lifestyles – Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Stroud and Dursley
As above or visit the website at www.gloslifestyles.co.uk.
Telephone: Gloucester - 01452 616135, Tewkesbury - 01452 541556, Stroud and Dursley - 01453 759839