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Ruth Perry Natspec

Ruth Perry Natspec. Natspec is the membership association for organisations which offer specialist further education and training for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Post-16 education and training options. Where next?. Special school sixth form

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Ruth Perry Natspec

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  1. Ruth PerryNatspec Natspec is the membership association for organisations which offer specialist further education and training for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities

  2. Post-16 education and training options Where next? • Special school sixth form • Mainstream school sixth form • Sixth form college • General FE college • Independent training provider • Specialist FE college

  3. What is a specialist FE college? • Specialist colleges offer education and training exclusively to young people with (often complex) learning difficulties and/or disabilities, alongside care, therapies and learning support. All students have an EHC Plan and are high needs funded. • Colleges offer residential and day places. Residential places range from 36 – 52 weeks; many offer flexible packages. • Colleges have a diverse set of specialisms including those associated with a specific condition (such as epilepsy or visual impairment), a particular level of support need (such as profound and multiple learning difficulties) or a particular vocational focus (such as hospitality and catering).

  4. What is a specialist FE college? • Some operate locally and /or regionally while others are national providers • Some cater mainly for post-19 students; others take young people from 16+ • Their primary purpose is to offer an appropriate programme of learning to enable each student to make a positive progression from college, including to employment and appropriate living arrangements • They equip students with the skills they need to be full members of society, leading as healthy and independent lives as possible

  5. When might a specialist college be the right choice? • Multi-disciplinary approach is needed • Low incidence SEN • Need for specialist equipment, facilities or expertise • Particularly complex needs • Behaviours that challenge • Residential learning is key • Mainstream providers unable to meet need

  6. Specialist colleges (SPIs): Natspec members • 115 specialist post-16 institutions • 88 Natspec members • Around 4,200 students • Just over 1,000 of these are residential students; the rest have day placements

  7. How to find a specialist college • alphabetically • geographically • by area of expertise https://natspec.org.uk/find-a-college/search/

  8. Choosing a specialist college • Use your Local Offer to explore the full range of options available to you • Discuss options with other families through parent/carer networks • Use the Natspec Directory to identify one or more specialist colleges of interest • Review college websites and newsletters • Read Ofsted reports – look for the high needs judgement • Contact the individual colleges to discuss your specific needs • Arrange to attend open days or make visits • Speak to students

  9. Applying to a specialist college • Application processes vary from college to college but typically involve • discussions with an admissions team • a multi-disciplinary assessment • An offer of a place from a college does not guarantee funding by the local authority • Funding decisions are made separately by the local authority

  10. Applying to a specialist college The Children and Families Act means that by law • the views and wishes of young people and their families must be listened to • you can request a place at a specialist college or any college of your choice • you not need to apply for and be rejected from a general FE college before requesting that a specialist post-16 institution be named on their EHC plan • if the specialist college is on the approved (Section 41) list, then the LA must secure the place and the college must admit the young person, provided the college can meet their needs, and it is an ‘efficient use of resources’ • young people and families can appeal an LA’s decision not to place them at the college of their choice.

  11. Support for families Independent Parental Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA) is a registered charity offering free and independent legally based information, advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We also provide training on the SEND legal framework to parents and carers, professionals and other organisations. https://www.ipsea.org.uk/

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