Support for young people with SEND to access Apprenticeships
Support is available for apprenticeships with additional needs
The Government provides extra funding to support apprentices with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). Payments of £1,000 each are available for training providers and employers with apprentices aged 16 to 18, or 19 to 24 who have an EHC plan or were previously in case.
Training providers can also claim learning support of up to £150 per month (up to £1,800 per year) from the ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency) to support reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act for an apprentice’s additional costs, and access learning support up to £19,000.
Entry Requirements
People with a learning difficulty or disability can now access a level 2 intermediate apprenticeship as long as they can achieve an entry level 3 qualification during their apprenticeship.
Payments for Reasonable Adjustments
Access to Work supports people with a health condition or disability and their employers. They provide grants for any additional costs for reasonable adjustments. Examples of reasonable adjustments are: hearing loop on premises, providing a work coach and installing an audio-visual fire alarm for a deaf person. The Access to Work Team can be contacted on 0345 268 8489 or email: atwosu.london@dwp.gsi.gov.uk. https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
Access to Work website: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work
A reminder that some reasonable adjustments like job carving, working from home, different working hours/patterns, providing a quiet space do not need any additional funding.
Mental Health Support for Apprentices
Access to Work have just started to offer mental health support services for apprentices. This is offered through Remploy.
Remploy website: https://www.remploy.co.uk/employers/mental-health-and-wellbeing/access-work-mental-health-support-service-apprentices
Employer leaflet: https://www.remploy.co.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/Supporting%20Apprentices%20Service/Supporting_Apprentice_Leaflet_Employer_Oct_18.pdf
How Many Hours Will I Have to Work?
The minimum duration of each apprenticeship is based on the apprentice working 30 hours a week or more, including any off-the-job training you undertake. However, this does not apply in every circumstance. For example, people with a disability may work reduced weekly hours. Where this is the case, the duration of the apprenticeship will be extended to take account of this.