School-leavers who have a SEND should be offered more dedicated internships in healthcare, hospitality and construction to help them off benefits and into work.
The Sixth Form Colleges Association and Association of Colleges leaders are calling on ministers to boost the number of “supported internships” for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
But they said that Andy Burnham, the prime minister, should ‘incentivise’ smaller employers to take on more young people with additional needs, with new employment legislation or the introduction of financial subsidies.
Currently, there are around 4,500 government-funded opportunities a year for young people aged 16-24 with SEND to access work-based study programmes that bridge the gap between college and workplaces.
However, only those with an EHCP can access these placements.
A report earlier this year found that young people with a SEND are 80% more likely to be not in education, employment or training (NEET) than their peers.
Trials in 16 areas
The Department for Education is currently trialling expanding supported internships to young people with SEND who do not have an EHCP in 16 local authorities, with the results due next year.
If the pilot is a success and the scheme is rolled out nationally, more young people with social, emotional and mental health issues could be offered greater support into the workplace.
These internships currently include health and social care, hotels, restaurants and catering firms as well as major supermarkets and local councils. Young people are supported by a college tutor and an on-site job coach, with their role rotating across the business for a period of at least six months.
David Holloway, senior policy manager at the Association of Colleges, said expanding supported internships was a “brilliant idea”, and added: “There’s every reason to try to scale that up in terms of the types of young people the schemes serve, but also in terms of the types of employers involved.
“It’s been easier for large employers to be involved thus far, and it would be good to find ways for SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] to be able to access schemes like this,” he said, with more opportunities in construction companies and independent hotels, bars or restaurants.
Incentivising businesses
Bill Watkin, CEO of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, told The i Paper there is “every chance” Milburn will recommend that the Government expands internships for SEND pupils as they are an “effective” way to tackle youth unemployment.
He said large-scale employers like the NHS have a range of roles that could expand supported internships such as “carpenters, decorators, caterers and psychologists”.
However, businesses needed incentives such as financial subsidies or strengthened employment legislation to ensure there are opportunities in every “local postcode”, from industrial heartlands to rural communities.
The prime minister recently announced plans requiring public bodies to ensure there is “social value” in every procurement contract, including helping young people into work with placements, apprenticeships and training.
