Young people with SEN are to get help to achieve paid employment under a new Government scheme. A programme of supported internships is being trialled at 15 colleges for those with complex learning difficulties aged between 16 and 25 in England.
Backed by £3 million of Department for Education (DfE) funding, the internships will provide young people with an organised learning programme at employers such as restaurants, clothes shops and libraries. The programme will aim to match the employer with the individual needs of the intern, equipping the young person with the skills they need to get the job. Young people will also have the opportunity to study for relevant qualifications and interns and employers will be supported by expert job coaches.
The internship scheme has been welcomed by Hugh Williams, Principal of Queen Alexandra College, one of the institutions trialling the programme. “We are pleased the government has recognised the barriers young people face, particularly those with complex needs, to access real work experience as part of their journey towards independence”, he said. “With support from mentors and tutors, they will be able to compete in the open employment market in years to come.”
The DfE says that the current trials could lead to supported internships in all further education colleges from September 2013.
