Post-16 - Print version

Post-16 Support - Coventry Virtual School

Coventry Virtual School’s Post-16 team is here to help Children in Care (CiC) and care leavers develop skills for learning and work, raise aspirations, and explore their potential.

Our goal is to achieve the best possible outcomes in Education, Employment and Training (EET) Coventry care leaver.

What does Post-16 Mean?

"Post-16” refers to education, employment, or training after Year 11 (end of compulsory schooling in the UK). Young people must continue learning or training until age 18.

Your options after Year 11:

• stay in full-time education (e.g., college)
• start an apprenticeship
• work or volunteer 20+ hours per week while doing part-time education or training

Learn more about school leaving age [https://www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school].

How we support you

We know everyone’s journey is different, so our support is flexible and tailored to what you need.

Together with your social worker we make sure you are at the centre of planning your next steps, and that your voice is heard.

Here’s how we can help:

• Big-picture guidance: We keep an eye on progress, work closely with other professionals, and help build the right support around you.
• Quick fixes when you need them: Sometimes a small change can make a big difference. We give guidance about solutions to remove barriers and keep things moving.
• Supporting personal support: Whether it’s planning your next steps or working towards education, employment, or training, we’re here to help you achieve sustainable progress.

Our planning starts in Year 10 and continues through to Year 13:

• Year 10: We use information from your PEP (Personal Education Plan) and offer enrichment activities.
• Year 11: We work closely with teachers and other professionals to identify who needs extra help to find the right Post-16 pathway. If you’re at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), we’ll make sure you get the right support through a multi-agency approach.

Post-16 PEP

The PEP is an evolving record of how you are progressing and how those involved can make sure you are reaching your potential and preparing you for your future plans, and other skills that support independence.

In Years 12 and 13, we:

• Liaise with Post-16 providers to track progress.
• Make NEET young people a priority.
• Use the PEP to plan next steps and opportunities for EET.

Your PEP includes:

• Attendance and engagement
• Progress and attainment
• Future plans and independence skills

Social workers ensure PEPs happen twice per academic year. The PEP is personalised to:

• Meet your EET needs
• Raise aspirations
• Build life chances

Tip: Think of your PEP as your roadmap for success—it’s all about you and your future!

Providers Training Video [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/virtual-school/virtual-school-training/5]

Useful information for Post-16

To help and support your care leaver journey it is important that you know and understand what your Entitlements are, support linked to education and learning for Post-16s, work and employment, and the Coventry care leaver service known as Through Care.

What is a care leaver

There are 4 different legal statuses for care leavers: Eligible, Relevant, Former Relevant, and Qualifying.

Your care leaver status starts on your 16th birthday. To help you understand what sort of care leaver you are take a look at Coram Voice’s Sorted and Supported Guide, this also gives you lots of information about your rights and entitlements [https://coramvoice.org.uk/resource-library/sorted-and-supported-a-guide-to-care-leavers-rights-and-entitlements/] too.

Through Care team

The Through Care Service is made up of Social Workers, Personal Advisers (PAs), Children and Families Workers and a Housing Liaison Officer.

The team provide social work and personal advice [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/childrens-social-care/care-leavers] to you between the ages of 12 to 25.

Coventry Local Offer

A Local Offer for care leavers [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/childrens-social-care/care-leavers] is a support package your council gives you when you leave care. 

It's unique to each council, so some support and services will vary.

Money Matters

Coventry has a full financial support package available [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/43361/through-care-money-matters-booklet] which is set out in Money Matters. Prior to turning 18 you will be supported to open a bank account and to get your national insurance number. In addition to this, your personal adviser will support you to access any savings that have been put aside for you whilst you have been in care.

16 to 19 Bursary

You could get a bursary to help with education-related costs [https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund] if you’re aged 16 to 19 and:

• studying at a publicly funded school or college in England - not a university
• on a training course, including unpaid work experience

As a care leaver you are classed as a student in the Vulnerable group.

The bursary is up to £1,200 per academic year.

The amount you may get depends on the costs you have and what you need for your course. This might include money for books, equipment or travel costs.

Apprenticeship Bursary

Care leavers often face additional financial barriers as they are likely to be living independently, without family support. The bursary provides additional financial support to help you access and complete apprenticeships.

The government offers a £3,000 bursary for care leavers who choose an apprenticeship to help their transition into work [https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/apprentices/support-care-experienced-apprentices#]. There are no rules around what you can spend the bursary on. This is a one-off offer so you will not receive it if you start a second apprenticeship.

University support

University is known as Higher Education (HE) is the third level education after you leave school. It takes places at universities and Further Education colleges and normally includes undergraduate and postgraduate study. You can often study flexibly at your own pace by learning online or part time.

As a care leaver you can access additional support and guidance if you feel university is something you want to consider.

This includes:

• If you are a care leaver and entering H.E. before the age of 25 you are entitled to a one-off bursary of a minimum of £2,000 from your local authority (above and beyond anything else, you are entitled to). This may be paid in a lump sum or instalments. Timing of payments will be agreed with your PA. This does not have to be repaid.
• You will be able to apply to a Government service called Student Finance Direct for Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans [http://www.studentsupportdirect.co.uk/] to cover your living costs. You have to repay your loans in small instalments once you start earning.
• University Bursaries – institutions have their own eligibility criteria and have bursaries limited to a number of qualifying students. Care leavers are often classed as a priority group. You can find more information out on the Propel website [https://becomecharity.org.uk/get-support/propel/]
• UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) is an independent charity and the UK's shared admissions service for higher education. This is where you apply to go to university. They have dedicated information for care leavers [https://www.ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/students-with-individual-needs/undergraduate-care-experienced-students].

Work and employment – including apprenticeships

Entering the ‘world of work’ can be daunting so we want to make sure you get the best support and guidance to learn about your options and opportunities locally in Coventry as well as further afield.

This includes:

• The Department for Education’s (DfE) Support for care leavers - Work and employment [https://www.support-for-care-leavers.education.gov.uk/en/work-and-employment] has lots of information to help you understand what services you can access.

• Careers advice if in EET (Education, Employment, or Training) – your 6th Form, college, or training provider has responsibility for ensuring you can access 1-to-1 careers guidance appointments. Ask them to support you to make an appointment with a career’s adviser.
• Careers advice if you are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and you live within Coventry and Warwickshire we can arrange for you to meet with specialist advisers. This service is called Prospects (Shaw Trust) and provides information, advice and guidance for 16- to 25-year-old care leavers, including those with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care plan). If you live outside of Coventry and Warwickshire it is the council or LA (Local Authority) where you live who must provide NEET Support Services. Ask your social worker or PA to help you find the support where you live.
• Apprenticeships: is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experiences [https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/]. Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification. It is important to know that you will be studying a qualification.
• Coventry City Council Apprenticeships: as your corporate parent/family, Coventry City Council offers our care leavers opportunities within the ‘family business’ including apprenticeships. The benefits include pre-apprenticeship support such as exploring options, apply for vacancies, potential work trials and work experience beforehand, interview preparation, and on-going support once in post. If you want to find out more your social worker or PA can refer you to specialist support at the Coventry Job Shop.
• Coventry Job Shop is a great place to access help with 1-to-1 Job Coaching [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/employment-support]. Practical Support. Direct vacancies from their employer network, exciting events to meet directly with local employers and training providers, careers advice, skills support, money advice, barrier breaking support for health and wellbeing, support signposting, and much more. They also have dedicated workers for care leavers. The main base is in the city centre, and they also have out-reach locations across the city. It is vital that you register to access their support, speak to your social worker or PA as they can help you do this.
• Not Going To Uni is a national website that provides information and advice on alternatives to going to university [https://notgoingtouni.co.uk/]. This applies if you’re still in school or college or have left. There is information on jobs with a degree or higher apprenticeships, which enable young people to get qualified to higher levels while earning.

General care leaver information

There is so much to think about as a care leaver!

It is often the first time you get to make more decisions for yourself so we want to ensure that you know about other fun activities, opportunities, and experiences that are for you and that can get involved with.

The Department for Education’s (DfE) Support for care leavers - Find support for care leavers

Leaving care can be a challenging time. Whether you’re still in care or have already left, help is available [https://www.support-for-care-leavers.education.gov.uk/en/home].

Care Leaver Covenant

The Care Leaver Covenant [https://mycovenant.org.uk/] was established in 2018 as part of the Government’s Keep on Caring’ policy aimed at supporting young people leaving care.

Organisations across the private, public and voluntary sectors join our network by making ‘offers’ to support care leavers aged 16 to 25, helping them to take their next steps.

Become

The national charity fighting alongside children and young people [https://becomecharity.org.uk/ ] for a better care system.

The Care Leavers Association

A national user led charity aimed at improving the lives of care leavers of all ages [https://www.careleavers.com/]. We bring together the voices and experiences of care leavers to support care leavers of all ages, improve the current care system and change for the better society’s perception of people in care.

Coram Voice

Offers support and information for children and young people in care, on the edge of care and care leavers [https://coramvoice.org.uk/get-help/].

National Care Leavers Benchmarking Forum

A Forum of over 130 local authority leaving care teams [https://leavingcare.org/], working together to share good practice & improve services & support for care experienced young people.

The Childrens Commissioner

A voice for teenagers in care and care leavers, a place to share your stories, experiences and achievements [https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/help-at-hand/help-information-advice/i-am-a-care-leaver/] and find useful life hacks.