1. Making the most of the SEND Preparation Employment Grant money Gatwick Hilton – 1 st July 2015 Kathy Melling

3.  Low aspirations and expectations of what young people can achieve  By the age of 26, disabled people are nearly four times more likely than their non-disabled peers to be unemployed  But we know that people can work!!

4.  Build the key messages into your Early Years work  Ensure young disabled people are employed in places families use the most  Provide information on what is available to help people achieve good outcomes (local offer) and get feedback from families.  Provide opportunities for families to meet young people and families who are in paid employment, independent living, have good health and are part of communities with friends and relationships http://aspirationsforlife.org

5. Research evidence shows that there are number of approaches that work:  Raise employment aspirations and expectations of children and young people, families and everyone who supports them  Person-centred transition planning with a focus on employment  Welfare advice, advice and guidance and positive work experience, so that families see that work is positive and possible  A vocational curriculum that supports young people’s aspirations and meaningful work experience for young people in community-based settings  Supported employment agencies working with young people whilst they are at school, and good supported employment from 16+

6.  Presumption of employability  Inspiring role models  Employment focussed person- centred transition planning  High quality careers advice  Meaningful work experience  Accessible vocational training

7.  One-off grant to promote employment activity for young people with SEND  Focus on supported internships, but not exclusive to this  Need to spend the money to best meet local need  Need to focus on how they money can be used to affect sustainable change  Local authorities can pool their grants!

9.  Accredited and non-accredited training for job coaches  Support to develop local employment pathways  Support to develop study programmes with the core aim of work experience  Support to develop supported internships  Support to ensure that apprenticeship offer is accessible  Support to develop employer engagement strategies

10. An Access to Work grant can help pay for:  Travel (when young people are unable to use public transport)  Support workers  Job coaches Young people will not have to pay any money back and it won’t affect their benefits

11. Eligibility:  Your disability or health condition must affect your ability to do a job or mean you have to pay work-related costs  You might not qualify if you get Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Income Support, National Insurance Credits

12. To apply:  Application must come from the education provider  Must use the stencil on the Preparing for Adulthood or BASE website  Email to atwosu.London@dwp.gsi.gov.uk and put supported internships in the subject boxatwosu.London@dwp.gsi.gov.uk http://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/what-we- do/supported-internships/access-to-work-fund

13. Programmes/models, training & resources Factsheets & Videos Stories & Learning Examples

14. Website: www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk Twitter: www.twitter.com/PfA_tweets Facebook: www.facebook.com/preparingforadulthood Email: info@preparingforadulthood.org.uk