Support for SEND
Are you a parent, carer or employer of a young person with SEND? Find support and guidance below.
What support is available for your young person with SEND?
Explore valuable resources and essential information on post-16 options and pathways to employment for young people with special educational needs and disabilties (SEND).
- For Parents and Carers
- For Students
- Support for SEND
- For Educators
- For Employers
Talent is universal, but opportunity is not.
Parent and Carers Guide
As your young person approaches the pivotal transition from education to the wider world, we understand the myriad of questions and uncertainties that can arise.
Young people in England aged 16 to 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) have access to a range of education and training pathways designed to support their development and transition into employment. These include:
- Full-time education
- Apprenticeships
- Traineeships
- Study programmes
- Supported Internships
Explore this page to find guidance and resources to help navigate your young person’s next best step.
Employer Support
Supporting Employers to Engage Young People with SEND
Employers are key partners in helping schools, special schools, and colleges deliver meaningful careers programmes that prepare young people for life beyond education. Evidence shows that students who engage with employers on multiple occasions are significantly more likely to pursue further education, training, or employment—and can benefit from higher future earnings.
Getting your business involved can have a real impact in shaping a young person’s journey into adulthood and employment. Employers not only contribute to the development of young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) but also gain valuable insights into emerging talent and strengthen their own workforce.
Whether you’re a small business or a large organisation, Berkshire Careers Hub, in partnership with the Careers and Enterprise Company, can point you in the right direction to confidently offer inclusive workplace experiences that benefit both your team and the young people you support.
Explore our SEND directory
There are several excellent services across Berkshire offering support for young people aged 16–24 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Find our quick guide below to help you navigate what is available. Additional support includes resources for SEND specialists or employers working with young people with SEND:
Berkshire Healthcare – CYPF SEND Resources
Part of the Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) service, this site offers:
- Mental health and wellbeing support
- Guidance for autism, ADHD, and sensory needs
- Access to CAMHS, school nursing, and specialist children’s services
- Help navigating the SEND Code of Practice
View Berkshire Healthcare SEND Resources SEND
The NEET Prevention Team Wokingham Borough Council
Tailored support for young people aged 16–24 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Dedicated services including:
- Careers guidance and goal setting
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Apprenticeship and job search support
- Wellbeing and confidence-building resources
If you’re working with a young person who may benefit, the team is happy to facilitate referrals or connect you with the most appropriate service.
West Berkshire Council – Local Offer
A comprehensive directory of education, training, and support services for young people with SEND. Includes:
- Post-16 education options
- Specialist colleges and training providers
- Support for transition to adulthood
- Volunteering and employment pathways
Browse the Local Offer – Education & Learning Local Offer: education and learning – West Berkshire Council
West Berkshire SENDIASS: Information, Advice & Support Service
A dedicated service for young people aged 16–25 with SEND, offering:
- Help with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- Advocacy and support in meetings
- Guidance on legal rights and disability discrimination
- Signposting to local and national services
- No formal referral needed—just get in touch
Explore West Berkshire SENDIASS:
Supporting Employers: working with young people with SEND
Step by step resources from the Careers and Enterprise Company to support Employers and Enterprise Advisers when working with young people with SEND. Designed to increase levels of confidence in providing experiences and encounters of work, these resources will not only benefit young people with SEND, but also your business and workforce.
Additional Support:
- NEET Prevention Teams – offering careers guidance, CV help, and work experience for young people not in education, employment or training
- SEND-specific apprenticeship providers – some offer tailored support for learners with EHCPs
- Community centres and youth hubs – often host drop-in sessions and mentoring programmes
Berkshire Careers Hub
Transforming careers education for young people
Careers Hubs bring together schools, colleges, employers, and apprenticeship providers in local areas across England. The goal is to make it easier for schools and colleges to improve how they prepare young people for their next steps.
How to help your young person do their best in an interview
Perhaps your young person is a graduate looking to improve their CV, or maybe YOU are a back-to-work parent wanting to brush up on interview skills.
The below links offer a range of useful hints, tips and advice on applying for jobs, the hiring process in general and on how best to sell your skills to stand out from the crowd.
Right for the role: Ways to tailor your CV
Firing off the same old CV time after time is a sure fire way to rule yourself out of the running for a job.
Invited to an interview? Don’t panic!
Find out how to prepare yourself for an interview here and create the best impression.
How do you make your CV standout?
How to standout from the crowd with your CV.