Since September 2015, young people have been under a duty to participate in education, employment or training via one of these primary routes:

• Study full-time in a school, college or with a training provider
• Full-time work or volunteering combined with part-time education or training
• An apprenticeship.

Personal Education Plans for Post 16

Young people aged 16-18 must have an up-to-date Post 16 Personal Education Plan in place to ensure that their aspirations are recorded & identified and that provisions are implemented to ensure that they are able to reach their destinations.

The Virtual School supports young people in care and Care Leavers to access suitable education and training up to the age of 25.

For more details, please contact Benjamin Oppong.

Email: benjamin.oppong@walthamforest.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 8496 1784.

Useful documents and articles

There is a range of information that can support children in care with decisions on what they can do after leaving school at 16.

• Informed Choices: A Russell Group Guide to making decisions about post 16 education - support on plans for post 16 qualifications and education options.
• HE Handbook from Become provides information for care leavers about the support available to them while they are at University or pursuing a Higher Education course
• National Network for the Education of Care Leavers - Activities, resources and more
• 16 to 19 Study programmes - Advice on planning and provision