Mainstream and specialist SEND courses in further education – from age 16
Sixth form and college
Sixth form and college are called further education. This is where you can:
- Learn new skills
- Get qualifications for the future
Sixth form
Sixth form is usually part of a school.
It is usually for young people aged 16 to 18.
College
College is for young people aged 16 to 25 (and adults too)
Find out more
Choosing the right course and college
If you are thinking about going to a mainstream college, here are some things to help you choose what is right for you.
- Look at different colleges or sixth forms
- Read about the courses they offer
- Check what support is available
Help You Choose shows all courses at sixth forms and colleges in Norfolk. You can also apply to most places using Help You Choose.
You can look at full-time courses, including:
- Entry level
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3
There is also a SEND courses section. These courses are easier to find in one place. They are more focused on inclusive learning. These courses are also listed in the full-time courses section.
🏫 College life
Colleges are often bigger than school. You might feel nervous about visiting. That's okay. Visiting a college is important. It helps you decide if it's right for you.
👍 What's different?
At college:
- You may have more independence
- Some young people like this
- Some young people prefer more support
❓ Questions to think about
You can think about these questions. You can also talk about them with your parents or teachers.
- Will I need to move between different classrooms?
- What course do I want to study?
- Is it the right level for me?
- How many days a week will I go to college?
🚌 Travel
- How will I get to college?
- How long will it take?
- Do I need help with travel?
👍 Top tip
- It is okay to feel unsure.
- Talking to people can help you decide.
You can find help with travel in the SEND transport section on Help You Choose.
You can find help with finance questions in the money section on Help You Choose.
The law says colleges must support disabled students.
This is called the Equality Act 2010.
Colleges must:
- Do everything they reasonably can
- Remove barriers to learning
- Help you take part and succeed
Where can I get help?
What support can I get at college
It depends! You might not need support but if you do, support can include:
- Easy-to-read information
- Mentoring (someone to talk to and guide you)
- Technology to help learning (like laptops or specialist tools)
- Extra help in class (one-to-one or small groups)
- Specialist teaching or note-takers
- Therapies (if you need them)
- Help with living skills or housing
Mainstream colleges support students with SEND, like schools do. They follow rules called the SEND Code of Practice (0–25)
Read about the special educational needs support that is available at some of Norfolk's colleges.
Who can Help me?
There will be a named person in charge of SEND support.
The college should:
- Tell you who they are
- Show you where to go for help
It's a good idea to find out who the person in charge of SEND is when you visit the college to have a look around.
Can I do a course to help me feel more confident?
Yes, there are courses that can help you build your confidence.
If you are at school, a careers teacher or SENDCo can help you find the right course.
The Help You Choose – Part-time, Flexible and Short Courses section has information about courses that:
- start at different times during the year
- are often shorter than full-time courses
- help you build confidence for your next steps
If you are not in work, education, or training (NEET), and are aged 16–18 (or under 25 with an EHCP), you can get free support from an adviser. Contact them:
- Call: 0344 800 8022 📞
- Email: helpyouchoose@norfolk.gov.uk ✉️
Further information and support
>How to apply for courses
You can apply through Help You Choose or if you already know where you want to go, you can apply on the college or sixth form website.
Useful links:
- You can look at full-time courses in Norfolk.
- You can also look at SEND (inclusive learning) courses.
To apply on Help You Choose, you will need to create an account. The videos in the resources section will show you how to do this.
Remember: you can't apply to Specialist further education providers through Help You Choose but this section will show you what you need to do instead.
>Ideas to fill your time if your course is less than 5 days a week
College or sixth form can be different from school.
- Your course might be 2 or 3 days a week, not 5 days like school.
- This means you may have extra days to plan.
This can feel confusing. Help You Choose can give you ideas but you may also need to talk to a professional, depending on your needs:
- your SENDCo (if you are in education)
- your EHCP Coordinator (if you have an EHCP)
You can find some ideas and useful links below.
Volunteering - giving your time to help others, without being paid, to gain experience can be rewarding. See the volunteering section for more information
Work Experience - spending time in a workplace or online to learn skills and understand different jobs can be useful. See the work experience section for more information
Community - The Community Directory might have some ideas that interest you.
Care Farms - More information about Care Farms in the specialist further education providers from age 16 section