Choosing your next steps

Your options

All young people must continue in education or training until they are 18. 

You could:

• study full time in a school, college or with a training provider
• start training in a workplace through an apprenticeship or supported internship
• start working or volunteering for 20 hours a week, if combined with accredited part-time education or training.

With the right support in place, most young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can attend a local mainstream school sixth form or college.

All mainstream settings say how they support young people with SEND on their websites. It’s also useful to visit the setting in person.

For more information you can:

• attend an open day or evening
• speak to a SEND Casework Practitioner for advice on post-16 options
• speak to the SENCO at your child’s current school

It is also important to think about how you will get to and from school or college. 

School sixth forms and sixth form colleges

These can be a good option if you would like to do:

• A levels
• other level 3 qualifications, such as BTECs 

If you choose A levels, you will usually need to choose 3 subjects to study.

Wokingham Borough schools offering sixth forms:

• The Forest School   
• The Holt School
• Maiden Erlegh School
• St Crispin's School
• The Piggott School
• Waingels College 
• The Emmbrook 
• The Bulmershe

Local colleges offering A levels and other level 3 qualifications:

• Bracknell and Wokingham College
• Reading College
• Farnborough Sixth Form College

Further education colleges

Further education colleges offer a wide range of vocational subjects, supported foundation studies as well as some academic subjects. 

These can be a good option if you would like to do:

• work-based training that takes place in a workplace and works towards a qualification in the industry. For example, a supported internship or apprenticeship.
• vocational learning that involves more practical activities and prepares you for a particular trade or industry. 

Local further education colleges:

• Bracknell and Wokingham College 
• Reading College
• BCA - Berkshire College of Agriculture
• Farnborough College of Technology
• Guildford College
• Newbury College
• The Henley College

More guidance

The Skills for Careers website can help you decide which qualification or training option is right for you. Find out about your training options on Skills for Careers.