Preparing your child or young person for work

Paid work can give your young person financial independence, help them to meet friends, and it’s good for their physical and mental health. It’s never too early to start thinking about the best way to prepare for paid work – start by discussing with your young person what they enjoy, their hopes, and the skills and qualifications they may need.

Their route into work may follow one or more of the paths below:

Route	Description	Is an Education Health and Care Plan needed?	Qualifications and experience	Length of the path	Access to Work Funding
Supported internships	Mainly based at the employer’s workplace - your young person will learn on the job with support from a job coach and tutor. If they are ready to work but need extra support to take that step, a Supported Internship may be right for them.	Yes	None needed	At least 6 months, normally 9 to 12 months	Yes, you can apply for Access to Work Funding
Study programmes	Brings together help to get a job and live independently. Study programmes include qualifications, work experience, and life skills.	Depends on the programme	Depends on the course or qualification(s) your young person wants to study	Depends on the course	No, you cannot apply for Access to Work Funding
Apprenticeships	A contracted, paid job with training. As an apprentice your young person will work alongside experienced staff, gain job-specific skills, earn a wage and get holiday and other entitlements.	No	Some qualifications are needed to complete an apprenticeship. If you have an Education Health and Care Plan there may be some flexibility around the English and maths elements.	Between 1 and 5 years	Yes, you can apply for Access to Work Funding
Supported employment	Supported Employment provides tailored support to people to access and stay in work.	Yes	None	Indefinitely	Yes, you can apply for Access to Work Funding

Preparing your child or young person for work

Preparation for work