- The providers listed can be funded privately, via EHCP or Adult Social Care (following Adult assessment of need and Adult Financial assessment)
- Many offer a combination of education/training, employment and day services. Some only offer to those over 18yrs and some only to those with an EHCP.
- Some are outside of the Harrogate and surrounding area but have been included where they have a unique or sufficiently differentiated offer eg Mind the Gap, York College, Northern Ballet.
| Post 16 Providers Include | Information and contact details | Age if not 16+ | Qualifications (academic and/or vocational) | Work and life skills training programmes | Day services | Supported internships (max 1 year only if EHCP) | Supported Employment (with or without EHCP) | Post code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artizan International | Café and organics contact liz.cluderay@artizaninternational.org | 18+ | YES | YES | HG1 | |||
| Bland Close Farm | Working family farm welcoming co-farmers and work experience via Evolve (Craven College) and Northallerton PLC contact Grace/Dannie at blandclosefarm@gmail.com | 18+ | YES | HG4 | ||||
| Chopsticks | Kindling making, workshop, gardening services Contact Tracey@chopsticks.org.uk or01609 761661 | 18+ | YES | YES | DL6 | |||
| Corn Close Care Farm | Small family farm in Pateley Bridge offering hands on animal care and therapeutic activities; AQA unit awards. Works with families directly or via schools. contact Cath cornclosecarefarm@btinternet.com | 5+ | YES | YES | HG3 | |||
| Disability Action Yorkshire | employment training centre contact Denise.Baynton@da-y.org.uk | 18+ | YES | YES | YES | HG2 | ||
| DSA Workfit | matches candidates with Down’s Syndrome to jobs directly. Becki Bateson is the regional rep contact Becki.bateson@downs-syndrome.org.uk – liaise directly or DSA Workfit generally | 14+ | YES | |||||
| Evolve, Ripon | Ripon campus of Craven College specializing in SEND contact Nicky Fillingham 01765 233123 | YES | YES | YES | HG4 | |||
| Harrogate College | John-Paul Wordsworth is the SEND and high needs manager. contact SENDsupport@harrogate.ac.uk | YES | YES | YES | HG2 | |||
| Harrogate Skills for Living | offers training programmes, qualifications, supported internships and supported employment including café and chocolate making enterprise; contact skills@hs4lc.org.uk | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | HG1/2 | |
| Henshaws Specialist College | specializes in complex needs with some residential; 14-25yrs and EHCP only, also offers day activities eg workshops in ceramics, jewellery making contact info@henshaws.org.uk or 0300 222 5555 | 14+ | YES | YES | YES | YES | HG1 | |
| Horticap | offer training and work experience in horticulture, allied crafts and rural skills contact info@horticap.org | 18+ | YES | YES | HG3 | |||
| Jennyruth workshops | Empowering lives through craft! Offer skills development and meaningful work contact info@jennyruth.co.uk or 01765 606620 | 18+ | YES | HG5 | ||||
| Learning Sanctuary | day activities AM dog walking, PM small pet care (rescue animals) contact Jenny.mills@thelearningsanctuary.co.uk | 18+ | YES | HG2 | ||||
| Leeds Playhouse Buzz Creative Arts | Weekly group with movement, drama, visual art and sensory sessions; Mon/Tue term time only 11am – 3pm. contact Natalie Kyros natalie.kyrkos@leedsplayhouse.org.uk | YES | LS2 | |||||
| Lighthouse Futures | Pre and supported internship for 16-25 with EHCP who are aiming to get into work within two years (college/work based) LA would have to agree to funding as ‘nearest available setting to meet need.’ Contact Shelley Daniels (SENDCo) Shelley@lighthousefuturestrust.org.uk | YES | LS6 | |||||
| Living potential | Farm, offers animal care and gardening; also have a community garden. Seasonal activities eg apple juicing, egg collection, local enterprise and customer service. Contact Katie (farm) or Kirsty (gardens) info@livingpotentialcarefarming.org.uk | 18+ | YES | LS22 | ||||
| Mind the Gap | Performance academy at 3 levels, Partner programmes in theatre and arts, Arts Academy one day/week courses in theatre/music/dance, Level 4 Performing Arts 3 year course/qualification with Uni of York St John. All by interview/audition – free taster days recommended. contact MJ at arts@mind-the-gap.org.uk | 18+ | YES | YES | YES | BD9 | ||
| Northdale Nurseries | offers training programmes in catering, gardening, clerical and cleaning, and day activities; also home to the PLC Northallerton Hub contact enquiries@northdale.org.uk | 18+ | YES | YES | DL7 | |||
| Northern Ballet | Weekly Dance course (Ability) Fri 10:30-15:30 term time; no prior experience necessary but many participants have danced. No upper age limit or limit on length of stay. Uses story telling of ballet and principles of dance; includes Pilates class and choreography. Contact Kim Hardy (Ability lead) and attend taster session contact kim.hardy@northernballet.com | YES | LS2 | |||||
| North Yorkshire Council | Personalised Learning Colleges – NY Council’s learning and training provision for learners with EHCP 16+ Hubs are located in Harrogate, Selby, Northallerton and Scarborough contact Susan.Welsh@northyorks.gov.uk For information on Further education apprenticeships and supported internships contact Rebecca.ward@northyorks.gov.uk and for supported employment contact Charlotte Rudd | YES | YES | YES | YES | |||
| Open Country | outdoor activities eg allotments, cycling, walking; contact David Shaftoe at info@opencountry.org.uk | YES | HG1 | |||||
| Purple Patch Arts | Moving on Up programme focuses on young adults in transition years – based mostly in Leeds/Bradford. Lifelong learning programme (day activities) runs a group in Harrogate contact info@purplepatcharts.org | YES | YES | YES | HG1 | |||
| Ripon Walled Garden | activities eg gardening, crafts, café, retail, literacy/numeracy –some in house qualifications. contact Lisa (manager) L.Fletcher@riponwalledgarden.org | 14+ | YES | HG4 | ||||
| Shaw Trust | offering supported internships in Harrogate, Selby and Skipton contact https://shawtrust.org.uk/contact/ | 16+ | YES | |||||
| Time together | varied offer including exercise classes and a social enterprise (upcycling textiles) contact Louise/Jo at office@time-together.org | 18+ | YES | HG1 | ||||
| York College | courses include ‘Pathways to Work and Independent Living’ course contact LearningSupport@yorkcollege.ac.uk | YES | YES | YES | YO23 |
Other key information to support decisions regarding education/training/employment and day activities:
EHCP Annual reviews
From school year 9 (age 13/14), the EHCP annual review should focus on transition, to include a careers advisor in the meeting.
EHCP outcomes should include:
- Employment
- Independent living
- Participating in society
- Being healthy
Social care provision is also likely to be needed to meet outcomes, to supplement education provision. A child or adult assessment must be carried out by Social Care and can be requested from any age
See useful guidance for all those with EHCP in transition. An EHCP may cease before age 25 if there is no progression evident. IPSEA gives free and independent legal advice to families of young people with SEND via their website, email or telephone hotline and SENDIASS is the North Yorkshire commissioned confidential service to support families of children with SEND.
EOTIS (Education other than in school or ‘education otherwise’) is distinct from Electively Home Educating by choice, even if the young person has an EHCP. If an educational setting is not appropriate for the young person’s needs, the Local Authority can arrange for some/all of their provision to be delivered elsewhere and this will be set out in the EHCP. The LA is then responsible for continuing to secure and fund that provision within the EHCP framework.
Specialist careers advice is essential for young people, whether in an educational setting or otherwise; this is provided by NYES and the contact is chris.reynolds@northyorks.gov.uk. An Access to Higher Education Diploma may be a useful way to progress to HE for those who do not have the traditional A levels or equivalent qualifications for entry. This can be funded via an Advanced Learner Loan, which is then written off on successful completion of a degree.
Travel
There is no automatic entitlement to home-to-school or college transport beyond compulsory school age (16), even for those with EHCP
Visit NY webpage to apply for assistance for travel if 16-19 yrs and/or email SENDtransport@northyorks .gov.uk directly.
Post 16 Transport Policy Statement is here.
Government financial support for education/work
- Disabled Student Allowance is available for L4 FE or HE course (not dependent on EHCP) see https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa
- 16-19 Bursary is to support the continuing education of vulnerable students; currently £1200 per year to help with essential equipment
- Access to work grants are available from the Department for Work and Pensions to support getting and keeping work if disabled; not means tested and doesn’t affect other benefits; can be used if employed in hybrid or remote working as well as in a workplace
Visit the Government website to apply for grants for practical support with work eg equipment, support with managing mental health at work and/or money to pay for communication support at job interviews.
DWP also offers support for employment via work coaches at Job Centres. Search for nearest Jobcentre Plus here, each of which has a Work coach to support people with disabilities in their job search. There is also Disability Confident Employers list (national) to help research possible contacts if trying to establish voluntary or paid work.