SEN need not apply

What does he think are his strengths @Dsjobhunting ? Maybe start with a list of those and see where it takes you?

Volunteering in the meantime will add value to his CV? Employers would look favourably on someone filling their time with something rather than wait for “the right job” to come along. x

Can you say what part of the country/nearest big town you are in so we can provide some specific advice?

1. It's not too late to get an EHCP but will be hard work.
2. If he is bright and capable, why did he only get level 2 on his GCSEs? Does he struggle with exams? Did he reliably do homework and revise or did he struggle with that? A lot of roles do require reasonable literacy and numeracy and so it would be good to understand if he really struggles with this. Functional literacy and numeracy courses are available and might suit him better - or just taking one course at a time.
3. Getting some unpaid work experience would be a great start - do you have any friends or family where he could shadow them for a day or a week during the holidays? Or on Saturdays? Understanding his current ability to function in work place (which can change, he is only 16) will help work out what he might be able to do.

My cousin is a little old - 20 this year - but sounds similar and really benefited from doing work shadowing and experience. He did a few months of Saturday mornings at a shop managed by a friend of his mum, which then helped him get a regular Saturday voluntary shift at a charity shop. With six months of that under his belt and his workplace skills/customer service improving, he was ready for a bit more intense workplace and so did some unpaid work experience over last summer at a cafe, owned by a neighbour which had a bit more pressure/speed of working. He had a wobble about going back after the first day but persisted and got to grips with it. And with that experience under his belt, he has been able to get a paid Saturday job in a deli/cafe.
So it took a couple of years of practice and skill building from doing a few hours helping on a Saturday morning with a family friend who has known him since birth to being able to do a full eight hour paid shift in a fairly busy cafe run by people he doesn't know.
He really likes all sorts of transport so this isn't his passion led career but he is learning a set of skills and earning some money. Ideally, the skills he is building as this job along with his college course, this will put him in a better position to get a role in transport at some point in the future (but he also can't drive!)

So what I am saying is that it might be a bit much to be thinking right now about specific careers/apprenticeships - getting any sort of functional work place skills is key.
Lots of apprenticeships are competitive - just like getting a job is. So you need to assess where he really is now (not just with mum glasses on - ask to talk honestly to his teachers) and what the first steps are towards building workplace skills.

Sorry if this is repeating what others have said but could you try to get him an EHCP on the basis that he can't access further training/internships without one? You take the local authority to a tribunal (free for parents). If I am right, they usually rule in the parents' favour.

Look at the website for IPSEA for advice. They will provide free advice on preparing for a tribunal, what evidence to gather etc. Be prepared to push!

Definitely request an EHCNA. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use. An EHCP can provide far more support than DS will otherwise receive and can last until 25, or 26 in some cases.

Alternative suggestion OP

Most large employers have an equality and diversity policy, department and (importantly) a strategy. It might well be worth contacting some of them - large companies, local universities, etc. - to explain your situation and identify some volunteer, intern or even paid work.

For many large employers, being 'seen' to be engaging and employing from all parts of the community is an important part of their strategy. I'd be writing a short but well-crafted letter for the Head of HR and the CEO of your chosen companies, see what they come up with.

P.S. Agree with earlier commenters. Trades need good functional maths and english, and communication skills, to practise their skills effectively and to keep their customers happy. I'd say you need much better maths to be a plumber or joiner than an English graduate! Sorry English graduates😅

Would something like conservation or farming work be an option? Gardening perhaps? It may be that working in the private sector would be a better option - if he could train alongside someone and learn the trade that way, he could go from there.

Our college, thank god, have a few different courses just for students with SEN, starting very simple and building up slowly. Then they can join the course they want the following year. I think my son will do this for the qualification he wants. I think if he just went straight in to the proper course he'd struggle.

This post is sending shivers down my spine. My Dd14 has been refused an EHCP, we have our appeal next week and I'm so scared that if we don't get it she will be in a similar position.
The provision and support for our children is appalling. I had no idea an ehcp would be needed to access certain courses, now I'm even more desperate to win our appeal.

OP definitely apply for an EHCP, and thank you for asking this question.

The college DS attends sounds like it would be a perfect fit for your DS.

There are quite a few courses where you can start at Level 1 if you don’t have maths or English GCSE and complete them during the course.

DS started at Level 2 course as he had his maths GCSE, he passed his English GCSE recently which gave him a huge boost! School had been hell for him (putting it mildly).

Whereabouts are you OP? The college DS attends is Reaseheath College in Nantwich, people travel from all over to attend. I’ve name changed so I could name the college but I’ve been vague with my DS’s details.

There should be an option called a 'supported internship' who he can do when he has gone as far as he can in college. This is a college course for people with SEND where they get job coach support to learn a job and sometimes get kept on, but at least have a role on their CV. Speak to his college.

My DS2 has autism and went to special school.. he was an able pupil there , has an incredible memory and very spikey profile of skills. No GCSES.
He also want to an SEN course at college but then got a supported internship via MENCAP and finally with support got a part time job at ASDA.
He was 19 then..he's now 26, works there full time, is incredibly efficient at his job and has more savings than I will ever have He had to do an online test for basics maths and english and an interview and that was it.
OK working in a supermarket isn't a glamorous job but he has a decent steady income and we are increibly proud of what he has achieved. (He can't drive and couldn't do a trade job either)
He also volunteered in a care home, where he was absolutely adored as he is friendly (if repetitive). There ARE ways to get jobs without gcses and there should be someone in the job centre who can point out routes to support.

Is it worth trying to apply for an ehcp to access the supported apprenticeships or give him a few more years education.

It is incredibly challenging.
I know that courses set an academic standard to access them, but what a lot of people dont realise is some people with autism dont exam well but do have the capability to study their interest at a higher level. The gcse english isnt actually a perfect proxy for employability or next steps.

The EHCP is the key as you say, but you can apply without school or college, you can appeal yourself without them up until he is 25.
It is hard I know that, but it is possible. You still have time to turn this around for him, there are charities that can help you with this. You have the diagnosis which is a big start.
My DSis and my DCousin did it all themselves the diagnosis, applying for EHCP and the appeals. DN is doing animal management post 16 he would have gone to level 2 if he hadn't got maths and English. Cousin's son is doing Agriculture he didn't get maths and English so he is level 2 this year which means tractor driving while he gets those. Both doing far better than they did at school.

My local college offers a skills for life course that sounds like it might be a good fit for him - is there anything like this near you?

www.camre.ac.uk/course/Supported-learning-options/MP5OPT1/

There's a charity near me that specialises in supporting autistic adults into jobs. Try Google in case there's anything similar near you?

A young man I taught who was like this worked for McDonalds. He was a very good fit for them and they made reasonable adjustments.

After a while working with them he wanted to try a different job and went to work for Tesco. It was a failure because Tesco required him to switch between different roles all the time and didn't give him any training just expected him to do it.

With those grades he is unlikely to get on apprenticeships as they are usually competitive. Look around for disability friendly employers - McDonald's are good. It's also worth looking at voluntary work in an area he might be interested in - charity shop if retail, etc etc.

Unfortunately the lack of an EHCP will limit what he can access. Does he have a diagnosis?

Op, there's an organisation called 'Ambitious About Autism' that may be able to give you some good advice. Worth Googling....

What is the course that your DS is currently doing? I know you have said the college is a bit useless but I'm just wondering what sort of course it is/what it is linked to?

What sort of thing is your ds interested in doing? I would look at supporting him to get some work experience either voluntary or paid.

Obviously, I don't know your son so I have no idea whether any of the following would be appropriate but some possible suggestions;

Your local hospital volunteers programme? Ours has many different volunteer roles - helping in the shop/cafe, meeting and greeting and giving directions at the main entrance, supporting on wards with things like meals/drinks, chatting to patients who may not have a visitor. If he enjoys it, there may be some way to progress to a job.

Sticking with the hospital theme - porter? I know when my mum worked in hospital, they had a few porters who were neurodiverse - all were well liked and successful in the role.

Shop/cafe work locally?

There will be something out there x

Does he have a rough idea what area he wants to go into? Or what does he enjoy?

What vague area are you in and maybe someone could suggest something for that area?

How old is he? Unfortunately an EHCP opens many educational doors at this stage. Can you get him one, although it's late? It gets you access to courses until about 24.

Also get him onto a night class at a college doing functional skills English, you will escape the naughty students who do it as part of their trades course but really don't want to. Your son may find this significantly easier than GCSE but a level two is GCSE equivalent.

Also, some students plateau at a certain academic level, so if this is the case don't worry about the maths and English but instead just focus on getting in a course with work experience.

Lastly, our local job centre has a gentleman whose role is to give advice about accessing jobs if you have send and will advise on sympathetic employers, and what reasonable adjustments someone would be entitled to.

Good luck

There are jobs which will accept people with no qualifications - warehouse work, fast food restaurants, drivers mate etc, barber, nail technician, supermarket work, bar work, care work, dog walking. There are plenty of ways for people with no qualifications to earn money, but you are right, getting an apprenticeship for a trade isn't easy, because they are sought after positions which can end up being paid very well eventually.

It is very difficult for an Autistic young person to find a workplace they are comfortable in, regardless of their qualifications, so you do have my sympathy. What is your DS most passionate about? What type of environment would he really enjoy? I would suggest he try to get volunteer work in an area that I interests him.

It’s not about SEN need not apply though is it? He’s not being discriminated against for having SEN. It’s just the jobs you’ve mentioned request a certain level of intellect/dedication to study/particular qualifications.

Sorry just read he doesn't have a EHCP, would his current colleague be support an application? It is still possible to get one at 19-25.

@Dsjobhunting I am a careers lead so can give some ideas. Your local council will have someone who is their participation officer who can help up to the age of 19 (or 25 is he has an EHCP) our local one is amazing!
https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/children-and-young-people/further

https://www.ndti.org.uk/resources/preparing-for-adulthood-all-tools-resources/pfa-employment-resources

If you live in SE England https://www.waysintowork.com/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-confident-employers-that-have-signed-up

Hopefully some of this can help