You can still educate them at home even if they have an education, health and care (EHC) plan but you need to ensure your child's special educational needs are met.

If your child goes to a special school, you will need our permission before you can take them out of the school and start home educating them.

Contact the Essex SEND Information Advice and Support (IAS) Service for information and advice.

Essex Local Offer provides services and support for children with special needs and disabilities.

Formerly known as the Preparing for Adulthood Team, the SEND Careers Advice Service give young people information, advice, and guidance about their options. They ensure they have the information they need to make decisions about their future.

For example after leaving school they could go to college, apply for an apprenticeship, or look for a job. The SEND Careers Advisor will ask the young person and others who know them well what they like and what they are good at.

There are lots of universities and colleges, with full and part-time options, as well as learning from home. If you want to stay in education, you can find the right option for you.

Do you need a mobile phone to complete basic daily tasks? Or maybe you're after a laptop so that your children can complete their homework online?

Whatever the reason, if you're in need of a device please get in touch with your local community volunteering service (CVS).

If you are currently a student in Years 10-13, the University of Essex would love you to join our online community of young people who are impatient for change and working towards a better future.

Depending on your age, we have courses to choose from that are optional but extremely useful (and fun). What's more, they're completely free of charge. There's no pressure, no tests – just tons of interactive activities, videos, blogs and tips to help you on your educational journey.

Bitesize guides are written by teachers and subject experts and are mapped to follow the curricula of the UK. Secondary Bitesize follows exam board specifications for the main exam boards in the UK, including for GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4, National 5 & Highers in Scotland, ensuring students are preparing for the right exams.

Watch a Bitesize video and complete interactive activities to help you with your research for a project or homework, or to revise for class tests. Subjects covered at KS3 and equivalent include: maths, English, sciences, history, geography and modern foreign languages.

Take a look at our KS3 resources.

Here to help with revision for homework and exams. Our guides are all organised by exam board so you will always know you’re studying the right thing, whether on the website or on the Bitesize Revision App on your smartphone. Sign in to Bitesize to get personalised smart quizzes to challenge you and show how you are progressing in each subject.

Explore our GCSE resources.

Our video-rich and interactive learner guides support vocational maths and English qualifications across the UK, including Functional Skills and Core Skills. The maths and English you’ll learn is all based in real workplaces giving you confidence in applying your skills in practice.

Take a look at our Post 16+ resources.

Young people in England are required by law to stay in education or training until age 18.

Depending on what is on offer locally and what their future aspirations are, 16 to 18 year-olds have several options to choose from, including A-levels and T-levels. They could also choose to take up an apprenticeship, a traineeship or to follow part-time learning whilst working or volunteering.

In England, young people have a range of options at the age of 18. If they decide to get a job, many employers offer training programmes and apprenticeships which will enable them to learn while they earn. If their chosen career means they need to get certain qualifications first, or they want to continue studying, they will usually do this at an education provider such as a Further Education (FE) college or Higher Education provider such as a university. 

Inform young people and their parents about the options available after GCSE level learning with these visually engaging guides – developed by the Department for Education.

Uncertain of your next steps after High School? Feeling overwhelmed by your choices and unsure which path is right for you?

Then our new guide to Post-16 education is for you.

Inside you’ll find accessible information on your level 3 options and beyond, along with an action plan for you to fill in, and an easy-to-read glossary for future reference.

The course has been built in Moodle (to enable young people to experience a mode of study that is representative of post-18 learning platforms) and is divided into two modules:

1. Understanding your options – gives students an overview of their post-18 options and factors to consider (from money matters to current labour market information and skills and employability) when picking an option.

2. What’s the right choice for me? – designed to help 16-18 year-olds understand more about themselves, what’s important to them and where different options can lead, to help them make a well-informed decision about their next step.

The magazine supports residents with features on roles in specific industries and sectors. It also features tips, tricks and insights for securing jobs and training opportunities. It is available free of charge online. Reference copies are also available in schools, colleges, libraries and Job Centres across Essex.  

The Learn Live technology is free to schools and colleges and doesn’t require any additional equipment to be purchased or procured to interact with the live broadcasts. All broadcasts can be viewed via interactive whiteboards or projectors using IE or Google Chrome browsers on existing laptops, PCs or via an app on tablet devices.

Since 2015, Learn Live have delivered over 350 live broadcasts and reached over 400,000 young people in schools, colleges and other educational institutions including Job Centre Plus. Over 2,000 schools and colleges have also engaged with the on demand video content with live interactive chat.

Some are specialists focusing on particular sectors and job roles – such as construction, business administration, childcare, or hair and beauty.

Training providers work closely with employers who offer work-based training as part of placements or employment.

We can support young people aged 16-18 who are not in education, employment or training that are seeking work-related training.

The national curriculum is a set of subjects and standards used by primary and secondary schools so children learn the same things. It covers what subjects are taught and the standards children should reach in each subject.

Other types of school like academies and private schools do not have to follow the national curriculum. Academies must teach a broad and balanced curriculum including English, maths and science. They must also teach relationships and sex education, and religious education.

Our video-rich and interactive learner guides support vocational maths and English qualifications across the UK, including Functional Skills and Core Skills. The maths and English you’ll learn is all based in real workplaces giving you confidence in applying your skills in practice.

Take a look at our Post 16+ resources.

Here to help with revision for homework and exams. Our guides are all organised by exam board so you will always know you’re studying the right thing, whether on the website or on the Bitesize Revision App on your smartphone. Sign in to Bitesize to get personalised smart quizzes to challenge you and show how you are progressing in each subject.

Explore our GCSE resources.