Supporting your child after they leave school is crucial for improving their future career prospects, helping them develop essential life skills, and navigating the transition to adulthood. This support involves helping them explore post-16 options, assisting with applications, and guiding them in making increasingly complex decisions about their future paths, whether through further education, apprenticeships, or employment. Early planning, exploring different paths, and getting help from school and other experts are key components of this process. Here are some tips on how you can support your child during this period of change…
- Talk to them about the choices available to them – Children can leave school on the last Friday in June if they will be 16 by the end of the summer holidays. They
- must then do one of the following until they‘re 18: stay in full-time education, for example at a college; start an apprenticeship; spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training.
- Help your child to live independently – this doesn’t mean leaving home! Even if your child is only 16 years old it’s still a good idea to start preparing them to live independently by supporting them with money management, time management, cleaning, cooking and laundry, making new friends and keeping themselves safe.
- Organise college / university visits, volunteering or work experience – colleges and universities organise open days and tours, there‘s only so much you can find out from a brochure or a website, so it‘s a good idea to visit. Not only is volunteering a great idea if your child is unsure of their next step, but it’s also a great confidence booster! Work experience can be arranged by asking your child’s school whether they have links with relevant employers, or your child could just apply speculatively to an employer of their choice.
- Support your child to write their CV – An outstanding CV and covering letter are vital, especially when employers receive hundreds of CVs every day. The Barclays Life Skills website has some brilliant tips and tools to help your child.
Helpful websites and support
