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Apprenticeships

Photo: Becoming an apprentice is one option for deaf young people

Apprenticeships in England have completion requirements in maths and English. This means that if your child is taking an intermediate apprenticeship (Level 2), they must pass Level 1 English and maths functional skills qualifications (FSQs). For advanced apprenticeships, Level 2 English or maths qualifications are needed.

If your child uses BSL, they can be exempt from the English requirements for intermediate apprenticeships if they achieve the Level 1 BSL certificate. For advanced apprenticeships they will need a Level 2 BSL certificate. If your child does not use BSL but has an Education, Health and Care plan they may have the option of working towards a lower level of maths and English (Entry Level 3) if there is evidence their deafness means these subjects are particularly difficult for them.

Apprenticeships, traineeships and supported internships can be an opportunity for young people to gain structured work experience alongside studying for qualifications. Their time is usually split between the workplace to learn key skills ‘on the job’, and going to college to study for the qualification. Apprenticeships will involve being employed by an organisation or company and they will be entitled to at least the Apprentice National Minimum Wage which is lower than for other jobs but some employers might pay more.

Apprentices will also have the opportunity to gain more general skills, such as maths, literacy and ICT, which can be useful for getting a job. Gaining experience in the workplace also helps develop ‘softer’ skills like teamwork and problem-solving, or customer service.

A traineeship (England and Wales only) is a course with work experience that prepares a young person for work or an apprenticeship if they don’t yet have the right skills or experience. Further information can be found on the government's traineeship webpages where you'll be able to search for traineeships in your area.

Supported internships are structured study programmes based mainly at the workplace. They’re especially for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to enable them to learn the skills they need for employment.

Apprenticeships can be found in a wide range of modern industries, such as engineering, beauty therapy, design and youth work.

The government’s apprenticeship website provides information on the different areas you can do an apprenticeship in.

Beware of some employers who will advertise fake apprenticeships – this article tells you how to spot them.

There are a range of different types of apprenticeship which vary in the time they take to complete, the level of study and the typical entry requirements in terms of qualifications.

England

Intermediate apprenticeship

These apprenticeships involve study at the same level as GCSEs. Possible entry requirements might include GCSEs at grade D or above, or BTEC Introductory, or NVQ1.

Advanced apprenticeship

These apprenticeships involve study at the same level as A-Levels. Possible entry requirements might include five or more GCSEs at grade A*–C (possibly including English and Maths).

Higher apprenticeship

These apprenticeships involve study at university foundation degree level and above.

Degree apprenticeship

These apprenticeships involve study at Bachelor’s or Master’s degree level. Young people will spend time in the workplace and at university and their student fees will be covered.

Northern Ireland

There are two levels of apprenticeship available in Northern Ireland. These are Level 2 and Level 3, which are equivalent to Intermediate and Advanced apprenticeships respectively in England.

Scotland

In Scotland, apprenticeships are called ‘Modern Apprenticeships’. All Modern Apprenticeships aim for a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to a Scottish Higher. However, it may be more appropriate for learners to start off by making progress towards a SVQ Level 2, equivalent to a Credit Standard Grade.

Wales

In Wales there is a similar programme to Access to Apprenticeship, called a ‘Traineeship’. Full apprenticeships for 16–19 year olds come in two forms, equivalent to Intermediate and Advanced in England: Foundation Apprenticeships and Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships are applied to in a similar way as to how you would apply for a job. New vacancies can be made available at any time of year.

If your child has transition planning in place (required by law for young people with EHC plans and statements of SEN and additional support needs), their Teacher of the Deaf and/or SENCO and careers adviser should have been working with them to support transition to post-16 education and employment. They may be able to support transition to an apprenticeship by helping a young person with the application process and advising employers and apprenticeships providers once an apprenticeship is secured.

England

In England you can find and apply for apprenticeships through the Government's find an apprenticeship service or by looking at a regular job search website.

Many colleges allow you to apply for apprenticeships through them and give you support in finding the right apprenticeship for you. Checking the websites of colleges in your area, or contacting them directly, may help you get a better understanding of what they offer.

Wales

Registering on the Careers Wales website will allow you to use the vacancy search to find and apply for apprenticeships.

Scotland

Search and apply for apprenticeships via Skills Development Scotland's Modern Apprenticeships.

Northern Ireland

The nidirect website provides information on how to start looking for an apprenticeship.

The Equality Act 2010 states that education providers have to be flexible when assessing applications. This means that if your child is likely to find some entry requirements difficult to meet as a result of their deafness, they can prove that they are able to succeed on an apprenticeship through other means.

Some apprenticeships might involve tests in literacy and numeracy, and some may have interview processes. Again, providers and employers must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to these arrangements, which might include extra time in tests or the provision of communication support at an interview. Employers can use Access to Work funding to pay for communication support both at interviews and in the workplace if the applicant is successful.

Sometimes providers and employers do not have to make adjustments when it comes to course requirements. This will be the case when they are seeking if your child meets a certain ‘competence standard’. For example, if your child applies to an engineering apprenticeship which requires them to have a certain specified ability in maths, this counts as a competence standard. While they should be flexible in the way they allow applicants to prove their ability in maths, they wouldn’t be expected to lower this requirement.

Some young people may not want to tell their college or prospective employer about their deafness. It should always be up to the young person. However, it’s a good idea to be as open and upfront as possible, especially if your child might require support in order to fully access their apprenticeship. It’s illegal for an educational provider or employer to discriminate against a young person applying for an apprenticeship because they are deaf.

The Equality Act 2010 applies in England, Wales and Scotland and places apprenticeship providers and employers under a duty to make ‘reasonable adjustments’. This means that they must make arrangements to ensure that disabled apprentices, including those with a hearing impairment, aren’t at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled apprentices.

Reasonable adjustments might include a wide range of support, including:

  • technology and equipment such as radio aids
  • Teachers of the Deaf
  • communication support workers
  • note-takers/palantypists
  • sign language interpreters
  • lipspeakers
  • changes to buildings or rooms to improve acoustics
  • training for staff in deaf awareness.

The provider responsible for delivering the educational part of the apprenticeship will have the same funding that any other educational provider will have, called ‘Additional Learner Support’ funding, and this should be used to pay for adjustments and support. However, because in most cases an apprentice is also an employee, employers can also use Access to Work funding to make adjustments. This means that, for many apprentices, both their education provider and their employer are responsible for ensuring that they can access their apprenticeship fully.

There’s no justification for not making a reasonable adjustment, but in some circumstances a provider may be able to argue that what is being of asked of them is not reasonable.

The Disability Discrimination Act in Northern Ireland also means education providers and employers must make reasonable adjustments for anyone with a disability.

It’s always important to talk through any problems with the apprenticeship provider or employer. This will vary depending on the apprenticeship, but if in doubt your child should talk to their course leader or lecturer. Very often problems with support can be resolved by looking for a constructive solution with the provider.

It’s also good to try and keep a record of any meetings you or your child has regarding their support so you can remember what’s been said and agreed. If this approach doesn’t work there are a number of options open to your child, if they wish to make further complaint. Initial complaints should be made to:

If these complaints processes haven’t worked and your child wishes to take the matter further, they can take their case to a county court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or a Sheriff Court in Scotland.

However, it’s a good idea to contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service or a solicitor, who can advise your child on their legal rights, including eligibility for legal aid. As an apprentice is also an employee, your child has the option to take their employer to an Employment Tribunal.

In England, apprentices must take a series of tests to complete their apprenticeships – these are called End Point Assessments. The assessment centre must make reasonable adjustments to make sure the tests are accessible. For example, ensuring any verbal tests take place in a quiet room or providing communication support if required. For written tests, extra time should be available if your child needs longer to process written information compared to their hearing peers.

In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, apprenticeships are assessed differently – the training provider will ‘mark’ their apprentices and check they have completed their coursework.