Education for Care Leavers 16-20

You will be allocated a Virtual School Education, Employment and Training Advisor, who will offer you and your carer information, advice and guidance and help identify education, training or employment opportunities that could be a good fit for you.

As long as you are enrolled in education or training courses, you will get financial support for travel during term time, up to a Zone 1-6 Travel Card or equivalent,  based on the details of your travel needs. You’ll need to have a current education contract signed by your social worker or personal advisor and apply for a student Oyster Card if eligible. In order to qualify for support with travel to your place of education or training, you are expected to have at least 70% attendance and be in good standing with your education or training provider. You will need to provide evidence of this to your social worker at the start of each term or when it’s requested of you.  

If you go to university, we can offer specific support, including a bursary (or grant) of £3,300 per year for 3 years to support with the costs of university.  Bursaries will be paid at the end of each term once an ‘end of term check-in’ meeting has taken place with you, your Virtual School advisor, social worker and the university to discuss progress and attendance. In some cases, we may offer you a fourth year of support through the bursary if you are  on a four year course like teacher training, or are undertaking a Masters programme.  We may also be able to make a contribution towards the costs of course workbooks, field trips, special equipment or materials, clothing for work experience or job interviews, based on an assessment of your needs.  You can find more information about the support available to you should you go to university in the 'University' section of this local offer. 

You will be offered guaranteed interviews for many of Hackney Council’s apprenticeship opportunities, if you meet the basic requirements of the role.

The Virtual School organises a range of activities throughout the year that you can choose to get involved in if you’d like. Employment opportunities that you might be interested in will be posted regularly on the Virtual School app.

See the full offer from the Virtual School here, page 12.

If you have any questions about the support on offer from the Virtual School email them at virtualschoolteam@hackney.gov.uk.