Supported Internships
Supported internships are a structured, work-based study programme for 16 to 24-year-olds with SEND, who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan. A Supported Internship will have a substantial work placement.
Supported interns are in full-time education so are enrolled and supported by a learning provider (for example, a school or college), but spend most of their learning time in a workplace. As an intern is in education and their supported internship work placements are part of their course, a learner will not be paid for the Supported Internship.
An internship provides the opportunity for young people to achieve sustained, paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work, through learning in the workplace.
Alongside their time with the employer, supported interns complete a personalised study programme delivered by the school or college, which includes the chance to study for relevant qualifications, if appropriate, and English and maths at an appropriate level.
Supported internships last for a minimum of 6 months, and up to a year. They are seen as the last step before employment and the measure of success of a supported internship is a successful transition to sustained and paid employment.
In North Tyneside the main providers who offer a Supported Internship are:
Choices College
Tyne Coast College
DFN Project Search (a new provider offer from 2023)
North Tyneside Council are working on a two-year project called ‘Internship Works’ to increase the number of Supported Internships in our area.