Parents and Carers

Did you know 68% of young people turn to you for advice about their choices in education and training? Make sure your advice is up to date. This section has been written to help you, help them.

There have been a large number of new qualifications and ways of learning and training introduced since the 1990s. This has happened for two main reasons:

1.To better meet the needs of employers. Employers need people who are enterprising, productive and fully equipped with the skills to compete in business.

2.To give young people a wider range of courses and the chance to learn in a way that suits them. These choices encourage young people to gain the skills and qualifications they need for further study and work.

All the new courses lead to recognised qualifications. Some you'll be familiar with like A Levels or BTEC diplomas. Others will be new like National Vocational Qualifications and Diplomas. Many new courses are taught in school and college and also include time spent with an employer. This allows young people to experience a range of new environments. Qualifications can also be gained through work-based learning routes like apprenticeships. These allow young people to work, learn and earn.

Speak to teachers and the Connexions personal adviser at parents' evenings. Find out how and where courses are taught and where they might lead.

There is financial help available towards living and learning costs for young people aged between 16 and 19.

Encourage your teenager to:

• use Plan-it, Fast Tomato, or other planning tool, to think about where they are, where they want to get to, and how they're going to get there.
• use Futures4me to explore all the post-16 learning and training opportunities available in the West of England.
• use the Apprenticeships website to find out about local opportunities.
• follow up their career ideas. In particular, look at the qualifications and training information. We are now in the position where most jobs demand some entry qualifications. Don't worry if they keep changing their mind - this is quite normal. Doing the research is the important part.
• use the careers resources in school or at the Connexions Centre. There are some great software programs available to help with career choice and up to date careers information. Kudos and Careerscape are two examples. Connexions Centres are open during half terms and holidays.
• think about how and where they want to continue learning or training. The range of options is wide. They should all be considered at an early stage to allow time to gather information and make early applications. And it's okay to apply for more than one option at a time. GCSE results will help them decide.
• keep in touch with Connexions if they are interested in a job or an apprenticeship. They will make sure your teenager gets all the current vacancies.
• consider higher education as a future option. Research shows that people with higher skills and qualifications will find it easier to move from job to job. Even if they don't have a firm career idea, completing a higher education course can give them many advantages in terms of better future prospects and earning power.