choices

What Help and Support You Can Expect

From 2008 the Government expects your local council to work with schools, colleges, Connexions, training providers and other services to improve the help and support they provide to young people. If you are aged 11-19, or until the age of 24 if you have a disability, these services should work together to make sure you get the information and advice you need to be happy, confident and able to achieve your best.

There are now 12 Quality Standards for the Information, Advice and Guidance you should receive. Based on this you should expect:

• To be told about the different people, places, websites and helplines that can help you with education, careers and other personal, health or financial problems.
• To get information on the guarantee of an offer of further learning at the end of Year 11.
• To be told about financial help you can get to help you stay in education, such as Education Maintenance Allowance and student grants.
• To have an adult you can trust to help you contact any services you need if you have any problems at home, school or college.
• To be given opportunities to get involved in planning and improving information and advice services.
• To be told where to go for help after you reach 19 years, or 24 years if you have a disability.

If you don’t get the information and advice you need you should try to speak to someone in your school or college or to a Connexions Personal Adviser or youth worker and ask them to help you sort out any problems.