Education, employment and training (Care Leavers)

Care Leavers in Year 12 or Year 13 in education or training will take part in termly Personal Education Plan (PEP) meetings with:

• Your Personal Advisor and / or Social Worker
• Your education setting

These meetings aim to help you achieve your educational goals. You may be eligible for Post-16 Pupil Premium funding to help you achieve some of your goals. Your Designated Teacher will be able to give your more details.

Find out more about the role of a Designated Teacher on our Peterborough Learn Together website.

We have specially trained staff who can give you 1:1 bespoke advice, guidance and planning for everything related to your education, employment or training (EET). 

The sessions take place on Thursdays at Chauffeur's Cottage in the city centre.

At the sessions, you can get help with:

• Advice and support on which EET opportunity is best for you
• How to write a CV
• Interview skills
• How your finances may be affected by an EET choice
• How to get into higher education
• How to re-engage with education
• What the long-term outcomes are if you choose a certain job

The list is endless. You can talk to the advisors about anything EET related.

Book a place at an EET drop-in session.

You can receive support from a Virtual School Education, Employment and Training (EET) Advisor.

Access to the Xello platform

You can access, free of charge, the Xello EET platform to provide you with an online tool to:

• Help identify your skills, interests, strengths and learning style
• Automatically design a personal portfolio to showcase you
• Explore jobs suited to you - pathways, potential onward steps, earnings etc

Email virtualschool@peterborough.gov.uk for a free log-in.

Book a slot with a specially trained advisor

We have specially trained staff who can give you 1:1 bespoke advice, guidance and planning for everything related to your education, employment or training (EET).

The sessions take place on Thursdays at Chauffeur's Cottage in the city centre.

At the sessions, you can get help with:

• Advice and support on which EET opportunity is best for you
• How to write a CV
• Interview skills
• How your finances may be affected by an EET choice
• How to get into higher education
• How to re-engage with education
• What the long-term outcomes are if you choose a certain job

The list is endless. You can talk to the advisors about anything EET related.

Book a place at an EET drop-in session.

SpringPod platform

You can access, free of charge, the SpringPod platform to provide you with virtual work experience.

Email virtualschool@peterborough.gov.uk for a free log-in.

Our Mentoring Scheme is an opportunity to work with professionals from Peterborough City Council to gain valuable support and advice around anything you feel you might need to support or progress your education, employment or training. If it’s a talk over a coffee, or support around applying for a job, our Mentoring Scheme can give you the access to valuable information and support to fulfil your potential.

If you are interested in receiving free support from one of our specially trained mentors, please email virtualschool@peterborough.gov.uk.

Alternatively, you can complete our Care Leaver Mentoring Scheme online application form.

Please talk to your Personal Advisor or the Virtual School if you're interested in applying for an apprenticeship or work experience placement with us.

• Contact our Leaving Care Team on 07773 576469 or leavingcare@peterborough.gov.uk
• Contact the Virtual School - virtualschool@peterborough.gov.uk

Work experience

At Peterborough City Council, we have a work experience programme for school, college and university students. We welcome applications from Care Leavers and are keen to support you with gaining work experience and exploring careers.

Visit our work experience section for more information.

Apprenticeships

Within Peterborough City Council, where possible, we are ringfencing apprenticeships to give Care Leavers priority access to positions.

You can also access support with the recruitment process to give yourself the best chance of success. We will communicate current opportunities via Personal Advisors and the Care Leaver WhatsApp group.

Care Leavers can receive up to £300 towards the cost of course materials.

Please speak to your Personal Advisor to access this fund. Before making a request, your Personal Advisor will ensure that any bursaries are being accessed and utilised correctly.

Care Leavers who are interested in going to university can receive help from a Specialist Worker from the Virtual School. They can help with:

• Building you an individualised plan
• Guiding you through which courses are right for you
• Additional support to write your UCAS application
• Ensuring you have additional support, if needed, to achieve your grades
• Funding for travel to university open days
• Supporting you on results day
• Supporting you through the clearing process, if required

To access this support, please speak to your Personal Advisor or email virtualschool@peterborough.gov.uk.

There is a Higher Education Bursary available to Care Leavers of £2,000. We pay this to you in four instalments throughout your course.

Please speak to your Personal Advisor to access this support.

Care Leavers can receive support with travel costs to visit up to five universities.

Travel must be pre-booked or reimbursed. It should be the most cost-effective option, such as a bus, train or car share. We will not refund taxi fares.

A trusted adult will accompany you on your university visits for support.

Please speak to your Personal Advisor to arrange.

This support is available to Care Leavers aged 17 to 25 who are attending university.

A one-off payment will cover the cost of your first year accommodation, as well as accommodation during the holiday period between your first and second academic year.

We will pay the accommodation provider or landlord directly.

Please speak to your Personal Advisor to access this support.

Once a Care Leaver secures a place at university, we may be able to assist with accessing funding for the appropriate resources needed for your degree course. This may include specialist IT equipment, software and other specific resources.

Please speak to your Personal Advisor or the Care Leaver Local Offer Lead for more information.

You can apply for up to £750 of funding for a course / training and associated resources, that leads to an accredited qualification. Contact your Personal Advisor to apply. 

Whilst at university, you can access support from specially trained staff within the Peterborough Virtual School if you need any advice.

To access this support, please speak to your Personal Advisor or email virtualschool@peterborough.gov.uk.

If you have been in education, employment or training for at least six months, you can get support with the cost of learning to drive - up to £585 in total.

This includes:

• £23 for your theory test
• £62 for your practical test
• £500 for 10 driving lessons (paid as a block)

(Prices correct as of March 2025).

Driving can be a great step towards getting a job or becoming more independent. If this is part of your goals, your Personal Advisor can help you apply for this support. It must be included in your Pathway Plan for you to be eligible.

In order to be eligible for the offer, we will look at:

• Why driving is important for your future plans
• If it’s affordable and makes sense for where you live

Care Leavers up to the age of 25 who need a bicycle for travel to work or education can receive up to £200 towards the purchase of a bicycle, helmet and lock. This offer is available on a needs basis. Please contact your Personal Advisor for more information.

Your Personal Advisor or the Leaving Care Team can support you in accessing a clothing allowance if you are struggling. This applies to clothing you need for job interviews, work or special occasions.

When applying for jobs or further education, you may need to provide certain documents or forms of identification.

Your Personal Advisor can help you access financial support with the cost of obtaining two forms of ID: a passport, provisional driving licence, or birth certificate. 

Through six 1:1 sessions, the Propel Uni Ready Programme is designed to propel you on your journey to higher education. These sessions will:

• Support you throughout the process
• Cover the UCAS application and applying for student finance
• Help accessing support for care-experienced students at university and more

Propel services are available to Care Leavers up to the age of 25.

SpringForward is a free Department for Education funded online mentoring service for care-leavers that are thinking about going to university.

Watch a video on YouTube about the SpringForward programme.

The mentoring includes 5 x 1 hour online sessions working 1:1 with an independent schoolteacher, matched based on subject area expertise.

Pre UCAS application topics covered will include:

• University courses and where to study
• The university application process and what it involves
• How to write and improve your personal statement

It is delivered in summer of Year 12 and / or autumn of Year 13.

An additional 5 x 1-hour sessions for post UCAS application topics covered will include:

• Navigating offers and results day
• Preparing for university life
• Accessing available funding and support
• Independent living

If you would like to participate in the SpringForward programme, contact virtualschool@peterborough.gov.uk who can make a referral.