For those working with young people with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

Good career guidance ensures that all young people, whatever their needs, background or ambitions, know the options open to them and can make the informed choices needed to fulfil their potential. This is particularly important for the more than one million young people in England recognised as having SEND. Far too often, these young people can be held back by negative stereotypes and assumptions about their limitations.

Developing career guidance in different settings

The Gatsby Benchmarks define what world-class career guidance looks like and feature in statutory guidance for all types of secondary school, including special schools and alternative provision. Use of the Benchmarks in specialist colleges is also widespread. During Gatsby’s pilot of the Benchmarks, an experienced SEND working group assessed the Benchmarks and gave the clear message that it would not be appropriate to define a separate set of Benchmarks for students with SEND – they apply to all young people.

In accordance with Gatsby Benchmark 3 (addressing the needs of each pupil) all career guidance activities should be informed by what is in young people’s best interests. We recognise that some of the Benchmarks may be implemented in a different way in special schools and specialist colleges, or for some students with SEND in other settings. We also recognise that the professionals who work with these young people every day are the experts, and are best placed to adapt their career guidance activity to the different needs of their students.