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Evaluation of the Strengthening of the Supported Internship Programme. Research Report

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Evaluation of the Strengthening of the Supported Internship Programme. Research Report
Language: English
Authors: Department for Education (DfE) (United Kingdom), CooperGibson Research (CGR) (United Kingdom), St Mary’s University (United Kingdom)
Source: UK Department for Education. 2026.
Availability: UK Department for Education. Castle View House East Lane, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 2GJ, UK. Tel: +44-37-0000-2288; Fax: +44-19-2873-8248; Web site: http://www.education.gov.uk
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 122
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: Internship Programs, Foreign Countries, Special Needs Students, Students with Disabilities, Program Effectiveness, Cost Effectiveness, Employment, Adolescents, Young Adults, Educational Quality, Experience, Influences, Outcomes of Education
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
ISBN: 978-1-83870-765-1
Abstract: Supported internships are structured, work-based study programmes for 16 to 24-year olds with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) who have an education, health and care plan (EHCP). The Department for Education (DfE) aimed to strengthen the supported internship programme, by making an £18m investment from September 2022 to March 2025. This was delivered through the Internships Work consortium and aimed to enable the supported internship programme to grow sustainably, so that more young people could pursue a supported internship, while also driving up the quality of provision. The programme was expanded in 2023 to include a Pilot of supported internships for young people without an EHCP but with identified or unidentified SEND, social, emotional or mental health needs (SEMH), Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (LDD), or were furthest from the labour market. CooperGibson Research, with St Mary's University, was commissioned by the DfE to establish how, and to what extent, the investment in the supported internship programme had improved employment outcomes for young people taking part in a supported internship. The evaluation was also expanded to include the Pilot of supported internships. This is the final report for the evaluation. Accompanying the report are Annex 1 (supplementary methodology and data tables) and Annex 2 (case studies).
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679929
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Supported internships are structured, work-based study programmes for 16 to 24-year olds with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) who have an education, health and care plan (EHCP). The Department for Education (DfE) aimed to strengthen the supported internship programme, by making an £18m investment from September 2022 to March 2025. This was delivered through the Internships Work consortium and aimed to enable the supported internship programme to grow sustainably, so that more young people could pursue a supported internship, while also driving up the quality of provision. The programme was expanded in 2023 to include a Pilot of supported internships for young people without an EHCP but with identified or unidentified SEND, social, emotional or mental health needs (SEMH), Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (LDD), or were furthest from the labour market. CooperGibson Research, with St Mary's University, was commissioned by the DfE to establish how, and to what extent, the investment in the supported internship programme had improved employment outcomes for young people taking part in a supported internship. The evaluation was also expanded to include the Pilot of supported internships. This is the final report for the evaluation. Accompanying the report are Annex 1 (supplementary methodology and data tables) and Annex 2 (case studies).
ISBN:978-1-83870-765-1