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New strategies have been discussed regarding the best ways for disabled learners to make the transition into employment.

Remploy, a provider of employment services for disabled people, have hosted a number of Progression to Employment events as part of a project funded by the West Midlands Learning and Skills Council.

As reported in Further Education News, a spokesman for Remploy emphasised that the further education system should not be an end point for students with learning difficulties but instead "part of a route map to social and economic inclusion".

Gareth Parry, head of learning at Reploy, pointed out that last year there were 641,000 learners with a disability, but only 3,000 of them received specialised provision.

It was argued that more effective transition from education to employment, based on students' aspirations, would help avoid the "revolving door" syndrome whereby certain disabled learners returned to further education year after year without progressing on to sustainable employment.

Last year, Remploy helped around 5,000 disabled people into sustainable employment.

Many UK universities have made greater efforts in recent years to encourage students with disabilities to apply, although significant problems with facilities and adaption of services still exist.