Transition to adulthood for those with special needs

Growing up is an exciting time, with new chances and choices. However, it is a stressful and difficult time for many young disabled people.

What is transition?

If your child has a statement of special educational need (SEN) because they are disabled, you will know that this is reviewed every year to make sure that the statement remains appropriate.

When a young person is in Year 9 at school (aged 14+) the review of their statement of special educational need includes a "transition review". This means that during the review all the people involved will consider what services the young person may need when they leave school.

What is the purpose of the transition review?

The transition review will bring together information from parents/carers and professionals in order to plan with the young person their transition to adult life.

After this meeting, the transition plan will be reviewed annually until the young person leaves school or their statement ceases.

The transition process in our borough:

Responsibility for transition planning

The headteacher or a designated teacher will arrange the transition review and will invite all those people who are important to the young person. This will include:

the young person
the young person's parents/carers
key members of teaching staff.

The headteacher or designated teacher will also invite any other person who can provide information about the potential needs of the young person. Where there are health issues, they must seek information and advice from the appropriate health care professionals, for example:

school nurse
GP
community nurse
physiotherapist
speech therapist
a children's services representative.

It may also be appropriate to invite foster carers, shared carers and staff supporting the young person in respite units.

The headteacher or designated teacher must invite a Personal Advisor from the Connexions Service and they must attend in Year 9. They will attend other important reviews in following years.

You can request that other people are invited by contacting your child's school.

Preparing for the transition review

The young person and parent/carers should be offered preparation and, if necessary, support for their attendance and participation at the transition review.

Schools will usually help young people think about how they can contribute to their review and other people such as the Connexions Personal Advisor or Childrens Services Representative can also help if necessary.

The Connexions service gives advice and support to young people, about what they want to do in the future.

In Barnet, we want to ensure that the views of young people are listened to and understood when we are planning with them. For more information about Person Centred Planning with young people you can contact Helen Sanderson Associates.

The transition review

The transition review will start with an annual review of the young person's Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN).

The chairperson will introduce and welcome everyone, explain the purpose of the meeting and make sure that each person explains their relationship with the pupil (so that the parents/carers have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities).

The headteacher should also make sure that parents know who was invited but was unable to attend.

The review will start to identify the young person's:

strengths
support needs
goals
aspirations.

This will help the young person develop their:

hopes
plans
dreams.

Issues of independence, work, skill development, quality of life and health will also be considered.

During the review parents/carers and professionals will develop tasks to work on assist the young person and their parents/carers with transition towards adult life. It will identify who will carry them out in the Transition Plan.

The Transition Review will produce a transition plan for the young person.

Arrangements for the co-ordination, monitoring and reviewing the transition plan will be the responsibility of the headteacher or the designated senior teacher, together with the Connexions Personal Advisor.

Transition plan

It is the responsibility of the headteacher or designated senior teacher to circulate the minutes of the Transition Review including a copy of the transition plan.

The transition plan will be reviewed at each annual statement review after the initial transition review in Year 9 (aged 14+).

What happens when I am approaching 18?

If you are receiving services from Barnet to meet your individual needs at home you may need these services to continue beyond your 18^th birthday. Adult Social Services provide assistance to people with different needs. They also provide advice and support for people with disabilities and mental health related needs.

Website contacts for transition

Money/Benefits Advice

It may be useful for parent/carers and young people to be aware that some benefits change when a young person reaches 16 or 19. For advice regarding benefits for disabled young people you can contact the Department for Work and Pensions, or a local voluntary group.

Personal Advisors

Information about the specialist support provided by Connexions Personal Advisors, contact your local Connexions Centre.

Children, young people and families