Year 9 Transition

In the SEN Code of Practice, Transition also refers to transition to adulthood, for pupils from Year 9 onwards.  Leaving school and moving on to adult life can be a worrying time for all young people and their families.  For pupils who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), a planning system and a transition protocol is available to help make that transition as smooth as possible.

The following points should be considered for young people as part of Transition Planning:

The Young Person:

The young person’s wishes and feelings should be at the Centre of their plan.

  • What are the young person’s hopes and aspirations for the future?
  • How can these be met?
  • How can the young person be encouraged to contribute to their plan?
  • Alternative methods of communication should be considered, if necessary.
  • What is working well and what is not working well for them at the moment?

The Parents:

  • What is the parent/ carer’s hopes and aspirations for their young person’s adult life?
  • How can parents/ carers continue to help to contribute to the development of their young person’s skills?

The Professionals:

The Special Education Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) and Careers Adviser at their current placement will have the lead role in ensuring the delivery of the elements of the transition plan that relate to the young person’s transition into further learning or employment.

The careers advisor within the young person’s current setting should interview the young person concerning their hopes for the future if they are leaving school at 16.

The young person and their parents/carers should visit local college(s) to find out if these are suitable for their needs and also think about work experience.

For young people with greater needs it will be essential to find out about what choices there are as these are more limited.

Post School Opportunities for Young people with SEN

A successful transition planning process will help give a clear understanding of what opportunities are available for young people post school.

Young people will be able to choose the best Post 16 option, and will be able to leave school after year 11 and consider the following options:

  • Full-time Education – at a school Sixth Form, or a General Further Education College (GFE) – Attending a local college of further education while living at home is often the next step. Colleges can offer a wide range and level of courses, both academic and work-related, which can be full or part-time. Many courses are designed to prepare young people for adult life by offering a range of vocational taster courses, the chance to gain qualifications and improve skills in maths, English and communication. Some students remain in their local college until the age of 25.
  • Apprenticeship – this is done through an employer and leads to work-based qualifications up to level 3.
  • Employment with Training – if employed, self-employed or volunteering full time (20 hours or more a week) but a young person must still be in learning for at least 280 hours a year, the equivalent of one day a week during term-time.
  • Specialist residential colleges – nearly all young people with special educational needs and/or disability can go to their local college and take or an apprenticeship. In some exceptional cases, the Special School in conjunction with the careers adviser and, where appropriate, social care, will work together to consider specialist provision.