Transitions in Education
What do we mean by ‘Transitions in Education’?
Starting a new school or moving from one level of education to another can be daunting for both parents and their children. The government place emphasis on the following key transitional periods:
- Starting nursery or school
- Moving to secondary education
- Moving into year 9 in secondary school
- Moving into post-16 education or training
Hull City Council have created a good practice transition guide which offers advice, support and information about what to expect from educational provisions at transition times throughout their child or young persons journey from 2-18 years old.
Post 16 Transition
High aspirations are crucial to success. Discussions about long-term goals should focus on the young person's strengths and capabilities, as well as what they want to achieve. SEN Code of Practice January 2018 Section 8
Preparation for adulthood must be included in the curriculum and schools must provide independent career advice to all children and young people from age 13 upwards. The advice should be tailored to the needs of the individual and should account for the needs of young people with SEN and/or disabilities.
For children with an EHC plan preparation for adulthood must happen in their year 9 review, and then be reviewed yearly. The focus should be on the child or young person's strengths, capabilities and aspirations and what support they will need to enable them to work towards achieving their goals. Transition planning at this stage must have clear ambitious outcomes that promote growth in relation to preparing young people for adulthood. Children and young people should where possible be involved with EHC plan reviews and their views should be taken into consideration -it is good practice for them to become more involved as they age and are able.
After compulsory education, the right to make decisions and requests about support transfers from the parent to the young person, and the local authority must ensure that they have access to independent infomation, advice and support to help them in making decisions and sharing their views. Parents may of course carry on supporting their child and their involvement is suggested to continue until age 18, although it is recognised that for some young people their parents will need to remain involved for longer, and they may need to continue making decisions on their childs behalf if they are unable to.
Post 16 Options
Young people can leave school on the last Friday in June of the school year when they turn 16, however, they have to be in education or training by the following September.
Education or training options are:
- Full-time education in a school (sixth form)
- Further education (can be mainstream or specialist)
- An apprenticeship
- A combined work or voluntary position of 20 or more hours a week alongside part-time education or training of at least 280 hours of guided learning
What type of support will be available to my young person?
Support in mainstream colleges for young people with SEN and/or disabilities must be similar to that offered by schools, which includes identifying needs via SEN support and having a named person in charge of support for students with SEN - although they won't necessarily be called a SENCO. Where the need has previously been identified when the young person was at school, this along with all details of SEN support used for that student should be shared from the school to the college for the benefit of the student. In cases where a young person needs more support than the college is able to provide and an EHC plan is not already in place, this may be applied for. EHC plans may be kept up to the age of 25 whilst SEN needs remain and the young person stays in education or training.
Support in other education or training provisions may vary and you would need to speak to the individual provider to find out what support they can offer.
Further information about Post 16 Education can be found on the links below and some of the organisations on our local services page may be able to offer support or advice about this too.