Preparing for Adulthood: A Fact Sheet for Parent Carers
Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can be supported up until the age of 25 - well beyond compulsory school age. The annual review of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is an opportunity for families, schools or colleges, and the local authority to discuss what the young person wants to achieve as they grow up.
From Year 9 onwards (age 13-14), the local authority has a legal duty to ensure that annual reviews include planning for:
- Higher education or employment
- Independent living
- Participation in society (friendships, community involvement)
- Being as healthy as possible in adult life
This is set out in Regulation 20(6) and 21(6) of the SEND Regulations 2014 and is a key part of the Children and Families Act 2014.
START PLANNING EARLY
The SEND Code of Practice 2015 says: "High aspirations are crucial to success - discussions about longer-term goals should start early and ideally well before Year 9." Planning should focus on the young person's strengths, capabilities and the outcomes they want to achieve.
PERSON-CENTRED PLANNING
Good PfA planning is centred around the individual:
- It puts the young person's views and aspirations first.
- It supports meaningful participation by using tools like "Planning My Future Life" or PATH.
- It ensures young people are active in decision-making with advocates where needed.
YEAR 9 REVIEW
From Year 9 onwards, the SEND Code of Practice (para. 8.9) states that local authorities must ensure EHCP reviews include a clear focus on Preparation for Adulthood. This should:
- Be centred around aspirations and life goals
- Include decisions about post-16 education/training and support needs
- Result in a revised plan with clear, ambitious and stretching outcomes
PfA planning should include:
1. Support to prepare for employment or further education:
- Post-16 and post-18 pathways
- Supported internships, apprenticeships, traineeships
- Job coaching, work experience, business start-up
- Understanding in-work benefits
2. Support to prepare for independent living:
- Decision-making, mental capacity, and supported decision-making
- Housing preferences, living arrangements, benefits, social care
3. Support for good health:
- Transition planning with health services
- Understanding adult health pathways and professionals
- Ongoing support for learning disabilities and conditions
4. Support for community participation:
- Travel and mobility planning
- Social and leisure opportunities
- Community involvement and relationships
Schools, colleges and services must co-operate in this planning from Year 9 onwards (SEND Code para. 8.24). If a young person wants to move to a different setting or college, their future setting must help shape and support the EHCP review.
Use the DfE's "PfA Outcomes Tool" to support these conversations and track outcomes across each area.
Hull Parent Carer Forum is here to support families with PfA information, resources, and participation events. We want to hear your experiences and see what works, what doesn’t work and what could be better?
Please let us know.
Please see the HPCF Preparation for Adulthood Information and Resources Pack for useful links and further information.
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