Schools or colleges will support children and young people to develop a person-centred transition plan from year 9 through to when they leave formal education.  A person-centred transition action plan focuses on the young person, what is important to them for their future and what support and actions are needed for them to achieve their aspirations and make the transition into adulthood. This is a live on-going process and should cover the four areas of ‘Preparation for Adulthood’.

The transition plan templates can be found the the right of this page under 'related documents'.  There is one version for mainstream settings and one version for specialist settings.  There is also a guidance document to help with completion of the transition plan.

The transition plan will be updated regularly and may include actions such as visits to colleges, universities, finding out more about housing, social care and health. This will also cover what qualifications they may need to access a course of their choice or to prepare for employment and which agencies can provide support. 

There will be lots for children and young people to think about when planning for their future pathway including:

• Where to go to find out information to make informed decisions about their future?
• What support they feel they may need?
• What qualification and skills they need to work towards?
• What college courses or training they may wish to access?
• What are the options for employment and what are the different employment pathways?
• What actions do they need to take themselves to move towards their employment ambitions?
• What thoughts they have about their living arrangements and supportive relationships in the future?
• Where to find out Information about transport and who can support them?
• What health or Social Care support they may need in the future?
• How to stay as healthy as possible?
• How universal services can help

Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

From year 9 transition planning must be incorporated within the EHCP annual review, which, should identify what adult social care and health support is required in preparation for when a young person is turning 18 years.

Not all young people with an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) will remain in formal education until the age of 25 with the majority leaving education and transitioning into adulthood from the age of 18 years. Some young people may go on to employment, higher education or to be fully supported by health or a social care. 

The EHCP annual reviews should be informed by on-going transition planning and a plan that covers discussions and support for: -

• Exploring what decisions children and young people wish to take for themselves
• Identifying and planning for appropriate post 16 educational pathways that will lead to higher education and/or employment
• Provision from health and social care
• Understanding what and how universal services can support
• Where to go to find support, information, advice and guidance from health, care, their community, housing and the Job Centre
• Where the child or young person may wish to live in the future
• Robust planning for transition to full social care or health care where young people leave formal education and when the EHCP will cease
• Support to how to find employment and how to do a job
• Understanding welfare and housing benefits

Each EHCP transition plan will be individual to the child or young person and the post school or college pathway may be to high education, employment or transition into full adult health or care services where a young person’s future needs will be met fully by Social Care or health.

The transition plan should also detail any arrangements for when their EHCP ceases. 

Professionals supporting children and young people with PFA should focus on aspirations, ambitions and support towards greater independence and employability.

The Local Authority (LA) - will ask children in year 11 what their post 16 college preferences are.  This will help the LA decide and to consult with an appropriate post 16 provider by sharing the EHCP to ensure that needs can be met.

Careers Advice - Children and young people aged 13 to 19 (25) will be provided with careers advice by their school or further education institution.