Tips for preparing for transition to adulthood

What else can parents do to prepare for their child’s transition to adulthood?

• Contact the head of SEN at the Local Authority and ask who is personally responsible for transition planning, and what opportunities the Local Authority has in place for your child’s level of support needs.

• Try to identify a key worker, such as a social worker or SENCO, who will act as a link through the years between 14 and 19. Some Local Authorities now have Transition Social Workers in post.

• Make sure that you are clear about who is responsible for follow up of each point in transition plans, so that you can check that actions really do happen.

• With your child’s school, explore opportunities to build work experience into the curriculum. There is beginning to be a much greater emphasis on getting disabled people into employment through Valuing Employment Now, and Job Coaches are becoming more common. This raises expectations for all. Ideally work experience should start at school, in the school setting itself if necessary.

• Visit colleges and other Further Education settings personally and prepare questions in advance.

• Put your child’s name down as soon as possible, as many colleges have long waiting lists.

• If the level of need is sufficient, involve an adult provider from the outset of transition planning at 14 so that there is continuity and understanding of needs when the time comes.