From Year 9 onwards if your child has a Statement /Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), their annual review will be called a Preparing for Adulthood Review.

This will help to continually update an all rounded active plan to show your child’s changing health, social care and educational needs. 

The SEND Code of Practice is very clear that discussions about longer-term goals for young people should start early at Year 9 (age 13-14). These discussions should be person-centred and focus on your child’s strengths, capabilities, outcomes they want to achieve and will take place at every annual review from Year 9 onwards. 

They will include preparation for:

  • continuing education, training or employment
  • independent living
  • participating in society
  • being as healthy as possible in adult life.

For more information on when a young person prepares to move into adulthood, visit Transition - City of Wolverhampton Council.

Connexions service have produced a helpful guide for young people with SEND and for their parent or carer to view that includes Getting ready for Preparing for Adulthood, which will start from Year 9.

For further guidance view National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) resources for preparing for adulthood.

You may also want to know about:

Who attends the Preparing for Adulthood Meeting?

The most important person at Preparing for Adulthood meetings is the young person. Your child will be asked if they want to attend.

  • You, as a parent or carer, will be invited. If the young person is being looked after by the local authority their social worker, residential care worker or foster carers will be invited
  • Your child’s Connexions Careers Adviser will be there.
  • There will also be invitations for:
    • your child’s teacher
    • a representative from Wolverhampton SENSTART
    • Social Services
    • Health Service worker

You may also want to ask for invitations for other people who support your family such as a friend, an advocate, or someone who helps your child, such as an 'independent supporter'.

Help in getting ready for the Preparing for Adulthood meeting

Connexions Career Adviser will help your child prepare for the Year 9 Preparing for Adulthood meeting by completing the person centred ‘Getting Ready’ document. You will have an opportunity to contribute to this.

The person-centred tool that covers a wide range of factors about your child that supports your child to express their wishes and needs. These factors include:

  • Hopes and dreams for the future
  • Future plans for getting a job
  • Keeping safe and healthy
  • How your child likes to be supported.

Further information about the service can be found at Connexions Wolverhampton.