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Transition plans

Information for parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities

Is your son or daughter coming up to year 9 at school?

This leaflet has information about:

the annual review of statement in year 9; and
planning for the transition through to life after school for young people.

If your son or daughter has a statement of special educational needs, the school must draw up a ‘transition plan’ at his or her annual review in year 9. It is also good practice for schools to do a transition plan for young people at School Action Plus. Please see our leaflets on School Action and School Action Plus.

The transition plan helps young people prepare for the move from school to adult life. It makes sure everyone works together to support your son or daughter in achieving their goals as they become young adults.

The plan is drawn up at the same time as the meeting for the annual review of your child’s statement.

The plan and the statement will be reviewed every year to take account of any changes as your son or daughter gets close to their school leaving date.

The transition plan meeting will help everyone involved with your son or daughter to get information about:

your son’s or daughter’s ideas and hopes for the future;
your views of your son’s or daughter’s future;
how the school can help; and
how the different agencies involved can work together and support your son or daughter to achieve their aims.

Who will be invited to the transition plan meeting?

You
Your son or daughter
Staff from your son’s or daughter’s school
Someone from the local education authority
a personal adviser from the Connexions Service

People from agencies that may play a major role in your child’s life after school must also be invited. They may include:

someone from Social Services; or
someone from Health, such as a speech and language therapist if they are involved.

If you would like support for yourself at the meeting you can contact the Parent Partnership Service.

The head teacher will ask for written reports beforehand from you and professionals working with your son or daughter. Parent Partnership Service could help you write your report.

The report needs to include your views on your son’s or daughter’s progress and your hopes and expectations for his or her future.

To help prepare for the meeting, you might like to discuss with your son or daughter some of the questions they may be asked. Here are some of the questions they may be asked:

How long would you like to stay at school?
What do you want to do after you leave school?
What are you good at?
What do you like doing?
What sort of things do you need help with?
Do you have any worries about the future? If so, what are they?
Is there anything else you would like to tell us or ask us?

Different possibilities will be discussed at the meeting. It’s very important that your son or daughter feels able to give their own views on what they want to do when they leave school. Some young people may need help to do this from, for example, a teaching assistant, an independent advocate, a youth worker or a Connexions adviser.

About two weeks before the meeting, the school sends out the annual review reports it has collected to everyone who is invited to the meeting.

The annual meeting will normally take place in school.

Afterwards the school will write a report of the meeting and will draw up a transition plan with the help of the Connexions Service.

Both the annual review report and the transition plan will be sent to you, your son or daughter, all those who were at the meeting and anyone else who will need them.

The Connexions Service is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the transition plan. The Connexions Personal Adviser (PA) should coordinate its delivery and offer any specialist help or support in continuing education, or in vocational or occupational training after school.

Where can I find out more about the opportunities that are available?

The Connexions Service links a range of organisations so that they can work together to give teenagers information, advice and guidance on education, training and careers.

All young people who need one will have a personal adviser who will work closely with them while at school and then through further education or training.

You can contact the Connexions Service at:
Connexions Centre
24-32 Carlton Street
Hockley
Nottingham NG1 1AA
Phone: 0115 948 4484

Other useful contacts are:

Area Youth Offices
Nottingham 0115 915 7221
South Nottinghamshire 0115 977 4746
East Nottinghamshire 01636 704964
West Nottinghamshire 01623 626949
North Nottinghamshire 01909 535532
Disability Support Team 01623 626972

Parent Partnership Service 0115 948 2888. For information about voluntary organisations, independent parental supporters and advocacy groups.

For information about benefits.
Welfare Rights Service
County 0115 977 4018
City 0115 915 9005

Finally

The year 9 annual review and transition plan are the start of a process that will last for several years. You may find that you and your young person’s ideas for the future change over time and you need more information. Your child’s school and their personal adviser from the Connexions Service will be able to support and advise you.

We are based in the voluntary sector and are supported by the Family Welfare Association and funded by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.

Parent Partnership Service
Suite 5 Clarendon Chambers
32 Clarendon Street
Nottingham NG1 5LN

Unit C
International Clothing Centre
Annesley Road
Hucknall
NG15 8AY

Phone, fax or minicom: 0115 948 2888
This number is for City and County parents

Email: enquiries@ppsnotts.org.uk
Website: www.ppsnotts.org.uk