SENDIASS guidance preparing for adulthood
Preparing for adulthood (PfA) simply means preparing children and young people for adult life.
Preparing for Adulthood is important for all children and young people, however children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) may need extra support to communicate their aspirations and achieve their ambitions.
Preparing children and young people for adulthood should start as early as possible. The SEND Code of Practice (2014) states that this should start ‘early and ideally well before year 9 (age 13-14) at school’.
For young people with Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans the annual review at Year 9, and every annual review thereafter, must include a focus on Preparing for Adulthood. This means that consideration should be given to the following four outcomes:
- Education, training and employment
- Independent living
- Friends, relationships and community
- Good health