What we will do

We will provide better support for SEND young people's journey from childhood to adulthood. We will help them confidently plan for their future, work with them to reduce barriers and find opportunities for them to achieve their preferred outcomes.

Our parents and carers have said:

“Young people with SEND need adequate support to transition to independent adult life, including living away from home, accessing employment. Much better partnership is needed between children’s health services and adult health services, and between children’s care services and adults care services, further education colleges, universities and housing. Conversations need to happen young people, families and services about what PFA means and what it would look like for them”.

Our actions to deliver this are to:

• develop, and launch a preparing for adulthood strategy and delivery plan;
• design and deliver a clear route into adult social care;
• promote and implement independent travel training to support independence for those who can achieved this;
• develop and implement a NEET (not in education, employment and training) strategy;
• increase the number of mainstream further education and university access/ spaces for young people with SEND, including those young people aged 18 to 25;
• increase number of supported internship opportunities across the area, ensuring those with higher needs are also included.

What will be different

There will be an easy move from childhood to adulthood, and young people will be aware of and involved in discussions about options for them. Local colleges and universities will be clear about how they can support young people and there will be an increased awareness with local employers of the benefits SEND young people can bring to their workplace, resulting in more employment opportunities.

Progress to date

We are finalising a new preparation for adulthood strategy and our new SEND service structure puts in place an increased specialist focus for our Post 16 cohort. Furthermore, BCP Council's new NEET strategy is in its final stages and the partnership is committed to working with mainstream providers to provide greater opportunities for employment.

Return to the How we are improving SEND services page.