This article discusses Post-16 & -19 EHCP transitions, the education landscape after school, why you must prepare for this at the beginning of Key Stage 4, and offers practical tips, advice and guidance to support you.
Preparing Your EHCP for Post-16 & -19 Transition
Post-16 and 19 are the often-overlooked final stages of the EHCP journey, and <<don’t shoot the messenger>> the hardest of all.
If you have not been preparing for these last stages, and they will happen, you will be on an almost constant cycle of appeal. The time between phase transition from Primary to Secondary, and Secondary to post-16 can lull you into a false sense of security. Post-16 speeds towards post-19 like a Bugatti Chiron between two sets of Gatso cameras. The destination and the journey merge into a blink of an eye.
Add to this the realisation that if you were at appeal for post-16, those essential reports are now over 18 months old. As far as another appeal is concerned, these are old news, out of date, and will need to be, at the very least updated with an addendum from the professional involved.
If this wasn’t enough, you won’t have your Final EHCP issued until 31st March, with all the previous Phase Transition groups having had theirs on 15th February. Those appeal dates for a Hearing before September will be thin on the ground, so no time to lose, or you won’t have a date until early Autumn. Oh, and if you haven’t booked in with any professionals to update those reports, there are no prizes for getting the answer right on the likelihood of any availability.
Our Annual Review Webinar Event will provide you with all the support you need to ensure the process works for your child’s EHCP and that it is in the best possible place for post-16 and future transitions. All Events (thinkific.com)
Education Placements Post-16/19
If there is a drought when it comes to Secondary school places, it’s an arid desert for post-16 & -19.
These Phase Transitions are not to be taken lightly. What can you do to navigate this? Proper preparation prevents poor performance.
The EHCP is anticipatory. It looks at the current and future needs and provision of the young person. (SEND Code of Practice 2015 9.61) You must do the same, to ensure that at each Annual Review at Key Stage 4 you are considering all future options.
The LA must consider the long-term needs of the young person, see case law Wilkin and Goldthorpe v Coventry CC [1998].
From Year 9 the EHCP must include provision for Preparation for Adulthood and Independent Living (SEND Regs 2014 Regulation 12(3))
Are exam access arrangements in place? Are these being practised? Is your child on a trajectory for mainstream qualifications, functional skills, vocational skills, life skills or a combination?
Do your research early, and go to Sixth Form and FE College open days. Pick up a Prospectus. Discuss with your child any interests that they may like to pursue further. Speak to SENDCo’s and Learning Support Departments. Speak to parents of young people already enrolled on courses about the support available.
Look at and talk to Independent Specialist 6th Forms, do they offer dual placements with local mainstream FE Colleges? This can be an effective transition from specialist to mainstream, with additional support being provided for coursework completion, preparation for adulthood and independent living skills taking place at the Independent 6th Form.
Do your research into travel, many young people lose transport at Post-16, as LA’s can impose policy here, with the young persons’ transport arrangements being under ‘independent travel’, under the guise of Preparation for Adulthood. Find out before this becomes an issue, and plan for the potential outcome. https://www.gov.uk/subsidised-college-transport-16-19
Consider FE Colleges which take SEND young people from 16 – 25. You will still have a Phase Transition but will have the opportunity to evidence needs are being met and that education and training are successful and continue to be effective.
Post-19 is a time when many young people struggle to find an appropriate placement, and for some EOTAS is the way forward. As in all times before you will have to prove that no FE College, mainstream or independent, no vocational placement or institute can meet need. Another time when your investigation and research skills need to be on par with an MI6 agent.
For some young people, this may be a time to transition to a more holistic care-based approach, with residential placements where round-the-clock care and support is provided.
Look online, via your LA https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council under the Local Offer. Investigate EHCP Supported Internships – yes they do exist, and no, not many people know about them. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supported-internships-for-young-people-with-learning-difficulties/supported-internships
Sections B & F
Get informed early, be prepared, make sure that Sections B and F are appropriate, and don’t wait until this Phase Transition is at the Annual Review to consider the next steps. This time, Post-16 and Post-19 is where all the previous battles come to fruition, it’s the most important, and the most difficult to navigate. It is also your young person’s hardest part to navigate their way through, and they need our support now more than ever.
This is also their chance to shine and go forward, using all those skills that have been put in place over previous years. They will stride forward and reach their unique potential, they too will have come a long way and achieved so much already. We are all so proud of our Post-16 and 19 SEND Young People, and they should be proud of themselves too.
Careers Guidance
Check out career guidance early, remember that information is empowering, it allows you to make informed choices, not a rushed decision.
For information on career guidance see here; https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/options-with-education-health-and-care-plan#volunteer
Financial Support
For information on financial support see here for the 16- 19 Bursary Fund https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund/eligibility
Preparing For Adulthood
See Chapters 7 and 8 of the SEND Code of Practice, Chapter 7, Further Education, and Chapter 8 Preparing for Adulthood from the Earliest Years. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7dcb85ed915d2ac884d995/SEND_Code_of_Practice_January_2015.pdf
Guidance for SEND 19-25 EHCP entitlement-https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-19-to-25-year-olds-entitlement-to-ehc-plans/send-19-to-25-year-olds-entitlement-to-ehc-plans
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