Transition

Transitional Plan Process

The first annual review in Year 9, and subsequent annual reviews until the young person leaves school, should include a Transition Plan. This will draw together information from a range of individuals, including the young person and their parents or carers, within and beyond the school, in order to develop an integrated plan for the young person’s transition to adult life. The plan will identify potential future needs for services and also detail action steps to be taken by the various agencies and individuals. A personal advisor from the Connexions Service must be invited to attend this meeting. This person will be responsible for overseeing and co-ordinating the delivery of the Transition Plan.

The Transition Review Meeting

The meeting should build on targets set in previous annual reviews of your child's Statement of Special Educational Needs. It enables everyone who is, or may need to be, involved with the young person to work together with the young person and his/her carer to determine his/her needs, personal goals and how best to meet them. Once it has been drawn up the Local Authority must circulate it to parents, the headteacher, relevant Doncaster Council and Health Authority contacts, and any other relevant people.

Timetable of Reviews

Year 9 (school year of 14^th birthday)

• The school writes to invite you to the Year 9 Transition Review
• The school notifies the Local Authority, Health, Connexions and the Children’s Disability Service 
• A personal advisor from the Connexions Service or a member of the Children’s Disability Service will arrange to visit you with a Transition Planning booklet which explains the process and purpose.
• The review then takes place             

Year 10 (academic year of 15^th birthday)

• You are notified of the 15+ review
• Do you want any changes to the plan?
• Start to make visits to local colleges or other post 16 services             

Year 11 (academic year of 16^th birthday)

• Is the child’s Transition Plan still relevant?
• The Children’s Disability Service will liaise with Adult Care Manager
• A child aged 16+ should make firm plan
• The Local Authority(LA) should apply for funding (if relevant)
• There are major changes to the young person’s benefits             

Year 12 (academic year of 17^th birthday)

17+ annual review

• Is the Transition Plan in place and still relevant? 
• What changes need to be made?
• Doncaster Council's Adult Care Teams attend this Annual Review
• At 18 transfer to the Adult Care team takes place (this process may take place at 16, and sometimes as late as 19).

Other things to consider:

• Disabled Persons Act Assessment
• What support services are available
• Further or Higher Education
• Employment and Training
• Housing/living away from home
• Independent Living Fund
• Direct Payments
• Health/Short Term Respite Care Leisure
• Wills and Trusts             

Contact a family has a factsheet called Transition in England and Wales which contains much more information, including items from the above list.