When you are 14 and have EHCP, people will start to talk to you about what you want to do when you leave school and grow up. This is called transition. This will start in your Year 9 Transition Review at school and each year your transition plan will be updated. There will be lots of changes happening in your life over the next few years as you move into adulthood. This is all part of growing up and there are lots of people who can help you get ready and understand the changes. You may find it helpful to talk things through with people around you such as family, friends or someone from your school. 

Some of the things you might think about include:  

• Education – what do you want to learn?
• Job –
  What job would you like?
  What do you need to do to get ready for work?
  How can other people help you get ready for work?  

• Hobbies – what do you want to do when you are not working?
• Living – where will you live? 
• Health and support – what help do you need to stay healthy? 

You should visit places and groups that you are interested in joining. Ask questions and get information so you can make an informed decision. Lots of the groups and places will invite you to ‘open days’ where you can find out information. 

The law says that young people (including those with SEND) can make decisions about their lives from the age of 16 as long as they have the capacity to do so. Some people will want to include their parents and teachers in helping them to make the right decisions.  

Under the Mental Capacity Act a person is presumed capable to make their own decisions, unless all practical steps to help them have been made without success. 

The Mental Capacity Act (www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents), protects people over 16, who are unable to make certain decisions for themselves. This could be due to a learning disability, mental health problems or illness.  

The purpose of the Mental Capacity Act is to: 

• allow adults to appoint people to manage their finances and make health and welfare decisions for them, in advance of losing mental capacity
• allow all adults to participate in decisions about them
• enable adults to make advance decisions about refusing future medical treatment, if they feel strongly about it
• ensure a local authority or NHS body will appoint an independent mental capacity advocate to support someone who cannot make a decision about serious medical treatment, or about hospital, care home or residential accommodation, when there are no family or friends to be consulted
• ensure all people’s rights are respected and where they lack mental capacity, to guide their carers and professionals to making best interest decisions on their behalf
• provide protection against legal liability for carers who have honestly and reasonably sought to act in the person’s best interests
• provide clarity and safeguards around research in relation to those who lack capacity

You will have a Year 9 EHCP Annual Review at school, and many subsequent reviews. Your attendance at this meeting is crucial to ensure that the outcomes you want in adult life are considered and recorded in your EHCP.  

These discussions should include whether you want to attend college or move towards employment or independence. All schools, FE colleges and sixth form colleges have the responsibility through their funding agreement to secure access to independent careers guidance for all learners in possession of EHCP. These discussions will also include where you want to live, finances, legal decision making and looking after your own health, further information on these topics can be found throughout this document. 

The review will also discuss whether you will need support from Adult Social Care once you become 18. Eligibility is explained later in this document. 

The school will be able to advise and signpost you to information, advice and guidance or you can look at the Local Offer. 

Children and young people have choices to make at 14, 16, 18 and beyond about the direction they wish to take in education, training and work. All young people and their parents have the right to have high aspirations for their future. Having ideas about where you would like to be in the future makes it possible to plan how you are going to get there and what needs to happen to help you to achieve your goals.  

After Year 11 you will have many options for education, training and employment. You will need to think about what you want to study and/or what you want to do as a job. 

The Education, Training and Work section of the Local Offer includes information about Specialist Support Schools, post-16 education for young people and getting into the world of work.  

There are many choices after year 11: 

• continue in education 
• a supported Internship 
• an apprenticeship  
• work or volunteer while studying part time 

Continuing in education 

Where to study – You may be able to stay at your current school or move to a sixth form at a different school, a sixth form college, a further education college, a specialist college or do a study programme with a training provider. If you have been in a specialist support school you may be considering a specialist college placement. These placements are to be applied for by parents as well as the Local Authority consulting with colleges. College placements don’t always offer a 5 day week provision. Some of the courses may be 2 or 3 days a week. 

What courses you can do 

• Subject based such as A levels or work related such as T levels T levels or entry level courses that prepare you for work or independence.

• Supported Internships and study Programmes 

• Apprenticeships
  – An apprenticeship means you work, get paid a wage and are trained at the same time. You can gain a qualification as part of your apprenticeship.
  – There are apprenticeships in many different kinds of work, from engineering and agriculture to media and tourism.
  – Find out more on apprenticeships on gov.uk. 

• Find out more on Apprenticeships, 14 to 19 education and training for work – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Work or volunteer while studying part-time 

You can study a part time course at a college or training provider, while volunteering or working, including being self-employed. 

Volunteer 

If you’re not in employment, education or training (NEET) you can get work experience and learn new skills through volunteering. Find out more about volunteering on GOV.UK. 

If employment options are not a realistic option, then volunteering opportunities can be explored within a good week offer.

You may have qualified for a travel solution to and from education before, but this does not automatically mean you will be eligible for a travel solution when you are 16. When you are 14, think about how you can get to your place of education independently – by yourself.  

Find out what help you can get with travelling to your place of education through the Home to School Transport team contact them on 0161 219 6400 or hometoschool@manchester.gov.uk  

For further travel solution information –   

Home to School Transport team | Travel assistance for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) | Manchester City Council

https://hsm.manchester.gov.uk/kb5/manchester/directory/service.page?id=1SLk9AoFRHc&localofferchannel=1-9-2

There are different ways to travel to places including, getting a lift, walking, cycling, or using taxis, buses, trains and trams. 

Your family, school and college can help you learn the skills you need to travel on your own or with friends. This is called travel training.  

Public transport 

Disabled people (including those with mental health needs) may be entitled to reduced fare or free public transport. However, just because you had a free bus pass once, does not mean you will automatically get one for life. You will have to reapply when you are 16 and 18 for a bus pass and it will depend on the eligibility criteria. 

There are different types of bus passes which you can find out about at https://tfgm.com/tickets-and-passes/discounted-and-free-travel/disabled-people  and search for ‘low fares for disabled people’. Door-to-door transport, such as Ring and Ride or Local Link, is also available to use. 

Taxis 

If you cannot use any public transport, Transport for Greater Manchester provides a travel voucher scheme, which can help pay towards taxis and door-to-door services. You can find out more information here https://tfgm.com/tickets-and-passes/discounted-and-free-travel/disabled-people 

Learning to drive 

At 17 you can learn to drive. You can find out about learning to drive at www.gov.uk  and typing in ‘learning to drive’. You can find information about driving if you have a disability. You can also find information at www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/know-how/driving-with-a-disability

Private transport 

Passengers, as well as car drivers, may have a blue badge, depending on their disability. The badge allows the car you are in to park closer to where you need to go.  

www.gov.uk/browse/driving/disability-health-condition 

Depending on what benefits you are claiming you may be eligible for Motability you can find further information here www.motability.co.uk

When you finish college, you may have a lot of free time. Taking part in activities or having hobbies and interests outside of the home can help you meet new people, keep fit, stay active and be happy.  

There are lots of clubs and groups, some are especially for young people with additional needs and others are open to everyone. 

Community centres, leisure centres and religious centres also have events that you could join. 

If you do not feel confident about going to a group by yourself, ask a friend to come with you.  

Unlimited Potential’s health trainers and Social adVenture’s courses can help you build your confidence, get healthier and get happier. 

If you do not feel confident about going to a group by yourself, ask a friend to come with you.  

Unlimited Potential’s health trainers and Social adVenture’s courses can help you build your confidence, get healthier and get happier. 

Please find below some useful links: 

• Social adVenture: https://socialadventures.org.uk
• SENDIASS: www.iasmanchester.org
• Best accessible days out: www.disabledliving.co.uk/blog/best-accessible-days-out-in-greater-manchester/ 
• Days out for disabled kids: www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/days-out-disabled-kids
• Five places in Manchester that cater for children with Autism: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/family-days-out-manchester-autism-11906088 
• Manchester Support and Disability Groups: www.ableize.com/disabled-groups-and-clubs-by-county/manchester/manchester-support-groups 

One of the first things you need to think about as you grow up, is where you will live as an adult. Many young people choose to stay at home. There are lots of good reasons to stay living at home: you get support from family and carers, it is cheaper to live at home or you just don’t want to move.  

This can be good, but you still need to think about developing your independence at home. Talk to your family or whoever supports you about learning how to cook simple meals, learning to tidy up, use the appliances in the house, and basic skills like budgeting and paying bills, maintaining your home.  

If you are disabled, there are changes that can be made to your home to help you live more independently. This can be small changes like grab rails or major adaptations such as lifts being installed. There are lots of simple gadgets that you can buy from the internet or the high street that might help, such as adapted cutlery. Manchester City Council will help with you to explore if there is technology enabled support to help you live independently. Ask your assessor for details of the Smart suite where you can see and test adaptations that can help you to live more independently. www.manchesterlco.org/smart-suite-the-manchester-home-where-everything-is-not-quite-as-it-seems/ 

You may have to move out of your current home or decide that you are ready to live independently.  

The first thing you need to do is sign up to Manchester Move Home Search, https://homes.manchestermove.co.uk/choice/ so you can bid for a property.  

If you are planning to move into your own home, it is important that you have the following: 

• Your own bank account – link to bank account section
• Benefits in place – link to benefits section
• Photo identification e.g., passport 

If you become homeless you need to contact Housing Options Advice Line 0161 793 2020. If you are 18-25 you have to contact our Young Persons Team between 9am and 4.30pm on 0161 234 1081. They will find out about your housing needs.  

You can also contact Shelter www.shelter.org.uk or Centrepoint www.centrepoint.org.uk for homelessness and housing problems. 

The housing advice team will be able to tell you about help and support for you to find a home and manage your tenancy. If you need extra support, they will contact someone to help you. 

Money is very important. As you’re getting older, you will get money either through work or benefits. This money is not just for spending on nice clothes, music and computer games. Your money is to help you pay for all your living costs including: 

• Bills for electricity, gas and water you use 
• Clothes 
• Food
• Hobbies and interests
• Council tax  
• Travelling around  
• Rent  
• Mobile phones  

You also need to think about: 

If you are living at home with family, do you have to pay something to help out with the costs of the home. If so, how much will this be each week?  

If you are living on your own or living with other people, what is your share of the bills? 

How much do your hobbies and interests cost? Can you afford to do all of them?  

If you do not pay your rent, bills etc, you can get into lots of trouble. It is important that you learn to budget so you don’t end up owing lots of money. There are lots of people who can help you learn to budget, including school, college and www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk 

Another useful page that you or your parent or carer might want to look at is: www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/financial-education/ 

If you are leaving care and taking your first steps to becoming independent take a look here for further information www.manchester.gov.uk/careleavers  

The best way for young people to get money is by getting job. The earlier you start to think about getting a job the better. here are lots of different ways to find a job: 

• Tell friends and family you are looking for a job and they may know someone who can help
• Go to local shops and businesses, ask them if they have any jobs and give them your CV.
• Use the newspaper or internet to look for jobs
• Speak to your college tutors or a training centre as they can help you get ready for work, and give you the skills to look for and keep a job. 
• Visit your local job centre which has an up-to-date list of available jobs and people who can help you. Ask for a disability employment officer if appropriate.

To find out more information visit  

www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus

www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship 

When you are 16, you will be asked if you want to receive benefits in your own right. You may be able to get new benefits as well, even if you are still in education. 

If you are worried about looking after your own money, you can ask someone to help you manage it – this is called an appointee. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will visit you and your appointee to explain how it works and to make sure they are happy with it. The money is still yours and you can still go in your bank. If you have an appointee, they can fill in forms or talk to people about your money for you.  

To find out what benefits you may be entitled to you can use this link https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
You can always contact the Department of work and Pensions for more advice www.gov.uk/check-benefits-financial-support  

If you are leaving care you may find this link helpful www.manchester.gov.uk/careleavers  

If you need to borrow money, Manchester Credit Union or Moneyline are good places to go. You can also ask your bank. 

Payday loans are a very expensive way to borrow money. You will always have to pay back much more than you borrow. Even just looking on the internet for payday loans can cost you money. Do not give payday loan websites your personal information.  

For more information you can use this link www.moneysavingexpert.com

If you are worried about money, ask for advice before you get into difficulty. Contact the Welfare rights advice line or, if you are in debt and owe money to people, you can contact the Debt advice line. You can also visit the Money advice service or the Citizens Advice Bureau, which are free and trustworthy services. 

www.moneysavingexpert.com  has lots of advice for saving money, vouchers, calculators, guides and price comparison tables. 

It’s important to have a bank account, if you already have an account your bank should get in touch with you to change your child account to an adult one.  

If you haven’t got a bank account you can open one, you will need to provide identification and potentially do this in person at a branch.  There are also online only bank accounts available. You must make sure the bank you choose is regulated by the FCA. Follow these links for more advice www.moneysavingexpert.com  

https://disabilitypositive.org/service/supported-banking/  

If you lack capacity to manage your own money this link will be useful to help to support you and your Parent/carer www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-finance-decisions-for-young-people-parent-and-carer-toolkit/making-financial-decisions-for-young-people-who-lack-capacity-a-toolkit-for-parents-and-carers  

Staying in touch with friends 

Young people often tell us that the most important thing to them is keeping in touch and having places to go to with their friends. 

There are lots of ways you can keep in touch with your friends, including swapping phone numbers, using social media sites or ‘live’ computer gaming. 

If you want to see your friends, you may want to go to each other’s houses, or go out to places like the cinema, a restaurant or a local pub. If it is difficult to organise getting together, ask your family or college tutor if they can help you to arrange to meet up. It can help you remember if you arrange to meet at the same time and same day each week or month, or you can write it in a diary. 

You can ‘google’ for disabled access nightclubs or bars in Manchester. 

Remember: when using social media sites, it’s important to keep yourself safe – if you feel worried or are getting bullied, tell your parents, tutors, or carers. You can also report harmful content here at Report Harmful Content – We Help You Remove Content 

Falling in Love  

As you get older you may start to fancy someone and want to be their boyfriend/ girlfriend. This can be exciting, but you might be worried about whether the person likes you or how to go about asking the person out. Talk to someone you trust, who can give you help and advice. If you are thinking about having sex with your boyfriend or girlfriend, the Northern sexual Health Clinic can give you all the information and advice you need. https://thenorthernsexualhealth.co.uk/ 

Understanding your emotions and sexuality can be difficult. If you are, or think you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you might want to speak to someone from LGBT support groups or charities.  

As a parent or carer, you may find this link useful: www.choicesupport.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/supported-loving 

Some more useful contacts: 

The Proud Trust – www.theproudtrust.org

MIND OUT (an LGBT mental health service) – https://mindout.org.uk/  

Mermaids (supporting transgender, nonbinary and gender diverse children, young people and their families) – https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/  

LGBT Foundation - https://lgbt.foundation/  

It is important that you can feel safe when you are out an about, if you are being bullied, picked on or asked to take part in things that you know are wrong or make you feel uncomfortable you should tell your parents, carer, teacher, tutor or anyone else you feel safe to talk to. 

www.manchestersafeguardingpartnership.co.uk/complex-safeguarding

It is also important that you feel safe in your home bullying and being picked on can also happen in your home. This is called domestic abuse.  

It may be that someone:  

• hurts you physically (e.g. hits you) 
• sexually (e.g. touches your private parts without your permission) 
• financially (e.g. takes your money without asking) 
• emotionally (e.g. always being horrid to you) 
• neglects you (e.g. where someone does not give you enough food, clothes or keeps you warm) 

None of this is OK and you must tell someone you trust who will help you get the support you need. You can tell Childline if you are under 18 or phone the Greater Manchester Police domestic abuse unit or the safeguarding unit. 

www.manchestersafeguardingpartnership.co.uk/domestic-abuse/

Useful Contacts: 

24-hour Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247  

Manchester Womens Aid: 0161 660 7999 / referrals@manchesterwomensaid.org  

Domestic Abuse helpline: 0161 636 7525 / helpline@independentchoices.org.uk 

Manchester based Saheli Asian Women’s Project provides advice, information and support services to Asian women and their children fleeing domestic abuse and/or forced marriages. Call: 0161 945 4187 

When a young person becomes 18, the first port of call for any non-emergency medical issues should be via their GP. They will be able to diagnose and treat any immediate health issues or refer to the relevant specialist or service. If you have been under the care of a paediatric specialist, such as Great Ormond Street Hospital, they will support you to transition to the relevant adult health service. If you need to register with a GP or need any further information about GP services it can be found here www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery

The Preparing for Adulthood assessment identifies if you’re eligible for support and services under the Care Act 2014. If the assessment also identifies you need specialist health input, a Community Resource Team (CRT) referral is made to the suitable health team. 

Annual Health Check 

If you have not been invited to have your annual health check and you are 14 or over, contact your GP to discuss this further. The annual health check was introduced to address the health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability and autism. People with learning disabilities and autism can be more vulnerable to long term conditions. An annual health check with the GP would spot the signs in good time so such conditions could be prevented or managed early so as to prevent further complications. An annual health check is important because it gives young people time to talk about anything that is worrying them and means they can get used to going to visit the doctor. This is particularly important when you reach 18 years, as you will no longer be under a Paediatrician and GPs will be the referral route to more specialist services if required. It will also give you time to discuss any concerns you have about your health or wellbeing and how your GP can support you to spot the early signs of you being unwell.  

People with a learning disability and/or autism should be on their GP’s LD/autism register so that they are invited yearly from the age of 14+ to have a health check.   

Hospital Passports – Health Passports can be useful to complete and take with you to any hospital appointments or inpatient stays. They provide information about your young person so that the doctors and nurses can understand the needs of the young person, any medications they take and how to ensure that the treatment/stay is successful. 

NHS England and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust have endorsed the National Autistic Society’s ‘My Health Passport’ template: https://mft.nhs.uk/app/uploads/2024/01/My_health_passport.pdf 

Feeling stressed 

The stuff that happens as you get older may make you feel anxious and stressed which can affect your health and wellbeing. If you are anxious or stressed, you can feel sick, be unable to sleep, get snappy with people, feel bad about yourself. It can make you feel like you can’t cope. If you feel like running away, hurting yourself, not wanting to get out of bed or taking your own life, it’s important you talk to someone. There are lots of people to help you, a family member, GP, school nurse, The Samaritans or a teacher. If you feel in crisis you or family member or friend can call GMMH Mental Health Crisis Line – 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Helpline, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (gmmh.nhs.uk – 0800 953 0285) 

Knowing where to turn  

Your pharmacist (chemist) can give you some advice if you are feeling ill. If you are feeling very unwell try to see your doctor. If you have an accident or you need to see a doctor straight away, go to Accident and Emergency or phone 999. www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/find-urgent-and-emergency-care-services/ 

If you are not sure you can phone 111 or contact them online via https://111.nhs.uk/ This website can be used to get help for symptoms or injuries, support with prescriptions and medicines information, also dental help and Mental health help. 

Some more useful contacts: 

• www.gmmh.nhs.uk/psychological
• www.gmmh.nhs.uk/manchester-talking-therapies
• www.selfhelpservices.org.uk/referrals/self-referrals
• www.manchestermind.org/our-services/advice