Annual Reviews and key transition considerations for children and young people with EHCPs

• The Year 9 EHCP Annual Review will start transition planning. Ensure that any taster courses or link programmes are explored and considered as soon as possible. Also mention the GP annual health check for age 14 and over for those with a learning disability. Parents may wish to check with their GP whether their child or young person is on the Learning Disability Register prior to the Annual Review.
• The Year 10 EHCP Annual Review consider young person’s wishes for Year 12. Remind families about the the ending of Disability Living allowance (DLA) and applying for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Preparation for Adulthood age phase transfer for Year 11 and above

• During the summer holidays SENAT write to young people seeking their preference for Year 12 placement. SENAT have aligned their processes so that they still write to pupils in Year 11 asking for preferences at this stage so they can begin to think about next steps.
• SENAT ask for Annual Reviews to be held in the autumn term of year 11 (or 14). SENAT try to use Year 10 Annual Review paperwork but find at that point most students don’t know which school or college they want to apply to. It helps for them to have done the 1^st set of mock GCSEs in the autumn term to get a realistic view of their options. The Year 11 EHCP Annual Review will have a plan in place for Year 12. All young people should be made an offer of Post 16 learning by the end of Year 11. Information should also be sent out about changes to transport funding.
• During the autumn term consultations with local Further Education (FE) colleges start and the issue of draft EHCPs start. 
• Across the autumn term responses to consultations are collated; any feedback on draft EHCPs is collated/acted upon and from January SENAT start issuing finals/confirming placements. 
• The deadlines for Year 11 are:
  • 15^th February – all requests for INMSS or independent school 6^th form; students transferring from mainstream to maintained special schools and students joining the 6^th form of a different school to the one they currently attend.
  • 31^st March – all students going to further education colleges.
  • 31^st August – students remaining in the 6^th form of their current school (mainstream or maintained special)
• Year 14 leavers are all 31st March regardless of destination.
• During the Year 12 Annual Review meetings (and beyond) continue planning for the next transition as this cycle will need to repeat post transition in preparation for the next move.

To support these conversations:

• Ensure relevant professionals are invited to the meeting i.e. Special Educational Needs Officers (SNO’s) for Year 5 reviews and Planning Officer for Year 11 and Year 14 reviews from the Special Educational Needs Assessment (SENAT) and Careers Advisor/Leader.
• Engage with, and promote discussions with young person, parents, specialist professionals and current setting to begin choice of next placement.

For those moving to Post 16 education, offer advice and sources of information regarding suitability and availability in terms of:

• Courses
• Apprenticeships/work placements
• Support needs
• Independence including travel training
• Communication support
• Environment and Accessibility
• Peer group
• Safety and well-being

Ensure young person and parents/carers are aware of:

• College/school open days.
• Careers advice
• Pathways to employment
• The full range of possible options available for Post 16 education.