Children with Additional Needs
Transition
Transition
For many young people with additional needs, the move from a special or mainstream school to further education, training, employment, or into adult services can be a challenging time.
If that young person also has ongoing health needs and is moving from paediatrics to adult consultants, or may now require support from adult's social care, things can be very confusing. There is also the significant move from a culture of safeguarding in children's social care, to one of full citizenship and independence.
Transition begins at Year 9 in school and should be a continuous process, rather than a series of assessments and reviews as many young people need continued support to make this move.
For several years Devon has been working hard to improve transition processes, and the subsequent outcomes for young people. We have produced a Transition Pack for all young people in Devon. A copy is sent to all Year 9 students with a Statement of Special Educational Needs.
There are people who you can talk to if you need more help to understand what transition is all about, and about different aspects of transition. These include:
- your child’s Connexions personal adviser
- your family’s key worker or case manager
- your child’s school
- advice and information centres
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Directgov - the Government's website.
Hear Me Now provides independent advocates to support young people to think and plan for life after school. They can help them to prepare for meetings and reviews, and try to ensure that they are at the centre of important decisions being made. The service is available to any young person aged 14-17 with a statement of Special Educational Need.
Transition brochure for young people 
(432KB - pdf help)
Transition brochure for parents and carers (251KB - pdf help)
Stepping Stones Guide to transition (134KB - pdf help)
Factsheets on Transition and teenage years
DISCplus local information co-ordinators
If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, need more information or would like to receive the DISCplus newsletter for parents and carers of children with additional needs, contact the DISCplus local information co-ordinator for your area on freephone 0800 056 36 66 or email discplus@devon.gov.uk
