Preparation for adulthood for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and for those who support them, must be planned early, be holistic, and joined-up across education, health and care. When systems do not align, young people and families can experience sharp and damaging transitions at the point they move from childhood to adulthood.

As one parent of a SEND child described it: “From the pond, you are picked up and put in the sea.”

The journey from childhood to adulthood is significant for all young people. But for those with SEND, it can be particularly complex. This makes early, consistent support from local authorities essential. When preparation is approached proactively, young people are better equipped to develop independence, make informed choices, and move forward with confidence.

What the SEND Code of Practice (2015) Says About Preparing for Adulthood

The SEND Code of Practice (2015, 0–25 years) is clear that professionals should hold high aspirations for children and young people with SEND and design support around their strengths, interests and ambitions.

Across local area SEND inspections, inspectors consistently find committed professionals working hard to achieve positive outcomes. However, inspections also consistently show that systems do not always work together effectively. Where education, health and care planning are not aligned, young people can experience a significant reduction in support once they reach 18.

In a recent report on special educational needs, the National Audit Office found that ‘in 2021/22, 69% of those with SEND at key stage 4 were in sustained education, employment or training after leaving 16 to 18 study, compared to 85% for those without.’

The code sets out four key Preparing for Adulthood outcomes:

Employment

The quality and timeliness of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG), and access to employment, education and training as young people move into adulthood.

Independent Living

The support available to help young people develop life skills and independence, and how local partners work together to enable choice and control.

Community Inclusion

How children and young people are supported to be visible, active members of their communities, build relationships and develop social networks.

Health

How effectively transitions are planned, whether needs continue to be met for those who do not meet adult service thresholds, and whether reasonable adjustments support young people to manage their health as adults.

These outcomes are interconnected. They cannot be delivered in isolation. These outcomes cannot be delivered by one agency alone; it requires multi-agency collaboration with the family and young person. Effective preparation depends on integrated planning across education, health and care, with shared accountability for outcomes.

Why Preparation Must Start Early

Preparation for adulthood must begin in the early years and be embedded throughout a child or young person’s journey. When it is treated as an add-on or left until the final years of education, planning becomes reactive, and opportunities are missed. Starting early allows children and young people to gradually develop the confidence and independence they need to make decisions about their future.

Early preparation helps children to understand their choices and set realistic, meaningful goals. With appropriate support and planning, this approach helps reduce anxiety about adulthood by breaking long-term ambitions into achievable steps as children develop into adults.

Effective early preparation is characterised by:

  • Embedding preparation for adulthood from the Early Years, ensuring it is a consistent and meaningful part of a child or young person’s EHC plan.
  • Collaborative working across services, sharing expertise to enhance provision and ensuring that support is informed by the views, wishes, and aspirations of children and young people.
  • Developing ‘all‑age’ services that provide continuity of support for children and young people with SEND up to the age of 25.
  • Having dedicated staff focused on preparation for adulthood, with particularly strong practice for children in care and care leavers, who benefit from consistent, trusted workers continuing beyond the age of 18.

When preparation for adulthood is delayed, young people can face sudden changes in support, limited choices and poorer long-term outcomes.

Data shows that 150,000 people aged 16–25 have an EHCP

Nationally, approximately 150,000 people aged 16-25 have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP), and this number increased by 34% between 2020 and 2023. Whilst many of these young people receive additional support with their education, their outcomes often lag behind their peers.

In addition, planning for adulthood often lacks a holistic, person-centred focus, with services instead relying on predetermined pathways that fail to consider individual potential or personal goals. A focus on fulfilling statutory requirements, rather than fostering independence and planning for long-term outcomes, leaves many young people feeling unprepared for adult life.

Early, coordinated planning helps move away from cliff-edge transitions and towards continuity, clarity and stability for the young person.

Dez Holmes, Director, Research in Practice, and Strategic Director at the National Children’s Bureau, powerfully illustrated this point by saying, “We often talk about the cliff edge at 18, but it’s not a cliff; it’s a trench that we’ve dug ourselves.”

As the recognition of the need to prioritise the outcomes for young people with SEND increases, focus on preparation for adulthood must be everyone’s responsibility. This means moving beyond isolated interventions, with services taking shared responsibility for early transition planning, coordinated decision‑making and gradual preparation for employment, independence and adult services.

How can System C support you?

Through the Liquidlogic Adults Case Management and Children’s Case Management Systems, we support local authorities to deliver joined-up preparation for adulthood. Our solutions enable education, health and social care professionals to work from a shared view of the child or young person, with clear pathways that support continuity beyond the age of 18.

With vulnerability increasing and pressures on services growing, integrated systems help ensure young people, including young carers, do not fall through gaps at transition points. By aligning planning, data and accountability, local areas can move away from cliff-edge transitions and towards sustained, person-centred support.

Next Steps

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The following resources provide further insight into preparation for adulthood arrangements in local areas and how systems can respond.