TAGS IAG

Helping create seamless transitions

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents & Carers

Practical signposting for families supporting young people through careers decisions, college choices, EHCP reviews, transition planning, travel, social care and preparation for adulthood.

🏫 Choosing a College or Provider📄 EHCP Reviews and Transition🎓 Post-16 and Post-19 Planning🚌 Travel and Independence🤝 Social Care and Wider Support💼 Moving Towards Work
Reminder: This page is for general signposting. Families should always check directly with schools, colleges, providers, local authorities and relevant professionals before making decisions.

🏫 Choosing a College or Provider

Choosing a provider is about more than the course title. It is also about support, travel, confidence, independence, entry requirements and progression.

Questions to ask

What level is the course? What are the entry requirements? What support is available? What happens after this course?

Visit before deciding

Open events, tasters, tours and transition visits can help families judge whether the setting feels right.

Think about support

Ask about EHCP support, communication needs, personal care, anxiety, behaviour, independence and safeguarding.

Check progression

Find out whether the course leads to another level, supported internship, apprenticeship, employment or adult support route.

📄 EHCP Reviews and Transition

EHCP reviews should help young people plan for adulthood, particularly from Year 9 onwards.

Preparation for Adulthood

Reviews should consider employment, independence, community inclusion and health.

Student voice

The young person’s views, interests, hopes and worries should be central to transition planning.

Destination planning

Discuss realistic options early, including college, supported internships, supported employment and specialist provision.

Evidence

Careers interviews, provider visits, tasters, work experience and school reports can all support planning.

🎓 Post-16 and Post-19 Planning

The right next step may change depending on age, course level, EHCP needs, independence, travel and future goals.

Post-16

Young people may move into college, sixth form, supported learning, vocational courses, apprenticeships or work-based pathways.

Post-19

Families should check course availability, funding, EHCP arrangements and adult social care support where relevant.

Course levels

Entry Level, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 courses have different expectations and entry requirements.

Apply early

Popular courses and specialist providers can fill quickly. Apply, visit and ask questions early.

🚌 Travel and Independence

Travel can be one of the biggest practical issues when moving from school to college or work-based learning.

🚌 Council travel help, costs and travel training →

Check expectations

Find out whether the learner is expected to travel independently, with family support or with formal transport assistance.

Travel training

Some learners may benefit from structured travel training to build confidence and safety skills.

Post-19

Travel arrangements can be different after 19. Families should check local authority guidance carefully.

Plan the journey

Consider distance, bus routes, start times, anxiety, safety, weather and what happens if something goes wrong.

🤝 Social Care and Wider Support

Some young people and families need advice, support or an assessment from social care as part of transition planning. Social care support is separate from education support, so it is worth asking early, ideally from Year 9 and well before the young person turns 18.

🤝 More on adult social care and the Care Act →

Children's social care

A disabled child or young person under 18 can be assessed by children's social care. Support might include short breaks, help at home or a direct payment.

Transition assessment

If a young person is likely to need care and support after 18, families can ask adult social care for a transition assessment before their 18th birthday, so support is ready in time.

Carer support

Parents and carers can ask for a carer's assessment of their own needs, including how caring may change as the young person moves into adulthood.

Joined-up planning

Social care needs should be recorded in the EHCP. Ask for social care to be invited to annual reviews, especially from Year 9 onwards.

📞 Social care contacts by local authority

Contact the council where the young person lives. Use the children's team for under-18s and the adult team for anyone 18 or over, or to start planning a transition assessment.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. The numbers below are for advice, referrals and assessments, not emergencies.

✅ What to do next

  1. Talk to school or collegeLet the SENCo or careers adviser know you think social care support may be needed. They can help you raise it at the next EHCP review.
  2. Make contactCall or go online to the right team above. Say that you are asking for an assessment and explain that the young person is preparing for adulthood.
  3. Prepare what to sayNote the young person's daily needs, what support they get now, what is difficult and what they hope to do after school. Keep a copy of the EHCP to hand.
  4. Ask for a carer's assessmentIf you provide care, ask for your own carer's assessment at the same time.
  5. Keep a recordWrite down who you spoke to, the date and any reference number. Ask how long the next step will take and follow up if you have not heard back.
  6. Link it to the EHCPOnce social care is involved, ask for their advice to be included in the EHCP and for them to attend transition reviews.

Contact details were checked in October 2026 and can change. Always check the council website before calling.

💼 Moving Towards Work

Different young people need different routes into employment. Apprenticeships, supported internships and supported employment are not the same thing.

Apprenticeships

Paid jobs with training. Learners need to meet employer expectations and apprenticeship entry requirements.

Supported internships

Structured work-based programmes for young people with EHCPs, usually focused on moving into paid employment.

DFN Project SEARCH

One model of supported internship, usually delivered with an employer and job coach support.

Supported employment

Support to help someone get and keep paid work, including job coaching and workplace adjustments.

❤️ Useful next steps

Families often find it helpful to compare options, attend open events, speak to school staff and check support arrangements early.

🎯 Careers Explorer🏫 Colleges & Providers📅 Open Events📩 Contact TAGS IAG