Age 11 to 14

Education

Careers guidance for SEND pupils is based on pupils’ aspirations, abilities and needs. Careers guidance should include the full range of education, training and employment opportunities.

All settings must identify a member of staff to act as special educational needs and disability co-ordinator (SENDCO).

After year 7, you will begin to develop skills and ways of thinking which prepare you for GCSEs in years 10 and 11.

In year 8 and year 9, you will begin to plan, and then decide what you want to study in years 10 and 11. Your school will tell you what courses are available. You'll get help to decide which is right for you.

Your school will tell you what courses are available. You'll get help to decide which is right for you.

There are three main types of qualifications:

  • Entry-level qualifications can help you start to develop the practical life skills that you will need as an adult, as well as the more traditional school-related skills. 
  • Functional skills qualifications help you develop practical skills in English, maths or ICT, for use in everyday life.
  • Technical awards help you to develop work-related skills that help you go on to further education or work. 

You can find out more about what the different qualifications mean on the government's website.

If you have an SEN support plan (SSP) or education health and care (EHC) plan your year 9 review will help you decide what you want to study (in some schools this may happen in year 8).

If you don't have an SSP or EHC plan, but you have additional needs, you can still ask for advice from your school and your parents.

Annual reviews

Annual reviews from Year 9 onwards must have a focus on preparing you for adulthood. 

The people involved in your annual review will ensure new outcomes are written into the EHC plan. These should be around the four preparation for adulthood areas:

  1. employment, education and training
  2. independent living
  3. community inclusion, friends and relationships
  4. health

Your views and those of your family must be included.

Friendships and leisure opportunities

You may want to join a youth club or other youth groups in your local area. There are some groups just for young people with SEND. You can find out more about events across all council services and search for local clubs, groups and sports on the SEND Directory.

If you're not already, you may also be eligible to become a Break Time member which provides you with opportunities to make friends at fun group activities.

The holiday, activities and food (HAF) programme is also available for children on free school meals or with SEND.

Health

Young people with learning disabilities can have an annual health check with their GP from age 14 onwards. This can help you to stay healthy as you move into adulthood.

Around year 9, if you need one and don't already have one in place, health practitioners who care for you can write a health care plan. This can include information such as:

  • hospital admissions
  • managing health conditions
  • pathway planning to adult care
  • transfer to different services as appropriate

Between the ages of 14 and 16, health practitioners will begin to ensure that you and your child are aware of any services which may transfer to ‘adult based care’. They will also start transition planning. You can read more about this, and about healthcare plans on our preparing for adulthood health page.

Family support

Early help is offered if a child's needs can be met without the involvement of a social worker. This could be through the Children and Family Wellbeing Service, school, or another organisation. Call the CFW team on 0300 123 6720 or out of hours 0300 123 6722 for more information.

Social care support for children and families

You can ask for additional support from children's social care services at any time. This support can include short breaks and respite care, holiday play schemes, care in the home, equipment and adaptations. 

As a parent or carer you have the right to ask for your child’s needs to be assessed and you may also request a carer's assessment for yourself. 

If your child has an education, health and care needs assessment, their social care needs will be considered. You may wish to ask for a social care assessment of your child's need at this time.

A social worker will complete an assessment which involves collecting information about your child and family. Following an assessment, the social worker will, with your help, agree a plan of action. This could be:

  • providing some advice
  • recommending other services
  • agreeing a plan of support