Aged 14: Having a Transition Review
If your child has a Statement of special educational needs (SEN) or additional support needs (ASN), the first annual review meeting after their 14th birthday will be a "Transition Review". Connexions will attend this meeting. At this stage, it will be time to start drawing up a Transition Plan.
Local authorities (LAs) may maintain Statements about young people until they are 19, provided they are at school. (In practice, young people staying on until 19 normally leave their school at the end of the academic year in which their 19th birthday falls.)
Leaving school at 16
A young person should avoid leaving school at 16 without another school placement being named on their Statement, or a college place agreed. The Statement will cease to apply if the young person:
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leaves one school at 16 and the LA has not named another one on their Statement prior to them leaving;
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leaves school and goes into Further Education.
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In Scotland, the Additional Support for Learning Act requires the education authority to seek and take account of information from appropriate agencies no later than 12 months before the young person leaves school. The young person's views must be taken into account and should be involved in the transition planning. The education authority must pass on information to appropriate agencies six months before the expected school leaving date.
Leaving a special school
If a young person leaves a special school and later finds that they want to return to one, they will not be able to. It's far better to sort out college placements through the Connexions Direct service (or the equivalent for your area) during the transitional review process. If your young person does not have a Statement, they will be in the same position as any other young person wishing to return to training or education having once left it.
Going into Further or Higher Education
The Government is anxious to attract young people into training, so doors (especially into further education) are left open to them. The vast majority of pupils with a sight problem go into some form of further or higher education.
Transition Guidance for Young People (14 -25)
RNIB in partnership with Action for Blind People, have produced transition guidance for young people who are blind or partially sighted in England. Entitled 'Your future, your choice: bridging the gap', the guide outlines the support and services available to assist young people through their journey from school, through further and higher education, and into employment.
For further information and to download a copy of this guidance by visiting the 'Education professionals' section of the website.