Post 16 education and training for pupils with an Education Health and Care Plan

Contents

If your child does not have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or is being assessed for special educational needs or an EHC plan, you should apply for post 16 education or training via the relevant mainstream process.

Introduction

This guidance applies to young people who have an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan who are approaching the end of Year 11 and due to start Year 12  post 16 education, training, or employment with training.

All young people must participate in some form of education, training, or employment with training until they are 18. These include the following options:

  • Staying at your current school or a new secondary school if they have a sixth form.
  • Going to your local Further Education (FE) College.
  • Taking up a Traineeship, Pre-Supported Internship, Supported Internship or Apprenticeship.
  • Going into full-time employment or volunteering (of 20 hours or more per week if combined with accredited part-time education or training).

Your school will work with you and post-16 providers to ensure you experience a smooth transition to college, training or employment.

The process is to prepare you for adult hood and post 16 education or training will first be planned at your Year 9 Transition Review Meeting and at subsequent reviews of your EHC plan, until your move. The ways that the school can help you to prepare for moving can include the following.

  • Taster sessions at colleges.
  • Discussions between the Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO) at the placement,  to ensure your needs are understood.
  • Link courses at college before leaving school. The Link courses involve transition planning, vocational tasting and shared understanding of need.

Thorough out Year 10 and Year 11, it is important you research all the post 16 education, training or employment with training options that you are interested in, as you will need name them at your Transition Review in Year 10 .

If they are a mainstream setting you will need to apply to them directly. If they are a specialist setting your Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Case Officer will request the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Admissions Team makes the application, once agreed by us, the council.

You should contact the range of post 16 providers to find out:

  • What courses are available
  • What support they can offer you to meet your special educational needs
  • Their admission process, how to apply and how places are allocated

Transition Review of your EHC plan and allocation of a Year 12 post 16 placement

By the end of the summer term (year before transfer)

A review of your Education Health and Care (EHC) plan called a Transition Review, which will take place in the summer term of Year 10.

Your Transition Review will be arranged by your current school or educational setting, usually by your Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). They will invite you, your parents or carers, your Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Case Officer and any other relevant professionals to attend.

At your Transition Review you will have the opportunity to discuss:

  • suitable options and choices for your next phase of education or training
  • the Transition Review process
  • the placement you are considering and
  • the content of your EHC plan.

    • By 31 October 2025

    You should have already contacted or visited any colleges, sixth forms and specialist provisions you are interested in, with support from your current school SENCO or other relevant professional if necessary. If you have any queries about post 16 provision, please contact your Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Case Officer.

    By the end of autumn 2025

    • Your Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Case Officer will issue your draft amended EHC plan with a letter identifying any changes.
    • You can request any other amendments to your EHC plan.
    • You can request a particular school, college, post 16 placement or employment programme for us to consult.
    • You will need to apply directly to any mainstream Further Education College, Sixth Form College or School Sixth Form that you are interested in. Your SEND Case Officer will then forward your EHC plan to the college separately.
    • The SEN Admissions team will make the applications to specialist placements.

    By 30 November 2025

    We will consider continuing the placements for young people currently attending all through maintained specialist schools which have a sixth form and are still deemed appropriate to continue.

    By 31 January 2026

    We will formally consult your requested school, college, post 16 placement or employment programme and consult the nearest appropriate placement if that is different to your requested placement.

    At the consultation, we will ask them to confirm they are able to provide you with an appropriate study programme, support your special educational needs specified your EHC plan.

    By 31 March 2026

    You will be issued with your final EHC plan with your placement named as a specific post-16 institution or type of provision confirmed, in in accordance with the Children and Families Act 2014.

    • suitable to your age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs (SEN)
    • compatible with the efficient education of the other young people with whom you would be educated, and
    • compatible with the efficient use of resources.

    Please note:

    After 31 March 2026

    After the 31 March, if you change your mind or you did meet the entry requirements for your chosen placement, your Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Case Officer will review your EHC plan with you as soon as possible to ensure that alternative options are agreed, and new arrangements are in place as far in advance of your start date as possible.

    Further information

    For more in-depth information about the review process and frequently asked questions, please see the following:

    If you have concerns or questions about your Transition Review, the content of your EHC plan or the placement that you have been allocated, your Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Case Officer can work with you to resolve any issues and identify a best way forward.

    Overview of your post 16 options

    From the age of 16 you have the right to make decisions about your education and training, like where you go to school or college. It is assumed that you can make these decisions yourself unless there is an obvious reason you or your parents think you cannot.

    You can ask your parents, family, or school to help to decide about your education or training, to come to meetings with you or receive correspondence on your behalf. But if you can decide, the final choice should be yours.

    However, if your parents think you are not be able to make a decision, they should speak to your Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Case Officer about a mental capacity assessment (GOV.UK). A mental capacity assessment can be arranged by your doctor, medical professional, or social care worker. If the assessment shows you do not have the capacity to decide, then your parents will make the decision for you.

    Further Education Colleges, Sixth Form Colleges and School Sixth Forms

    Colleges and Sixth Forms offer a wide range of academic and vocational courses to meet your individual interests and needs. They are independent, so you will need to:

    • Apply to them directly for a place and follow their admission's process.
    • Contact them to discuss the courses available, the support they can offer you and when you will need to apply.

    We will consult all Colleges or School Sixth Form to discuss if your Special Educational Needs (SEN) can be met and help you to ensure the right support is in place for you.

    If you are currently attending an all through maintained school, maintained school with a specialist centre or a specialist school with a sixth form, we will consider continuing your placement there if it is still deemed appropriate to meet your needs and you meet their criteria.

    Many have their own Supported Learning Departments where you can learn in small groups with specialist teachers. Supported Learning Departments offer a wide range of courses, like Employability, Life Skills and Vocational Preparation. They are usually offered at Entry Levels 1 to 3. Additional Learning Support is available, including one to one support in class and during break times if needed. Supported work experience may also be offered as part of the curriculum. Further education courses normally run for one to three years.

    A list of Colleges and Sixth Forms can be found on the following web page:

    Next steps guide - post-16 options for pupils with special educational needs

    Specialist schools with sixth forms

    Most young people with an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan are educated in mainstream schools, with the appropriate support. However, if you have more complex needs, it may have been agreed that a place a specialist school would be more appropriate.

    If you are currently attending one of the local authorities maintained specialist schools which have a sixth form, we will consider you continuing there if it meets your needs. Please see our web page: Secondary schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities for a list of local authorities maintained specialist schools, which have a sixth form.

    Maintained specialist school places will be allocated in accordance with the Children and Families Act 2014, which requires the local authority to take into account you or your parents request for a school, your special educational needs, if your needs can be meet by the school and it is:

    • Suitable for your age, ability, aptitude or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) needs.
    • Suitable for you to be educated with other young people with the same needs.
    • An efficient use of resources.

    If a school is oversubscribed, then places will be allocated to Surrey students first based on and in order of the below criteria:

    1. The school is suitable to your age, ability, aptitude or SEND .
    2. Distance to your home address, measured as a straight line (if criteria 1 is also satisfied).
    3. Children who are looked after and children who were previously looked after.
    4. Siblings already attending (if criteria 1 is also satisfied).
    5. Faith (evidenced based on admissions requirements of the school (if criteria 1 is also satisfied).

    Find out more about the above criteria for allocating schools.

    The same would apply if you are currently in mainstream school and you are requesting at a specialist school.

    In addition, the following pages will help you choose a specialist school:

    Apprenticeship, Supported Internships or Pre-supported Internships

    It is important that your choice for post 16 is preparing you for adulthood. Work based pathways such as Apprenticeships, Supported Internships or Pre-Supported Internships can offer a stepping stone to employment.

    Apprenticeships offer a different way of learning and as an Apprentice you can earn a salary whilst studying for a nationally recognised qualification and receive 'on the job' training. Apprenticeships are available at various levels from Intermediate (GCSE) and Advanced (A Level) and Higher/Degree. They usually take 1 to 5 years to complete depending on the level. Apprenticeships can be accessed either at colleges or locally via the Government apprenticeship website.

    Supported or Pre-Supported Internship maybe a better option, if you are not quite ready for an Apprenticeship and want to gain further skills and work experience. These are work-based programmes that offer a practical way of learning along with real life work experience. Your EHC plan is maintained whilst you are on the Supported or Pre-supported Internship to ensure you continue to receive the support you need.

    If you think this might be the right option for you, you should contact your Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Case Officer to discuss.

    Find out more about Apprenticeship, Supported Internships or Pre-supported Internships: by visiting the following web page:

    Next steps guide - post-16 options for pupils with special educational needs

    Help and support

    Starting post 16 education, or training can be an anxious time for any young person, you especially if you have additional needs and or disabilities.

    You may need additional support or a change in the way support is delivered, after starting post 16 education or training, or during the transfer process.

    You may need to speak to your teacher or the school's Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), to make sure that your needs are understood and supported.

    The following web pages may help you:

    Learners Single Point of Access (L-SPA)

    The Learners Single Point of Access (L-SPA) can offer help and support if you have a concern about the development and/or learning needs of a child or young person in Surrey. They can be contacted on 0300 200 1015.

    Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Case Officer

    If you already have involvement with our Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) teams, you can contact your SEND Case Officer using the details they have given you or they can be contacted on 0300 200 1015.

    SEND Advice Surrey

    SEND Advice Surrey provides independent and impartial advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special needs, and their dealings with the Local Authority and schools.

    Support from schools and post 16 education providers

    Schools will work with post-16 education providers to ensure you will experience a smooth transition to college, training or employment focused education. This should first be planned in your Year 9 Transition Review Meeting and at subsequent reviews until you move.

    The ways that the school can help you to prepare for moving can include the following.

    • Taster sessions at colleges.
    • Discussions between the Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO) at each provider to ensure your needs are understood.
    • Link courses at college before leaving school. These are to assist in transition planning, vocational tasting and shared understanding of need.

    If you have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, this will be with you until you achieve your identified learning objectives, leave education or training permanently or turn 25 years old (whichever happens first). The support outlined in your plan must be fulfilled by your post 16 education provider, such as a further education college.

    Post 16 education providers have similar responsibilities to schools to provide reasonable support to young people with special educational needs, including when they do not have an EHC plan. This could include access to a teaching assistant, specialist teachers, one to one support, therapy input, independence skills and adaptations to resources or technology to make them more accessible.

    Accessing employment support (including apprenticeships)

    Support for young people on supported internships (work element) is organised by the education provider and funded via Access to Work.

    Support for young people on an apprenticeship (learning element) is organised by the post-16 education provider who can claim funding to meet the costs of any appropriate reasonable adjustments.

    Employers must make certain changes (known as 'reasonable adjustments') to make sure employees with disabilities and/or difficulties are not substantially disadvantaged when undertaking a job that they may find hard. These could include changing working hours or providing equipment to undertake the job.

    Employees are advised to:

    • Talk to your employer about changes they must make in your workplace.
    • Get extra help from Access to Work, including mental health support.

    For more information on reasonable adjustments, please see the UK Government guidance on Reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities or health conditions.

    If the help needed at work is not covered by the employer making reasonable adjustments, further help may be able available from Access to Work, and the Access to Work Grant can pay for:

    • Special equipment, adaptations, or support worker services to help you do things like answer the phone or go to meetings.
    • Help getting to and from work.
    • Mental health support.

    Supported learning for adults

    Adults with SEND may want to continue with education to learn new skills and gain knowledge about subjects they are interested in.

    Surrey Supported Learning offers an entry-level programme of courses for adult learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, as well as courses for those with hearing loss or those who want to learn Makaton.

    Preparing for adulthood

    The following web pages will help you prepare for adult hood:

    In addition, please see the following web sites:

    Social care services

    Our Transition Team directly supports young people known to the Children with Disabilities (CWD) team from the age of 18 to 25, as they move from children's to adults' services.

    The team is aware of the level of needs (low, medium and high) of young people coming through the transition phase to become adults. The SEND education team works with the Transition team in a joined-up manner to ensure both social care and education needs are considered in good time.

    If a young person is eligible for social care support, then social care funding may form part of the options that are available when considering their route onwards from post 16 education. Any young person with a disability (or their parents or carers) can request an assessment of their social care needs.

    Support for parents and carers

    Parents or carers may be eligible for a carer's assessment. The assessment will look at what you do to look after your child's health and care needs, the support that the Local Authority could offer, and potential support from other local services. This can be particularly important when children become adults, as their lifestyle may change (for example no longer being in full time education), which could affect your caring responsibilities.

    Travel assistance

    It is important to consider how you will get to and from your next placement. Most young people aged 16 to 19 will be able to travel to their education or training placement without the need for travel assistance.

    If the Local Authority has complied with a preference which is not the nearest placement to your home address that does the same course, it is your responsibility or your parent or carer to ensure you get to your placement.

    Once you enter post 16 education there is no longer a legal duty for a local authority to provide free or subsidised travel assistance. ln some instances we will provide travel assistance as a discretionary arrangement, if there are exceptional circumstances.

    Eligibility, how and when to apply, outcomes and appeals

    If you are in Year 11 and are moving into Year 12 and are currently receiving travel assistance or need travel assistance for post 16 education or training, you must submit a new application each year. It is important that a new application is submitted by April 30 (if your placement has been determined) to ensure appropriate arrangements and eligibility is in place for September.

    Contact the Surrey School Travel and Assessment Team

    If you have any questions or would like further information on eligibility for travel assistance, please contact us.

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