Supporting Your Young Person with SEND: Pathways, Preparation and Next Steps

Confidently support your child with SEND into adulthood, employment, and independence.

This online session is designed to support parents and careers of young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including those with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The session will explore the different pathways available after school or college, how to prepare young people for adulthood and employment, and how parents can confidently engage with schools and professionals.

Parents will gain practical guidance, clear explanations of key transition points, and a set of useful questions to help them advocate for the right support and opportunities for their child.

Aims

• To help parents understand the range of post-16 and post-18/19 pathways available for young people with SEND
• To build confidence in supporting preparation for adulthood, including employment, independence and life skills
• To explain how schools, colleges and services should support effective transitions
• To equip parents with practical questions and tools to use in meetings with schools and professionals

Outcomes

• By the end of the session, parents will:
• Have a clearer understanding of different pathways (college, apprenticeships, supported internships, training, etc.)
• Understand what good preparation looks like (not just qualifications, but skills, experiences and confidence)
• Feel more confident in supporting their young person’s next steps
• Be able to ask informed, purposeful questions to schools and providers
• Understand their role in helping shape positive long-term outcomes
• Simple ways to move from “placement-first” to “partnership-first”
• How to approach employers with confidence (including handy scripts + a reusable 20 second pitch)
• Practical fixes for common employer pushbacks (“no time”, “send me an email”, “not sure how”)
• Low-cost, high-impact adjustments to make encounters inclusive for a range of SEND needs
• Quick ideas to keep employers engaged so they come back again

Presenter: Vicky O’Connor from Included Careers

This session has been put together to help parents support their young person with SEND to navigate life after school with confidence.

Limited capacity for 50 participants, so be sure to reserve your place early.

Come along with any questions.

If you have any queries please email: Info@wlcareershub.com

The West London Careers Hub Team