Last updated:
9th September 2025
What preparing for adulthood means
You become an adult when you turn 18.
Preparing for adulthood means planning for your future as an adult.
When to start planning
You can start planning when you are around 13, but you can start earlier too. It is never too early to start thinking about your future.
If you have an education, health and care plan (EHCP), your annual reviews from Year 9 onwards should look at preparing you for adulthood.
What to think about and who can help
There are lots of people who can help you plan, like your:
- family and friends
- teachers
- social workers and other professionals
There is information on the Local Offer to help you think about these things:
Education and work
What you want to do after school, like college, university, training, volunteering and paid work
Independent living
Where you’d like to live and what skills and support you might need
Community and social activities
How you’d like to spend your free time and find activities you enjoy
Staying healthy and well
How you can take care of your health as an adult and who can help you with this
Get help or ask a question
If you need help to find information, use the online SEND Local Offer contact form
More information
For young people
Read our Preparing for adulthood easy read guide for young people (PDF document).
For parents and carers
Read our Preparing for adulthood information guide for parents and carers (PDF document).
