Becoming an adult: Education

 If you decide you're not going to stay in education then your Education Health and Care Plan will stop when you leave.

Other support you get will carry on if agreed. For example this could be from social care or health services. They will have their own arrangements to provide:

• A plan setting out what you want to achieve
• The support needed to meet achieve what you want
• How this will be provided

Finding a job, traineeship or apprenticeship

Go to the becoming an adult: jobs and careers page.

If you are looking at higher education options, you will need to consider:

• What and where to study

• Entry requirements
• Costs of going to university
• Financial support available
• Disability support including care arrangements

You can access career advice and guidance through your school or college to help you with your choices. The National Careers website also gives additional information and support to help you make decisions on your learning.

Your annual reviews starting from year 9 will include discussions about your future options, which should cover: 

• Housing needs
• Education and employment
• Social needs
• Care needs

For further information read our reviewing Education, Health and Care Plans webpage.

Your Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan will end when you start higher education as the funding for your support will come from the Disabled Students Allowance.

If you would like a copy of your EHC plan to be passed onto the college or university you are planning to attend please let the Special Educational Needs team know. You can also take a copy of your EHC plan with you to your university interview or visit and discuss your support needs with the disability adviser.

A university will develop a Learning Support Plan (LSP) or Individual Learning Plan (ILP) to identify your individual needs which should be based on your EHC plan. Universities are increasingly making sure that learning is accessible to all students.

Universities and colleges provide a wide range of services for students that are separate from the teaching arrangements. These include money advice, accommodation, counselling, health and wellbeing centres, careers and employment advice and disabled student services.

Financial support

If you're a student and you have a disability or long term health condition you can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) on the  UK Government website. 

The amount you can get depends on your individual needs and the type of course you're doing.

You can find out more about Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) by watching this short film:

Other financial help is also available for students: 

• You can register to see what you're entitled to on the Student Finance England website
• You can find a guide to finance for students on the Student Finance England website
• View short films on the Student Finance England You Tube channel
• Extra money to pay for university - this includes bursaries, scholarships and hardship funds. Find out more on the UK Government website
• The UCAS website has information on loans to help with tuition fees and living costs
• The UK Government website has information on financial help for disabled people

Personal care and support

The Disabled Student Allowance only covers the cost of your study. You may also need assistance and practical help for everyday living. You need to ask adult social care for a needs assessment you can request this any time before your 18 birthday. If you already have a social worker speak to them about getting an assessment.

Find out more on the arranging a needs assessment webpage.

If you are eligible for support you will be offered a personal budget. Read our personal budget explained webpage for more information.

Check with your university to see if there are any local volunteering schemes to help you to settle into university life or go to the volunteering matters website.

Further information 

• Search the Local Offer directory to find higher education information
• Go to the UK Government website for a list of higher apprenticeships 

As young people develop, and increasingly form their own views, they should be
involved more and more closely in decisions about their own future.

Visit our when can a young person make their own decisions web page to find out more.

To find more support services search the Local Offer directory.

Useful websites and resources which go into more details about preparing for adulthood:

• The Preparing for Adulthood programme (PfA) is funded by the Department for Education as part of the delivery support for the SEN and disability reforms. Visit the Preparing for Adulthood website for more information.
  
• The Transition Information Network (TIN) website
  
• The Council for Disabled Children website has a legal handbook which deals with the law relating to young disabled people as they move into adulthood.