Children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities help design a new preparing for adulthood strategy
Hackney young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will have access to better support in their journey to adulthood.
The recently published Hackney Preparing for Adulthood Strategy 2024-2027 commits to supporting children and young people with SEND so they live happy, healthy, independent, safe and fulfilling lives.
The strategy builds on the council’s efforts to support some of the most vulnerable residents in the borough. Hackney, like many other areas, has seen a significant increase in the number of children and young people with special educational needs. In recent years, the number of people in Hackney with an Education, Health and Care plan has increased by an average of 300 new plans each year. At the start of 2024, 4.3% of Hackney residents had an Education, Health and Care plan, and 15% received SEND support.
The council worked with children and young people with SEND to develop the strategy. Parents, carers, schools and community organisations also took part in shaping it. The council approved the strategy on 16 December.
The strategy commits to supporting children and young people with SEND from the earliest opportunity by providing the best possible support, in the right place and at the right time, so they feel prepared for their journey. This includes:
- Creating clear paths for young people with SEND to transition into adulthood. Planning for the future will start at the latest when children are age 13/14, reducing service gaps and inequality, and leading to smoother transitions and better outcomes for young people.
- Providing clear and accessible information for children, young people, and their families, to better understand and navigate the journey into adulthood, reducing stress and confusion.
- Talking and listening to young people and their families to understand how to make the move to adulthood easier for them. This will ensure services are inclusive and fit for purpose, so that each child and young person is supported in a way that works best for them.
- Finding ways to make children’s and adult services work better together and with other partners, through joint commissioning arrangements, in which children, young people and their families are actively involved.
Earlier this year, the council hosted its first annual ‘Future Ready!’ - Preparing for Adulthood Event for children and young people with SEND. Children, young people and families were welcomed to the Hackney Town Hall to learn more about the support available to them, meet with other families and professionals, and share their experiences.
This event also marked the launch of the new Hackney Preparing for Adulthood Guide, which provides information and resources for young people with SEND and their families.
Young people with additional needs share the same aspirations and dreams as everyone else. However, they can face even more challenges and may need extra support to enable them to move successfully into adulthood and reach their aspirations.
We want to help young people with SEND to prepare for their next steps in their lives, with everything this may mean for them, such as finding further education and employment, living independently, managing their health and being part of their local community. The earlier we start discussing this transition, the better the outcomes will be.
Our aim is to ensure that every young person with SEND can live a happy, healthy, independent and fulfilling life, and that’s something that all of us, families, professionals, community members, and the children and young people themselves are working together to achieve.
Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney