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Starting from Year 9, your AR will focus on preparing for adulthood. This might feel exciting, but also a bit scary. It's important to start planning now so you can reach your goals when you grow up. You can learn more about these reviews on the SEND Local Offer website.

Planning your future

The law says that planning for your future must be about you. The people helping you need to listen to your ideas and work with you to make a plan that helps you reach your goals. If you need help understanding or making decisions, you can have an advocate to support you.

Preparing for adulthood means thinking about more than just school. It’s about planning where you want to live, what you want to do after school, what you need to stay healthy, and how you can be part of your community. These are called "Preparing for Adulthood outcomes," and you can learn more about them on the SEND Local Offer website.

Reaching your goals

Your annual review should focus on looking at your EHCP, celebrating what you’ve achieved, and planning what needs to happen next to help you move forward. Until now, your parent or carer might have done most of the paperwork for your EHCP, but now that you're older, it’s important for you to understand your plan too. Make sure you read it and ask an adult you trust to help if you need it. The review should help you build on what you've already learned and update your plan to make sure you’re on track to reach your goals.

From year 9 onwards, it's important for everyone to understand your goals and needs, and the best way to do this is by involving you. You don’t have to attend every meeting, but you should be asked for your input and listened to. You can include your parents or carers if you want, but it's not required. Let others know what you enjoy doing, where you want to live, what you're good at, and where you need help.

Your goals can change

Don’t worry, anything in your EHCP from year 9 isn’t permanent. You’re not locked into it for life. People’s goals can change, and your EHCP can be updated at future reviews.

As you get older, you’ll learn new skills that might affect your goals, so it’s important to share these in your reviews. New experiences can lead to new opportunities.

Here is a link to a resource that explains Annual Reviews: .

A PfA review helps you think about what you want to do in the future and what support you'll need to get there. Don't be afraid to dream big, but also be realistic about what you want.

Outcome 1: Job or Further Education 

Think about what you want to do after school or college. This could be a job, training, or something else you’re interested in. Think about what you’re good at, what you like doing, and what skills or qualifications you might need. If you're not sure, you can talk to someone at school or get help during a careers interview.

Outcome 2: Independent Living 

This is about living on your own or with others and being able to do things like cooking, shopping, and managing money. Think about where you want to live, who you want to live with, and what kind of support you might need, like help with decisions or personal care. You can also ask for help if you need it.

Outcome 3: Being Part of the Community 

This is about having friends and joining activities. Think about what fun things you like doing, whether you need help seeing your friends, and if you want to join any clubs but don’t know how. You can also ask for support if you need it.

Outcome 4: Health 

This is about staying healthy and getting the help you need. Think about whether your doctors know about your needs, if you have health checks, and if you understand any health problems. If you need help, there are people you can talk to.

Remember, no idea is a bad one. It’s okay to dream big but be realistic. With the right information and support, you can achieve great things.