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SEND Preparation for Adulthood event at SkillZONE
Published
Overview of a successful event at related to Preparing for Adulthood (PfA), which was a collaboration between Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum in response to what parents were telling us
We would like to say a huge heartfelt thank you to all who came to our first SEND Preparation for Adulthood event at SkillZONE on the 2nd of July.
The event was a collaborative effort between Gloucestershire County Council Preparation for Adulthood Team, Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum, and the SkillZONE Team.
The aim of this event was to raise awareness of Preparation for Adulthood whilst informing and engaging parents, carers, young people, teachers, and professionals about the various services and organisations who can support you in Preparation for Adulthood and transitions for your child and young person.
Listening to feedback from you through the Parent Carer Forum we found parent carers had many questions to ask around their young person’s health transition, adult social care transitions, what can they access in the community, what services are available to their child to help them become independent and what Post 16 options are available that specify in SEND. We hope that this event has helped to answer some of your questions.
We had over 40 professionals from across education, health, social care and community groups spend the day with us exhibiting information on their stands, offering advice, and opportunities to answer more specific questions face to face.
We invited professionals to deliver presentations in the speakers’ area in the SkillZONE cinema. These ranged from inspirational talks from lived experience by Ines Higgins, an insight into the Dynamic Key Workers Service, information on community courses from Adult Education, accessing Adult Social Care services and the transition process, a presentation on the changes to the new SCAAS coming into effect in September with the aim of improving neuro assessments and finally NHS transitioning to adult services.
We had 226 people arrive throughout the day, and a range of education provisions attended with their learners.
We extend a big thank you to Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and their SkillZONE volunteers who were on hand throughout the day showing everyone their new Knife or your Life installations, exploring the Fire Engines in the compound which included having a go at using the hose, and facilitating tours of the amazing SkillZONE Safety village.
We welcome feedback to help prepare next years Preparing for Adulthood Event. We have attached the link and QR code below that will take you to the event evaluation form.
https://forms.office.com/e/WCGcaqjb6z
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It is never too early to start thinking of the practicalities of preparing a young person for adulthood; The SEND Code of Practice states when your young person is in year 9 everyone working with children and young people with SEN or disabilities across education, health and social care should support children and young people with SEN and disabilities to prepare for adult life and help them go on to achieve the best outcomes in employment, independent living, health and community participation.
The Preparation for Adulthood team will be attending some of the Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum Listen to Me coffee mornings to hear your feedback and views on what is important to you and your young person around preparing for adulthood.
Contact details are below if you would like to get in touch:
sarah.smith3@gloucestershire.gov.uk