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National recognition for Preparation for Adulthood work
Published
The Post-16 and Preparation for Adulthood team celebrate being named runners-up in the 2026 'What Works in SEND Awards'. This achievement recognises the positive impact of their work supporting young people and highlights the strong partnerships helping young people in Gloucestershire build confidence, independence and skills for their future.
The Post-16 and Preparation for Adulthood team is proud to share some exciting news from the Council for Disabled Children’s What Works in SEND Awards 2026.
We were delighted to be recognised as runners-up in the 'Preparing for Adulthood' category, a fantastic achievement that reflects the positive impact of the work being delivered with young people across the county.
The What Works in SEND Awards celebrate innovative and effective practice from across the country, highlighting services that are making a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Being shortlisted, and then selected as runners-up, is a strong recognition of the team’s commitment to improving outcomes and supporting young people as they prepare for adult life.
This achievement reflects the strength of partnership working across the Post 16 and Preparation for Adulthood team, alongside young people, schools, colleges and our partners who we work with. Together, we are focused on helping young people build confidence, develop independence and gain the skills they need for their next steps.
We would also like to congratulate Somerset Council, who were the winners of the Preparing for Adulthood category this year.
Following the awards, Somerset Council has kindly invited members of our Post-16 and Preparation for Adulthood team to visit their service. This provides a valuable opportunity to come together, share best practice, and learn from one another. The visit will allow both teams to showcase their approaches, explore new ideas and reflect on how we can continue to strengthen our support for young people moving into adulthood.
Opportunities like this are incredibly important in ensuring that we continue to develop and improve our offer. By working together and learning from other successful services, we can build on what is already working well and introduce new approaches that benefit young people and their families.
We would also like to thank all the young people, schools, colleges and our partners who we work with for their continued support. This recognition is a shared success, and we look forward to continuing to build and develop our Preparation for Adulthood offer together.
To read about Preparing for Adulthood in Gloucestershire in action, read the article from Severn Vale School in March's edition
For more information on inclusive activities, please visit the 'Preparing for Adulthood' pages on Gloucestershire's Local Offer website, Support for Families with SEND.