EHCPs can continue until 25

This is a right that many parents don't realise: an EHCP can be maintained from birth until age 25 if the young person still needs it and is in education or training. Under Section 37 of the Children and Families Act 2014, if your young person is continuing their education in a college, school sixth form, apprenticeship, or traineeship, Northumberland Council must maintain the EHCP if it's still needed. Don't let Northumberland persuade you that the EHCP ends at 16 or 18 - it doesn't, as long as your young person is in education and still needs support.

Transition planning from Year 9

Transition planning is crucial. From Year 9 onwards, the annual review must include transition planning - looking ahead to what happens at 16, what further education or training is available, and how the EHCP will support these next steps. Northumberland Council and the school must start these conversations early. You should be involved in planning what comes next: college courses, apprenticeships, work experience, independent living skills. The EHCP should evolve to support these new goals.

College EHCPs and Section 37 extensions

If your young person is attending college, they can have an EHCP funding the provision needed to access their course. This might include: specialist teaching, therapies, support with independent living skills, exam access arrangements, or specialist equipment. Under Section 37 of the CFA 2014, if the young person is still in education at 19 and still needs the EHCP, the local authority must maintain it. The Section 37 extension is automatic if those criteria are met - Northumberland Council cannot refuse to extend just to save money.

Apprenticeships and traineeships

Your young person can have EHCP support while completing an apprenticeship or traineeship, provided they're still in an educational programme and still need the EHCP provision. The provision might be delivered by the apprenticeship provider, the college running the off-the-job training, or the local authority directly. Make sure the EHCP clearly specifies what provision continues during the apprenticeship and who is responsible for delivering it.

Preparing for adulthood outcomes

Post-16 EHCPs should focus on four main outcomes: employment and enterprise; independent living; health and wellbeing; and community participation and leisure. Section E of the EHCP (outcomes) should be updated to reflect these adult outcomes. The provision in the EHCP should work towards these outcomes - this might mean life skills teaching, work experience, supported internships, or planning for residential provision. Northumberland Council must take this seriously.