All children have a right to full-time education up to the age of 19, and many children with special needs benefit enormously from these last few years, whether they stay on at school or move to another college of further education.

To try to help and support young people and their families through the process of deciding what to do after school, the government has introduced what is called transition planning. This is just for young people with a statement of special educational needs.

If your child has a statement, their Annual Review in Year 9 will focus on drawing up something called a Transition Plan. This pulls together the views of a range of people about the plans for your child's transition to adult life.

For detailed information about this meeting follow this link to Education and transition planning.

The Youth Employability Service (which has replaced Connexions) has a key role in the development and delivery of the Transition Plan. Your child should get one of the service's LDD (Learning Difficulties/Disabilities) Advisers who will help them explore their options for further education, training and work. Other professionals invited to this meeting will include someone from social care, so that any assessment under the Disabled Persons Act 1986 can be made.

Your child's own view about their future educational needs after they reach 16 should be central to the discussions, and they should be encouraged and helped to be involved in plans for their future. Annual reviews in subsequent years should add to and develop the Transition Plan.

Some children with statements stay in school after the age of 16 and the local authority continues to maintain these statements until they reach 19.

Amaze produce a handbook, 'Through the Next Maze', specifically for parents of the over 14's, focusing on transition issues. You can order a copy through this website.

If your child is considering Higher Education

National charity Disability Alliance has a useful guide called 'Into Higher Education 2012' for disabled students thinking about studying in higher education. It deals with common questions like whether the college or university will be accessible, how to choose a course and what support is available, as well as up to date information on tuition fees and repayment methods.