September is not just the start of a new term—it's also the perfect time to re-set your approach as an educator. With a new year comes new students, colleagues, and most significantly, new challenges, especially for those of us working with students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or Additional Learning Needs (ALN), as we face the important task of not just preparing them for employability but also adulthood. For my school this covers: employability/education, independence, community inclusion and health. As a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) at Little Ilford School, in East London, we focus on these four aspects to help our students get ready for life beyond the classroom. Whether you’re new to your role or seeking new ideas, I hope these top tips provide valuable guidance for supporting your students in their journey toward adulthood.
1. Start with the end goal
To effectively prepare students with SEND for adulthood, I begin by understanding their aspirations. My students often want to secure a job that pays well, travel the world or buy a home. Once we know this, we then decide to work on how we intend to get there. With clear goals, I find you can then tailor your support to help them achieve these ambitions.
For example, with Year 9, I start the school year by helping them create a personal SWOT analysis and skills audit using the Building my skills lesson from LifeSkills. These tools are invaluable in helping them to unlock their aspirations and helping them inform their next steps, whether it’s choosing options for Key Stage 4 or identifying potential career paths.
2. Equip students on how to engage with employers
Students with SEND/ALN often need additional support when it comes to employability. This includes engaging with potential employers, finding and sustaining work, and pursuing vocational training or college courses that align with their interests and abilities.
With Year 10 for instance, we focus on work experience, and I usually spend the autumn term approaching companies to help set this up. My goal is to arrange interviews for all students where they can discuss their aspirations. To help prepare them for this, we spend the term building CVs and personal statements to send out to prospective employers. I find the How to write a cracking cover letter activity and the LifeSkills CV builder tool incredibly useful for supporting students with this.
3. Promote independence early on
Independence is a key aspect of adulthood, and students with SEND/ALN benefit from early practice in managing personal finances, time, and navigating different living arrangements. Whether it's traveling to school alone or budgeting for future expenses, these skills are essential.
For example, with Year 11, we will begin the year by focusing on post-16 transitions. This includes applying for college places, understanding financial management (like opening a bank account and managing student loans), and planning for independent living. We work on real-world skills like time management and negotiating travel, which are vital for their future independence.
4. Encourage Community Participation
Active participation in the community is another important part of adulthood and a key focus at my school. We help our students develop the skills needed to engage with their community, through volunteering, joining local groups, or participating in community events. This not only helps them build social skills but also fosters a sense of belonging and contribution, which is crucial for their overall development.
5. Prioritize Health and Wellbeing
Supporting students in maintaining their emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing is essential for their success. We teach them the importance of self-care and how to recognise when they need help. For example, with our Year 7 students, many will have come from many different feeder primary schools. This time of year is a significant transition and so to help, I introduce concepts like emotional intelligence and stress management using the LifeSkills Transition and Wellbeing toolkit lessons. By embedding these lessons early, students learn to take charge of their wellbeing and are better equipped to handle the pressures of school and beyond.
I hope these top tips are useful and inspire you with fresh ideas to help your students with SEND/ALN develop the skills they need to navigate the challenges of adulthood.
Judith Purkiss has been teaching for 28 years. She originally trained in Birmingham, but has spent the majority of her profession teaching in North and South London. She has served as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) for the past 15 years.
