Save the Date: 9 & 10 November 2026 – Preparing for the Future (Online Information Event) 

We’re pleased to share that we are bringing together a free online event for parents and carers, shaped by what families have been telling us they need to support young people from age 13 to 25 and beyond. 

Our aim is for the event to share clear, consistent information to help families plan for the future. It will support families from Year 9 onwards, whatever their young person’s age, needs, or situation, and will cover themes such as education, employment, independent living, and community inclusion. 

We are working with Essex Carers Network, Essex County Council, and other services to share information across key Preparing for Adulthood topics. Sessions will reflect the themes families have raised with us and offer practical guidance to help parents and carers feel more confident about next steps. 

Register your interest - Be the first to receive updates and booking details: https://forms.office.com/e/BqtRutQvmz 

Preparing for Adulthood Timeline

We are pleased to share a new Preparing for Adulthood roadmap for neurodivergent young people who are not currently accessing social care.

We shaped this together with the Partnership Delivery Team in South Essex and SNAP Charity, with wider partners involved in the early stages of the conversations. We used the real questions families ask us at events and through our feedback wall to guide what went into the roadmap. It brings together the key things families often want to know as their young person moves from early teens through to age 18, including education choices, health transitions, independence skills and money matters.

The roadmap is a simple, one page guide designed to sit alongside the Post 16 Guide and Events Calendar. Families can use it as a clear starting point and refer back to it at home, with the option to explore any of the topics in more detail through the linked guide, which you can find here Post 16 Parents & Carers Guide

Our hope is that it helps things feel a little easier to navigate.

Preparing for Adulthood: Parents and carers guide to post‑16 opportunities

If you’re supporting a young person as they move toward adulthood, it can sometimes be difficult to understand what options are available after the age of 16. The Parents and carers guide to post‑16 opportunities, produced with Essex Family Forum by the Preparing for Adulthood team at Essex County Council, brings together clear, practical information to help families navigate this important stage of life.

This guide covers a wide range of Preparing for Adulthood topics, including:

• Further education and training options
• Routes into work, Supported Internships and apprenticeships
• Employment pathways and local services that can help
• Travel training and developing independence
• Day opportunities, community‑based activities and support
• Key questions to consider, timelines and useful contacts

Whether a young person is exploring education, work, community activities or a mix of different supports, this guide is designed to help parents and carers feel informed and confident about the next steps. Access the guide by clicking here, by clicking on the image opposite or via the link below.

https://www.essexopportunities.co.uk/post-16-parents-carers-guide/post-16-parents-carers-guide/

This survey was conducted to help identify gaps and needs in educational settings for children and young people. Please see the link below for results from the survey.

Click to view – Mental Health in Schools Presentation

Click to view – Final EFF MH survey 2025 – Agreed next steps

Courageous Conversation

Essex was the subject of a “Courageous Conversation” (in essence, a peer review) in February 2024.  The areas of focus were;

• How are delays in diagnostic pathways and EHC needs assessments impacting on children, young people and their families?
• What can be done to better support those ‘waiting’ on the diagnostic pathway and/or EHC needs assessment process to mitigate the impact of the delays?

These areas were agreed through the SEND Partnership Board and in co-production with Essex Family Forum. They were based on feedback we have received from parent/carers through our Annual Survey and Graffiti Walls and hearing through you, our Family Champion network, and the wider support group network in Essex. We would also like to thank everyone who was involved in the Family Champion/Support Group meeting that took place on the day.

We are now able to share the report and recommendations from the team conducting the Courageous Conversation. To view this click HERE