Transition planning - getting ready for the next step
As well as achieving qualifications at Treloar School, we want our students to gain the confidence and independence they need to move onto the next step in their lives – whether that’s a residential placement, returning home to continue studying at a local college, or moving onto Treloar College just down the road.
Our Careers and PHSE Co-ordinator works with students and their parents to help them consider all the options and make the transition as smooth as possible.
We run 'leavers workshops' in the summer term, to help stu
dents think about their feelings and any concerns they may have about moving on.
And students in years 9, 10 and 11 also work with occupational therapists, who can help with domestic, community, social and inter-personal skills, as well as perception and memory issues. Our ultimate aim is to help students feel as prepared and well-equipped as possible when they leave us.
'Personal development is very good, raises pupil self-esteem and thoroughly prepares pupils for life after school' (Ofsted, 2004)
What needs to happen when?
When and how to plan
It’s a good idea to plan ahead for what your son or daughter is going to do after Treloar School. We are very fortunate to have Treloar College nearby, but demand for places is strong, and there is no direct entry from the School to the College.
It is up to parents to approach colleges early enough to secure an appropriate placement, and it is important for students to look at all the options available to them. Here’s a rough guide of what needs to happen when:
Year 9 - fact finding and planning ahead
- In Year 9, every student gets a transition plan, prepared during their Annual Educational Review, which is usually around their 14th birthday
- Our Careers Education Co-ordinator, and the Connexions Service Personal Adviser, help students understand their choices, and get them prospectuses for colleges they might be interested in
- Parents receive a letter and a copy of the Association of National Specialist Colleges' (NATSPEC) directory
- Each student is allocated a Connexions Personal Adviser. They can give extra information and are invited to attend the student's Annual Reviews from then on.
Year 10 – visits, interviews, and funding process begins
- We encourage students and their parents to make appointments for interviews and assessments at all their chosen FE Colleges as early as possible in Year 10, as places are often limited
- Once a student has been offered a place, the funding process begins. In most cases, the student's Connexions Adviser or LEA Submitting Officer takes the lead on this.
Year 11 – preparing for the transition, and making funding applications
- It helps to be aware of students' plans as early as possible, so we always hold Annual Reviews for Year 11 students in the autumn
- The Connexions Service or the LEA Submitting Officer needs to make funding applications to the Learning & Skills Council by Easter of that year.