Our Progress and Transition Team works collaboratively with families, students and external stakeholders to prepare young people for life beyond Treloar’s.
In July 2025, the team said goodbye to James—our former student who attended Treloar College for 3 years; during his time with us, he made great progress not only academically, but also with his communication and independence. From the outset, James and his family had a clear transition aim: to move into a future living placement that could meet his complex health needs while enabling him to live with peers and access meaningful community activities.
Throughout his final year, the transition process was highly collaborative: James, his Student Progress Coordinator (SPC) who works as part of our Transition Team, James’s mum, and a representative from the Integrated Care Board (ICB) held fortnightly meetings to set actions and maintain momentum. These meetings were instrumental in evaluating a number of potential placements, many of which were ruled out due to their inability to meet James’s specific needs.
Two viable placements emerged during the final term. After extensive negotiations and detailed evidence gathering, one placement was identified as the most appropriate. Funding was successfully secured following a robust justification process.
To ensure a smooth transition, staff from the agreed placement visited Treloar's to observe James in both his classroom and college residential setting. Full Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings were held, involving nurses, therapists, and other key staff from both Treloar's and the identified placement, to plan every aspect of the move.
James also visited his new placement with his Speech and Language Therapist and Team Leader as part of the transition process. He moved directly from college to his new home and has settled in well. His mum shared:
"James looked well-rested, bright and bubbly. He has been making some very clear decisions regarding what he wants, and is busy directing his care. It was a great transition for him, and we are so grateful for everyone’s input into making it a success."
This case highlights the importance of a proactive, collaborative approach to transition planning. The involvement of family, college staff, and external professionals ensured that James’s needs were fully understood and met, resulting in a successful and positive move to his new home.