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This document reflects recent Estyn inspection evidence and is created to support early, informed transition pathway discussions. It may be helpful when exploring post-16 pathways with young people, families and professionals, particularly where colleagues are less familiar with the detailed offer of individual specialist colleges.

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To ensure effective and coordinated decision-making around specialist college placements, it is essential that the Health Board is involved early in the process when therapeutic costs may be included. This should mirror the involvement of social care teams.

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Transition and decision making with ABUHB

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This guide is designed to help secondary schools understand the purpose of Multi-Agency Transition Screening Meetings (MATSM) and their role in supporting vulnerable learners transitioning to college at 16.

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This RAG rating criteria will help you to identify learners who will require enhanced transition arrangements when moving to college.

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An overview of the function of the Post-16 Transition Panel.

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A referral form must be completed when referring a case to the Post-16 Transition Panel.

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Post-16 ALN Transition Panel Referral Form (May 2025)

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The Local Offer - An overview of the education, training, and support available for young people with ALN post-16.

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Ensure the Transition Tracking Sheet (TTS) is completed and updated before the meeting. Use the RAG rating system to categories learners (refer to the RAG criteria)

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This animation helps to explain 'consent' to a young person. Once a learner reaches 16 years old, they have the right to give or withhold consent for an IDP.

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Young Person's Consent Animation - English

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We are currently working with colleagues at Trinity Fields to develop a PCP Toolkit - a bank of curriculum activities and resources designed to support learners with complex needs in thinking about their future. The toolkit will cover a wide range of topics, from identifying likes and interests to understanding goals, aspirations, decision-making, and advocacy. This work is in progress, and we will share resources as soon as they are ready.

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Planning Your Future - Family friendly guide - English

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The appendix to Section 3C of the IDP will support you when including relevant transition information to support planning for the future.

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This is a link to Coleg y Cymoedd's Padlet which gives information about the support that is available to learners.

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Training presentation delivered to Secondary ALNCOs.

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Lots of information about opportunities across Caerphilly can be found here.

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This web site has been developed to show the full range of opportunities available to young people across our schools, the colleges and local work-based training providers in Caerphilly.
A large part of the site is an on-line prospectus providing details of the A level and BTEC specifications offered through our sixth-form partnerships. You will also find links to college and training opportunities across the County. Other parts of the site are designed to show young people the progression routes, careers, degrees and apprenticeships that are linked to the subjects they might wish to study. These routes are not comprehensive but are there to provide examples of what could be followed. The links in the web site lead students to other sites where more detailed or wide-ranging information can be found. Our site "Caerphilly's pathways to success" is just the start of the journey. This site is still under development and additional information, links and case studies will be added during the academic year

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This web site has been developed to show the full range of opportunities available to young people across our schools, the colleges and local work-based training providers in Caerphilly. A large part of the site is an on-line prospectus providing details of the A level and BTEC specifications offered through our sixth-form partnerships.

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Aspris College South Wales (Formerly Priory College South Wales) is an independent, specialist co-educational college for young people aged 16 to 25 years with Asperger Syndrome, autistic spectrum disorders and associated conditions. The college was set up in partnership with Coleg Gwent, the largest further education college in Wales, to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of our you…

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Jobs Growth Wales+ is for anyone between the age of 16 to 18, living in Wales, who isn't in full-time education, training, or employment.

The programme is part of the Welsh Government's Young Person's Guarantee - to help young people in Wales to reach their full potential. So, whether you've just left school or college, you're not quite feeling ready to get into the world of work, or you just need a helping hand getting started or finding a job, Jobs Growth Wales+ can help.

To access the support all you need to do is get in touch with Working Wales. This can be done online, over the phone, or in person.

Search Jobs Growth Wales+ online or call Working Wales on 0800 028 4844 for more information.

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Jobs Growth Wales+ is for anyone between the age of 16 to 18, living in Wales, who isn't in full-time education, training, or employment. The programme is part of the Welsh Government's Young Person's Guarantee - to help young people in Wales to reach their full potential.

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Future Generations Act - A Guide for Young People

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Further Education College for Disabled Students | National Star

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Further Education Specialist College for Disabled Students aged 16-25 with physical and learning disabilities. Learn with us at National Star Wales.

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Nat Star - Life after college transition booklet

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This is a link to Coleg Gwent's Padlet which gives information about the support that is available to learners.

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My Future includes easy to read careers information for young people who are working up to Level 1.

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Training presentation delivered to Trinity Fields staff.

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Training presentation - Trinity teacher's

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Our additional learning needs provision

Discrete

Mainstream

Further information about our ALN support provision:

Additional Support Assistants (ASAs)

Additional Support Assistants (ASAs) take a person-centred approach to supporting individual learners, taking time to get-to-know you, to understand what is important to you and how best to support you.

In most cases, access to ASA support is on a shared basis with other learners in the class. ASAs will help you develop skills and strategies you can use both in college and in adult life helping you to become more independent.

Communication Support

Communication Support Workers (CSWs) provide British Sign Language (BSL) and Sign Supported English (SSE) communication support, to help hearing-impaired learners access college and develop strategies to promote their independence.

Coleg Gwent is deaf-friendly and staff are deaf-aware; with hearing-impaired learners past and current, presenting with mild to profound hearing loss, hearing aids and cochlear implants. In addition to signed communication support, we offer a range of assistive technologies to support learners to get the best out of their college experience.

We also have a Deaf Club that brings together learners with shared experience from across the college community.

Assistive technologies

Assistive technology can support you with accessing learning and performing activities, promoting your independence in and out of college.

Assistive technology includes the ever increasing world of apps that can support us in different aspects of our daily lives. We have special equipment available to help you, including radio aids, Dictaphones, anti-glare screens, overlays, laptops and a variety of mice and keyboards.

Supporting health, medical and/or physical needs

For young people who have physical/medical conditions that require support with personal care needs we have the following facilities:

Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone, Torfaen Learning Zone and Crosskeys Campus: hoist and changing bed.

City of Newport Campus and Usk Campus: self-transfer facilities only.

We can support learners who are physically unable to transfer from transport to classroom and on campus. A large number of our Additional Support Assistants (ASAs) are experienced in providing personal care.

Named ASAs are trained in the administration of diabetes and epilepsy medication.

Please let us know if you have specific health, medical and/or physical needs.

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Additional Learning Needs Support (ALN) - Coleg Gwent

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Our additional learning needs provision Discrete Mainstream Further information about our ALN support provision: Additional Support Assistants (ASAs) Additional Support Assistants (ASAs) take a person-centred approach to supporting individual learners, taking time to get-to-know you, to understand what is important to you and how best to support you.

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Independent Living Skills - Programme Specifications - 2023_24

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Beechwood College - Further Education -Young adults with ALN

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Residential and day Further Education College for young adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) including Asperger’s and complex ALN/SEN

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Natspec is the membership association for organisations which offer specialist provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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Natspec is the membership association for organisations which offer specialist provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. X Members only content This content is for Natspec members only. Please log in to access it. Username or Email Address Password Remember Me If you do not have an account on the Natspec website but are [...]

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Day time opportunities for adults with a learning disability

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Service Information for learners with a learning disability, who may want help from the health board.

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The Information Sharing Protocol has been reviewed and updated. We welcome feedback from our partners by the 21st February. We will then submit it into the WASPI quality assurance process.

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Planning Your Future - Family friendly guide - Welsh

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The ‘Mental Capacity Act’ is an important law for people with a learning disability. It helps make sure that people who may lack capacity to make decisions on their own get the support they need to make those decisions.

We are currently working on some guidance and resources.

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The 'Mental Capacity Act' is an important law for people with a learning disability.

It helps make sure that people who may lack capacity to make decisions on their own get the support they need to make those decisions.

Where they are not able to make their own decision, the Mental Capacity Act says a decision must be made that is in their 'best interests'.

The Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is a law that protects vulnerable people over the age of 16 around decision-making. It says that:

Every adult, whatever their disability, has the right to make their own decisions wherever possible.

People should always support a person to make their own decisions if they can. This might mean giving them information in a format that they can understand (for example this might be easy read information for a person with a learning disability) or explaining something in a different way.

But if a decision is too big or complicated for a person to make, even with appropriate information and support, then people supporting them must make a 'best interests' decision for them.

The 5 main principles of the Mental Capacity Act

1. Always assume the person is able to make the decision until you have proof they are not.

2. Try everything possible to support the person make the decision themselves.

3. Do not assume the person does not have capacity to make a decision just because they make a decision that you think is unwise or wrong.

4. If you make a decision for someone who cannot make it themselves, the decision must always be in their best interests.

5. Any decisions, treatment or care for someone who lacks capacity must always follow the path that is the least restrictive of their basic rights and freedoms.

It's also important to remember that a person may have capacity for some decisions but not others, or they may not have capacity right now but may regain it in the future with support. This means all capacity decisions should be regularly reviewed to make sure they still reflect the person's ability to make decisions.

Supporting someone to make a decision

Before deciding that someone lacks the capacity to make a decision, all practical and appropriate steps must be taken to help them make the decision themselves.

The Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice includes four main points to help someone make a decision:

1. Provide relevant information

Does the person have all the relevant information they need to make a particular decision?

If they have a choice, have they been given information on all the alternatives?

2. Communicate in an appropriate way

Could information be explained or presented in a way that is easier for the person to understand (for example, by using simple language or visual aids)?

Have different methods of communication been explored if required, including non-verbal communication?

Could anyone else help with communication (for example, a family member, support worker, interpreter, speech and language therapist or advocate)?

3. Make the person feel at ease

Are there particular times of day when the person's understanding is better?

Are there particular locations where they may feel more at ease?

Could the decision be put off to see whether the person can make the decision at a later time when circumstances are right for them?

4. Support the person

Can anyone else help or support the person to make choices or express a view?

Making a best interests decision

After all steps have been taken to support someone to make their own decision, if the person is assessed as lacking capacity to make that particular decision, then a 'best interests' decision must be made.

The person who makes the 'best interests' decision is called the 'decision maker'. Who the decision maker is will depend on the situation and the type of decision.

For most day-to-day decisions the 'decision maker' is likely to be the person who is supporting the person.

If it is a decision about healthcare it will be the relevant health professional.

Whoever is the decision maker, it is important they talk with others involved with the person, and involve the person themselves as much as possible, to get a good understanding and therefore make the best decision they can.

Best interests checklist

The Mental Capacity Act sets out a best interests checklist, which must be followed when making a best interests decision:

1. Will the person regain capacity?

2. Involve the person.

3. Consult all relevant people.

4. Consider all the information.

5. Do not make any assumptions.

6. Consider past, present and future wishes.

7. Always pick the very least restrictive option.

The full checklist is in the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice PD.

Involve the person you are making a best interests decision for

When a best interests decision is being made, the person must still be involved as much as possible.

Mencap and BILD's Involve Me resources offer some creative ways to ensure people remain at the heart of decision making. There are guides and a video to show how the preferences of people with PMLD can be captured and used to influence decisions about their lives, even if they lack capacity to make the decision themselves.

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)

If a person has no family or friends for the decision-maker to ask about important decisions like serious medical treatment or changes of accommodation, then an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate must represent the person's views.

They are a legal safeguard for people who lack the capacity to make big decisions. Read more on Independent Mental Capacity Advocates.

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The 'Mental Capacity Act' is an important law for people with a learning disability. It helps make sure that people who may lack capacity to make decisions on their own get the support they need to make those decisions.

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Snap Cymru offers free and independent information, advice and support to help get the right education for chilsren and young people with ALN.

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Advocates can help children and young people understand their rights, make informed decisions about their life and support them to speak up about things that matter.

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Advocacy | What is Advocacy? | Child and Family Advocacy Services | NYAS

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NYAS are the leading national provider of advocacy for children and young people in care. Learn what an advocate is, what they do and how you could benefit from having one.

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Helping learners explore their identity, interests, and personal preferences to build self-awareness and confidence in expressing who they are.

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Encouraging learners to think about their future, what they'd like to do, and experiences they want to have.

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Supporting learners in understanding different ways to communicate, express emotions, and actively listen to others.

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Helping learners develop decision-making skills, from making simple choices to understanding how decisions shape their future.

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Building essential life skills that support learners in becoming more independent and prepared for adulthood.

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Exploring the importance of relationships, how to form and maintain friendships, and understanding personal boundaries.

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Topic 7: Safety, Advocacy, and Pupil Rights

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Topic 7: Safety, Advocacy, and Pupil Rights

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Helping learners identify safe people and places, understand their rights, and develop self-advocacy skills.

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The Helen Sanderson Person-centered thinking tools are a set of easy-to-use templates that are used to give structure to conversations.

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Person-Centered Thinking Tools - Helen Sanderson Associates

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Help people to think about and plan for their life in a meaningful way. What are person-centered thinking tools? Person-centered thinking tools are a set of easy-to-use templates that are... Read more "

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Are your IDP reviews person-centred?

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Supporting SEN & neurodiverse students with post-16 transitions - SecEd

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The transition into post-16 further education or training can be incredibly challenging for students with SEND, especially those who are neurodiverse. Diane Ainsworth considers how we can help to overcome the barriers

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A really helpful handbook written by the Gwent Parent Carer Network about Finances, Benefits, Decision Making etc.

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Parent Carers Handbook - Gwent Parent Carer Network

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Here you'll find the Careers Advisors linked to each school and their contact details.

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Caerphilly and BG SYP school links and emails

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Niwrowahaniaeth Cymru | Neurodivergence Wales | National Neurodivergence Team

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Parents & carers - Niwrowahaniaeth Cymru | Neurodivergence Wales | National Neurodivergence Team

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The resources within this section were developed in partnership with neurodivergent people, parents and carers and professionals. The resources are aimed at increasing the knowledge, skills, understanding of neurodivergence and practical tools for parents and carers of neurodivergent people. What is…? What is Autism? This section helps to build a better understanding of autism. A […]