This is a guide to local support in Nottinghamshire for children and young people with SEND aged 17 to 25 years.
On this page
- Ways to use this guide
- Support from age 17 to 18 years
- Support from age 18 to 19 years
- Support from age 19 to 20 years
- Support from age 20 to 21 years
- Support from age 21 to 22 years
- Support from age 22 to 25 years
Ways to use this guide
This guide explains the SEND services available from education, health and care agencies to help you understand what is available across the system.
Watch a video 6-minute video animation of the SEND map for age 17 to 25 years [YouTube] or continue reading for the full transcript.
You can also download the full interactive guide as a PDF where you can navigate through the links and watch all the animations.
Download the full interactive guide to local support for age 0 to 25 years [PDF]
Support for age 17 to 18 years
SEND support for schools
All schools receive funding to meet the needs of young people with SEND in their school budget. Schools should make reasonable adjustments to include young people with SEND in all aspects of school life.
Many young people with SEND get the support they need through these processes. However, schools often need extra help to support those with the most severe and complex needs.
If young people are receiving extra help at school to meet their special educational needs, they should:
- have a Special Educational Needs (SEN) support plan like an individual education plan (IEP) or provision map
- be added to the school’s SEN support register.
Find out more about special educational needs support
Some further education, training settings or alternative provision may have in-house therapies depending on their individual offer.
Supported internships
Supported internships are a structured, work-based study programme for young people with SEND, who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
EHCPs are for children and young people with the most severe and complex needs.
Maximising independence service (Nottinghamshire County Council)
The Maximising Independence Service aims to improve independence. Promoting Independence Workers will work with young people approaching adulthood on their goals for up to 12 weeks. It can help with improving skills in the home, budgeting, finding work and keeping well.
Find out about the Maximising Independence Service (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Transitions pathway for adulthood
There is also a transitions pathway to provide, information, advice and guidance on what should be happening at different stages as a young person makes their way towards adulthood. Specific teams are dedicated to supporting this preparation for adulthood.
Learn more about preparing for adulthood transitions
Care-related support from a local family hub
A local family hub can offer care related support, including weekly activities and support programmes. This may also include getting help from a Family Support Worker.
Find a local family hub in Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Children's social care support
Children’s social care is the provision of social work, personal care, protection or social support services. You can also find out more about the different levels of children’s social care support on the SEND Local Offer - Social care support page.
Healthy Family Teams
The Healthy Family Teams will also continue to support late teens when they need it, working closely with GPs, family hubs and services in the local area.
Find out about the Healthy Family Teams (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS)
Support for age 18 to 19 years
Supported living (Nottinghamshire County Council)
At this stage, young people may start to think about where they would like to live. Supported living is for people with a learning disability or mental health needs. Supported living is the accommodation that is accessed only through the County Council.
It offers both a home and support over a 24 hour period each day for a person with assessed and eligible needs.
Find out about Supported living (Nottinghamshire County Council)
Personal Assistant (PA)
A Personal Assistant (PA) is employed to help people who require social and health care support. This could be either because of their age or disability and can enable them to live as independently as possible in their home.
People who employ PAs are in receipt of either a:
- personal budget through the local authority
- personal health budget through the NHS
- pay privately through self-funding.
Children in care
For children in care, the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) employ designated nurses, who act as an advocate for children in care and care leavers.
For more information, go to Children in Care (NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB)
Support for age 19 to 20 years
Local offer for care levers
For more information about leaving care, the local offer for care leavers explains the offer of services and support available.
Visit the Local Offer for Care Leavers
Health care support
Primary care is the first point of contact with the NHS, which includes GPs and community services.
Learning Disabilities Primary Care Liaison Team
There is also a Learning Disabilities Primary Care Liaison Team that supports primary care services to make reasonable adjustments for people with intellectual disabilities.
The service is open to those over 18 years old who are on their GP’s intellectual disability register. They will also support younger ages with accessing their annual health check.
Support for age 20 to 21 years
Annual health check
Anyone over the age of 14 with a learning disability, can have an annual health check. A health check once a year gives people time to talk about anything that is worrying them and means they can get used to going to visit the doctor. To receive an invite for an annual health check, a young person would need to be on their GP practice’s learning disability register.
Disabled Students' Allowance
For education support, the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is there to cover the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long-term illness or any other disability. This can be on its own or in addition to any student finance you get. The type of support and how much you get depends on your individual needs.
Learn more about the Disabled Students' Allowance (GOV.UK)
Support for age 21 to 22 years
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill health or a disability if you’re aged 16 to 64 years. An assessment is required to work out the level of help you can get.
Learn more about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (Service directory)
Community Paediatricians
Community Paediatricians are specialist children’s doctors and nurses who have expertise in medical and developmental conditions. As young people move towards adulthood, their medical care will also start to move toward adult services.
Learn more about Community Paediatrics (Service directory)
Further health support
Further health support is available from the local authority, who commission open access, free and confidential sexual health services across the county. In addition to this, some further services are available from participating GP practices and pharmacists.
Support for age 22 to 25 years
Towards the age of 22 years, young people will be leaving specialist colleges.
At this age, if not before, young people can access career advice and guidance from a range of services.
For more information, go to Additional support and Supported Employment
Supported decision making
It is also important to note that if a young person (over the age of 16) has been assessed as lacking mental capacity, there may be many different people and agencies involved in making decisions on their behalf, depending on the complexity of the situation.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) provides a clear framework for parents on who should be consulted in the decision-making process.
Learn more about SEND Local Offer-Advocacy, Advice and Information
Additional support up to age 25 years
Up to the age of 25 years, young people can continue to access:
- help to find and keep a job if you're out of work and eligible through the Work and Health Programme (Department of Work and Pensions)
- palliative and end of life care services for children and young people with life limiting conditions and their families on the SEND Local Offer - Health services page
- transition to adult services on the local offer preparing for adulthood pages.