All young people need to learn independence skills and there should be the same opportunities for SEND young people. Much like employment, to live independently there are a set of skills that make every day easier.
These could include:
- To learn the skills needed to live independently
- To live in a house and feel safe
- To be able to travel to chosen places
- To complete routine household tasks
- To complete forms and other documents
- To be able to manage money and understand budgeting, to understand what is happening and make decisions
Schools and family members should support young people to acquire independent living skills such as travel training, basic cookery skills, personal care, and money management. Moving away from home is a huge step and should be thought through carefully.
Independent Living
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- Washing / brushing teeth
- Telling the time
- Paying in shops (supervised/unsupervised sleep-overs and residential trips)
- Cooking at school and home
- Understanding money - paying for snacks in school
- Shopping
- Moving around the school independently
- Travel training
- Transport and road signs
Who is responsible?
- School
- Child
- Parents/ Carers
- Social Care Teams (if open)
- Start talking about the skills needed for independence in the future
- Travel training
- Making decisions on what to spend money on
- Making own food
- Socialising unsupervised in town /local community
- Independent living skills
- PSHE- Financial education, healthy eating and living
Who is responsible?
- School
- Child
- Parents/ Carers
- Social Care Teams (if open)
- Young person and family has information on the range of housing options available
- Ensure young person/family seek benefits advice
- Where a young person is unable to travel independently, consider support that might be necessary to develop independent travel skills and/or assistance that might be available child tax credits stop at age 19
- Provide opportunities to manage own money
Who is responsible?
- School
- Child
- Parents/ Carers
- Social Care Teams (if open)
- Ensure young person and family has information on the range of housing options available
- Where a young person is unable to travel independently, consider support that might be necessary to develop independent travel skills and/or assistance that might be available
- Ensure young person/family have received benefits advice
Who is responsible?
- Young person
- Social Care Teams (if open)
- School
- Parents/ Carers
