![Specialist spotlight sessions web advertising banner [banner reads "Specialist Spotlight. Free online discussions. Book Now"]](https://asset.nasen.org.uk/styles/1110_auto/public/media/2023-09/Specialist%20spotlight%20web%20advertising%20banner_0.png?itok=oj9cCLJn)
![Peer Mentoring Project Banner [An advertising banner for the universal services Peer Mentoring Project. Text on banner reads 'Peer Mentoring Project The peer mentoring project supports leaders in mainstream schools that, following an Ofsted inspection have been identified as requires improvement.']](https://asset.nasen.org.uk/styles/1110_auto/public/media/2023-01/Peer%20Mentoring%20Banner_0.png?itok=1vx17qu9)
NDTi & ASDAN - Preparing for Adulthood- developing a new curriculum for young people with SEND
Introduction
Back in November of last year the National Development Team for Inclusion and ASDAN started on a journey to work together to develop a new and exciting curriculum for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The partnership came from a chance meeting and a discussion about what NDTi does and how we could work together, and since then relationships across both organisations have developed and grown.
Both ASDAN and NDTi are committed to partnership working and shared learning and this project has helped to cement this partnership.
Why are we working on this project?
ASDAN already had some great materials that are popular across the education sector, not only here in the UK but in other countries too. But they were keen to do a bit of a re-fresh on their current Preparing for Adulthood programmes following an independent review, carried out by Richard Aird OBE in 2018.
NDTi have held the Department for Education (DfE) funded contract – Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) as part of the support offered to partners across the SEND community following the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice, with a focus on outcomes that prepare young people for adult life:
• Employment
• Friends and relationships and community
• Independent living
• Good health
We know that for young people with SEND their future outcomes remain a challenge. The numbers of adults with a learning disability moving into paid work remain stubbornly low at just 6% and the curriculum plays a vital role to support employment opportunities.
Adults with learning disabilities can become isolated and lonely if they are not well connected into their communities during childhood and have a significant disadvantage in health outcomes alongside a much lower life expectancy.
What has the project entailed?
Over the past few months both organisations have met with and heard from over 30 experienced SEND education professionals across London, Birmingham and Crewe. These meetings have enabled consultation and engagement with Special and Mainstream Schools and FE Colleges on the development of the new programme, called My Independence. Some of these settings have supported us by testing out the materials designed to be used with young people with the most complex needs.
The underpinning principles of My Independence are:
• Raising aspirations and specifically addressing the needs of young people with PMLD, SLD and MLD through meaningful and creative learning opportunities
• Using a strength-based model based on person-centred approaches and planning
• Can be used within an existing curriculum and/or used to shape a curriculum that further promotes preparing for adulthood outcomes
The new materials have been developed to ensure a personalised approach that complements the curriculum alongside a teacher pack with ideas and top tips on how to use the resources.
With a focus on personalised learning, students can engage with the learning process more effectively, whether their needs are sensory, based around emotional difficulties or cognitive impairment. Learners are going to achieve the targets set for them in their education, health and care (EHC) plans or individual development plans (IDP) more easily if learning is personalised. Tailored learning also supports young people to achieve outcomes that prepare them for a good adult life.
Next Steps
My Independence will be available to UK centres from Sept 2020. For further details please contact:
Simon Lawrence - Head of Development
For information on NDTi and the Preparing for Adulthood programme please contact:
Julie Pointer – Children and Young People Lead
07860776701
Further reading:
1. Learning Disability Mortality Review
The first national programme of its kind aimed at making improvements to the lives of people with learning disabilities. ... Reviews of deaths were carried out with a view to improve the standard and quality of care for people with learning disabilities.
2. Improving Health and Lives
The Learning Disabilities Public Health Observatory was a collaboration between NDTi, Public Health England and the Centre of Disability Research at Lancaster University to:
• Improve the health of (and reduce health inequalities experienced by) people with learning disabilities in England.
• Help people who commission services make better use of information by:
• Making information more easily accessible through written reports, the website and events.
• Getting better quality information.
• Supporting commissioners, providers and others to use the information
3. Select Committee Review
The report follows an 18-month inquiry into Government SEND reforms aimed at placing children and young people at the heart of the SEND system. The Committee heard from more than 70 witnesses and received more than 700 submissions of written evidence.
4. National Audit Office report
This report assesses how well pupils with SEND are being supported. It examined:
• the system for supporting pupils with SEND and the outcomes it is achieving (Part One).
• funding, spending and financial sustainability (Part Two).
• and the quality of support and experiences of pupils and parents (Part Three).
