Transition is a formally identified period which begins when a young person turns 14 and ends when they are 25. It should provide a framework for planning, managing and achieving the changes that need to take place as a young person moves from school and children’s services into the adult world and adult services.

The law says that every young person with a 'Statement of Special Education Needs' should have a Transition Plan. The kind of plan developed will vary from young person to young person according to their individual needs.

The Transition process should be ongoing throughout these years and include the future development of the following areas in the young person's life:

• Education
• Work
• Leisure
• Housing
• Health
• Travel

It should give young people the opportunity to make choices about how they want to live their lives. It puts young people at the centre of the decision making process and makes sure their voice is heard.

Transition should prepare young people for big changes in their lives. For many young people routine is an important part of their daily life, any changes must be handled with the care necessary to make a move as easy and successful as possible.

Transition should also support parents and carers, enabling them to feel confident about change and to listen to their child. For parents, transition is also a difficult time, their children are growing, they are learning to have a better understanding of their children as young adults and they are worried about what the future.

A succesful transition should enable service providers to put the necessary resources in place to ensure plans are realised. It should ensure that these services are appropriate to the young person’s needs.