East Riding Preparing for Adulthood Information and Resources

Preparing for Adulthood resources for parents, carers and professionals in the East Riding

Preparing for adulthood (commonly referred to as PfA) is about helping children and young people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for work and adult life.

Although PfA appears in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice and becomes a statutory focus for young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) from Year 9 onwards, the principles of PfA are relevant to all children and young people.

Keep scrolling to explore more about Preparing for Adulthood, and to download our Preparing for Adulthood Outcome Guides for ages 0-25.

The Four PfA Areas:

The four PfA areas describe universal foundations for adulthood: learning and careers, independence, relationships and community, and good health. For many children and young people, these areas develop naturally through everyday experiences at home, in your school or education setting, and in the community, whilst for children and young people with SEND they may need to be planned for in a more structured and intentional way.

PfA starts early. Children begin building these foundations in early years settings and primary school. These skills grow over time, helping young people make confident choices and manage future transitions.

The four areas of Preparing for Adulthood are:

1. Education, Employment and Training

Exploring interests, understanding strengths and discovering the world of work. This begins with early role play and awareness of different jobs and develops through careers learning, employer encounters, work experience and planning next steps such as college, apprenticeships or supported internships.

2. Independent Living

Building the everyday skills that support choice, autonomy and independence. This includes early self‑care routines, understanding money, household tasks, travel skills and learning about future living arrangements with the right level of support.

3. Friends, Relationships and Community

Developing friendships, taking part in community life and learning how to stay safe. These experiences help young people feel connected, confident and included as they grow.

4. Good Health

Learning about physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. As young people mature, this includes understanding their own health needs, attending appointments, developing healthy habits and preparing for adult health services.

Our PfA Outcome Guides

These guides set out practical, age‑appropriate outcomes linked to the four PfA areas. They support conversations between families, schools, settings and professionals. Suggested age ranges are flexible and can be adapted depending on the needs of the individual child or young person. You can download a PDF copy of each of the PfA outcome guides below.

These outcome guides have been designed for every child and young person. If you have/are a child or young person with special education needs and disability (SEND), you should also discuss PfA within termly support plans. For those with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHC Plan), PfA should be discussed in each Annual Review from Y9 onwards, and a copy of the Future Aspirations document submitted as part of the review - ask your EHCO for a copy. See the SEND Local Offer for further information.