What is Preparing for Adulthood?
Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) is about helping you to get ready for your future. As you get older, lots of things begin to change, like leaving school, getting a job and making choices about what you do in your free time. "Preparing for Adulthood means helping you to learn the skills, confidence and knowledge that you will need to live a happy, healthy and independent life when you are an adult.
The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Code of Practice tells us that preparing for adulthood is a journey, not something that you have to figure out all at once. By starting early, and listening to your hopes and dreams for the future, we can help you to build your skills and confidence and get the support you need to live the life you want to.
There are four big areas that we focus on to help you to get ready for life as an adult:
- Education and employment
- Living more independently
- Friends, relationships and being part of your community
- Keeping as healthy as you can
You can find out more about each of these areas at www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk or by looking at each of the pages in this section.
The next few pages have lots of information to help you on your "preparing for adulthood" journey. You can also get advice from the Preparing for Adulthood Team by emailing: sendpfa@wakefield.gov.uk .
The Preparing for Adulthood Team run drop-in sessions for young people with SEND (SEN Support or an EHC Plan), or their parents or carers can come along and ask anything about PfA. The dates, times and where these take place are shown here:
13th January 2026 - Platform One, Hemsworth 09:00-12.30
10th February 2026 - The Hut, Castleford 09:00-12.30
10th March 2026 - Wakefield One, Library 09:00-12.30
14th April 2026 - Platform One, Hemsworth 09:00-12:30
12th May 2026 - The Hut, Castleford 09:00-12:30
9th June 2026 - Wakefield One, Library 09:00-12:30
7th July 2026 - Platform One, Hemsworth 09:00-12:30
If you cannot make one of these sessions, please email sendpfa@wakefield.gov.uk to arrange a telephone appointment.
If you have any questions about the drop in sessions, please let the Preparing for Adulthood Team know at sendpfa@wakefield.gov.uk