Preparing for Adulthood in Essex: Supporting Young People Aspirations through The Bridge

Across Essex, Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) is focused on ensuring young people with SEND are supported to achieve positive outcomes in employment, independent living, good health, and community inclusion. Central to this approach is listening to young people’s aspirations and ensuring the system responds in a coordinated, purposeful way.

As part of Essex County Council’s PfA servce, The Targeted Employment Team (Essex County Council) works with young people aged 16–25 with SEND to ensure their views and aspirations are central to Preparing for Adulthood (PfA). We support young people to understand their choices and make informed decisions about post‑16 pathways, with a strong focus on positive employment outcomes.

We work in partnership with young people, families, schools and colleges to raise awareness of employment pathways that are accessible, realistic, and responsive to individual needs. This collaborative, person‑centred approach supports young people to explore options aligned to their interests, strengths and readiness for employment. These pathways are promoted through our new Preparing for Adulthood Post-16 Parents and Carers Guide, supporting informed conversations and shared decision‑making about post‑16 options.

Through The Bridge, Essex County Council’s FREE business‑to‑education matching service, we help coordinate young people’s aspirations into inclusive opportunities. The Bridge enables inclusive businesses to join the Bridge network, building awareness of a range of inclusive pathways while being introduced to inclusive talent drawn from the wider SEND education system. This creates meaningful connections between employers and young people, supporting aspiration, opportunity, and progression.

This work is strengthened through Inclusive Organisational Development (IOD). Through The Bridge, employers can access free inclusive training, advice and funding support to embed culture change and improve how they attract, support and develop a diverse workforce. This enables employers to move beyond good intentions and implement sustainable, organisation‑wide inclusive practice.

For careers professionals, The Bridge provides a practical mechanism to connect young people’s aspirations with local, inclusive employment pathways, whilst also supporting employer readiness. This enables a coordinated, purposeful approach to Preparation for Adulthood, with inclusion and long‑term success at its core.

Further information about The Bridge is available at:

https://www.essexopportunities.co.uk/welcome-to-the-bridge/

Jonathan Smith
Targeted Employment Officer (Lead on Accessibility within Apprenticeships)
Children and Young People with Disabilities Service
Family Operations
SEND Strategy and Innovation