the family future plan
A clearer way to think about your child’s future
Future planning can feel like a collection of separate decisions — Wills, guardianship, inheritance, trusts, LPAs, finances and adulthood.
The Family Future Plan helps you see how those decisions connect, so you can start with what matters to your family and take one step at a time.
You don’t need to solve everything today. Start where you are.
the family future map
Five steps to help you see the bigger picture
The Family Future Plan brings the different decisions together into five simple stages. You don’t have to complete them in order — the framework is there to help you see where you are and what may come next.
Understand
What matters to our family?
Learn about the key issues
Plan
What do we want to happen?
Think about the people, decisions and arrangements that matter.
Protect
What arrangements may help?
Explore the safeguards that could support your family’s plans.
Prepare
Who needs to know? What happens next?
Make sure the right people have the information they may one day need.
Review
Does our plan still reflect our family?
Check, update and adapt as life changes.
start with your question
What are you trying to work out?
You don’t need to work through everything in order. Start with the question that feels closest to what’s on your mind, and explore from there.
Who would look after my child?
Think about guardianship, trusted people and what someone would need to understand about your child.
Who would manage money for my child?
Consider who could manage an inheritance or act as trustee, and whether that should be the same person who provides care.
What happens if my child inherits money?
Understand how an inheritance could reach your child, who might manage it and what else may need considering.
Would a trust be relevant?
Start with the outcome you want for your child, then explore whether a trust could help achieve it.
Who could make decisions for me if I couldn’t?
Think about who could legally step in for financial, health or welfare decisions if you were unable to manage them yourself.
What would happen to our finances?
Look at what your family depends on financially before thinking about possible protection.
What does my child actually need from us?
Capture the routines, communication, preferences, relationships and support that matter in everyday life.
Who else needs to know?
Make sure the right people know the plan exists and understand the part they may one day play.
What changes when my child becomes an adult?
Explore how decision-making, support, benefits and other arrangements may change as your child approaches 18.
When will we review everything?
Build in a regular review point so your plan can adapt as your child, family and circumstances change.
Not sure which question to start with?
Start with the one that feels closest to what’s on your mind. You can explore the rest later.
your next step
Understanding should lead somewhere
You don’t need to do everything at once. Once you understand what may matter to your family, the next step is simply deciding what you want to explore next.
learn
Join a SEND Family workshop, seminar or webinar.
talk
Book a private 15-minute chat to talk through what may be relevant to your family.
act
If you want professional help putting Wills, trusts, LPAs or related estate-planning arrangements in place, this can be provided separately through Estate Plan Office.
for organisations
Support SEND families with practical, jargon-free education
SEND Family works with charities, schools, colleges, SENCOs, community groups and professionals supporting SEND families.
Our workshops and talks help families understand the decisions that may matter, ask better questions and feel more prepared to take the next step.