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September
Ember
August 16, 2013 08:50
I know next to all the stuff going on with our teenagers, this is trivial but would really appreciate some advice as I''m really beginning to stress about this...Dd is 16. She has just finished her gcses and obviously we won''t know for sure until Thursday, but I think it''s highly likely she will have 5- 7 good grades. She is reasonably bright but totally unable to motivate or organise herself...her gcse results will represent literally hours of input from me organising and working with her. She has an EBD statement, a fabulous learning mentor within an excellent learning and inclusion department and that is within an ''outstanding'' and high achieving c of e comp. The problem is whether she should stay at school for 6th form or go to college. She really doesn''t have the self motivation for A levels and I really don''t want to be spending hours working with her anymore (she would do media, photography English lit and applied business) but she needs the excellent support she receives with her statement by staying on at school.She could go to college (has a place) to do a level 3 Btec which would suit her better academically (course work only and 3 days a week) but she has anxiety about getting on public transport by herself. I''m fairly convinced that she could not/would not be able to do it and would be a net within a week.Of course the decision about September is entirely hers, but she won''t make a decision. She has a pile of A level prep work from school which she will not do (she says until after results day) but I know it will not get done. And she will not practise getting on the bus by herself to get to college (she gets a cab to school through her statement). So I fear neither option is going to work. Does anyone have any thoughts, or been in a similar position?
jollymummy
August 16, 2013 09:37
I don't have any experience of this - my daughters are a year behind yours. I was wondering why she can get a cab to school and not to college? Is her anxiety about going on public transport just about going alone? If so, would it be possible for you (or someone) to go with her for the first week or so, to build up her confidence and in the hope that she might meet other student(s) who will take the same route? Good Luck for her results next week. JM
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amh
August 16, 2013 13:03
Could you ask for travel training for her.The college should have someone who could help her with this. They do the journey with her and then put her on the bus etc.Even though the statement will not cover college they must be aware of her needs.also if she has been taxied into her school would that not continue for her to enable her to access college.or phone your local parent to parent partnership to ask for their advice on the travel issue.good luck
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Littlemisscheerful
August 16, 2013 16:09
I've bumped a thread started by Flosskirk on the children with disabilities board.It still seems a bizarre policy to me - (transport provided for school but not college). However, I like the idea of travel training - this is what I'd like for my girls (rather than taxi) when we get to this stage.
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suze
August 17, 2013 18:22
Hi emberDoes she have a connexions/career advisor? Every authority should have a specialist LED advisor to support students such as your daughter.They need to fill in a section 139a which details the support she needs at college to progress.As far as I'm aware there is no post 16 funding for transport (isn't in my area) but also your authority should have a team responsible for travel training and the advisor should also be able to help with thisThe adult learning disabilities team should also be able to advise you about who and how to contact peopleHope some of that helpsSuze x
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suze
August 17, 2013 18:23
LDD not LEDSuze x
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Pear Tree
August 17, 2013 18:45
I think the point about transport is key and if she's entitled to an education she's going to need transportIt's ridiculous to expect a vulnerable child to get on buses and trains etcWe've recently said the same things re blossomThere's a discretionary fund at partridges collegeI'd also like to say although seemingly less pressured the college option will still need a lot of hand holding But unlike schoolMay treat you as an overbearing mother and not understand Our key issues have often been the assumption that college kids will ask for help if they need it- erm not if they're partridge!Things like fortnightly calls to college can just help with feel of being containedBoth blossom and partridge have these 139 formsThey didn't have statements Food for thought anyway
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Ember
August 17, 2013 20:41
Thanks everyone. As I mentioned originally, DD has a fantastic learning mentor and the learning and inclusion department of her school have been exceptional. She has been seeing a connexions adviser regularly throughout Y11 and NO ONE has ever mentioned a 139a and even though I wanted transition planning on the agenda of her last annual review, it was only ever glossed over. I suspect part of the problem is that she doesn't have learning difficulties per se, it's just been for EBD and she has remained in school (it has been touch and go) and now she's seen as not a great deal different from anyone else (which she's not on one level.) Also I think the SENCO has always presumed that she will transition through to the 6th form and I suspect that, barring another Gove meddle, she will meet the 6th form entry requirements, or at least near enough for them to let her in. But it will be 2 years of hell I fear if this is what happens as she is just not interested or motivated to put in any real effort. The school is high achieving and the pressure in the 6th form is huge.I need to find out about travel training. This sounds perfect if it can be geared towards a child with anxiety rather than a child with learning difficulties. She can read a map and a timetable, she can easily get herself around if she's with other people, she's just extremely anxious about travelling around by herself...and in fact has slight agoraphobic tendencies - she won't even go to the shop across the road by herself. I think I will try and ring both connexions and the adult learning disabilities team on Monday.
Edited 17/02/2021
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