Vocational courses 24/25

TeenToTwenties · 2024-08-24T06:11:25+00:00

Would anyone be interested in a vocational courses thread for the new academic year? My DD did 2 years at level 1, has had a gap year and is now returning to do a level 2.

Popfan · 05/06/2025 21:21

Thank you everyone! @caringcarer well-done to your DFS, he has done amazingly well. The college sounds great.

I would recommend college wholeheartedly!

caringcarer · 05/06/2025 21:04

Popfan · 05/06/2025 18:18

Hello everyone, hope people don't mind me putting on a bit of a boasty post but I'm so proud.... DS has finished his first year (carpentry) with a distinction! He worked really hard to get everything finished and done so was the first to be signed off. He has sailed through all the exam theory parts this year too.

He's so motivated and engaged and it's so different from his attitude to school. They don't take everyone on for the 2nd year but I think he should be a dead cert for this.

I hope everyone else's DC have enjoyed their courses and had a really good year!

Well done your DS. It's amazing how the experience at college differs from school.

SuperTrooper14 · 05/06/2025 19:27

@Popfan @caringcarer Thank you for sharing such inspirational stories! Reading these makes me even more certain that DD is on the right path doing a BTEC. You must both be so proud!

Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 05/06/2025 19:04

@Popfan Boasty posts are welcome, well done for that distinction!

@caringcarer That's amazing to go from a special school to university.

It just shows how vocational courses can be so fabulous for some of our youngsters who struggle with GCSEs and secondary school.

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caringcarer · 05/06/2025 18:36

Just to give hope to others 3 years ago my foster ds left a special school with a level 2 BTEC in food tech, Science GCSE 4 and 3, BTEC Sports level 1 and GCSE Maths level 3. He went to a main stream college where he was given a 1-1 support assistant for all academic lessons. He never got anywhere near this level of support at his special school. He did the BTEC Level 2 in Sports Development and Coaching worth 4 x GCSE at level 4/5 , resat GCSE Maths and did Functional Skills English level 1. He passed them all Maths at level 4. Then following year because he had worked hard and managed to get Merits he moved on to the BTEC Sport Coaching and Development level 3 equivalent to 3 x A levels. He's just finished this now and looks likely to get DDM or DMM. He has his GCSE English exam tomorrow but got level 5 on both papers in his mock exam. He just needs a GCSE English level 4. He's applied and after interview been given an unconditional offer to go to University to study an Integrated Masters in Cricket Coaching and Management. Until about 12 months ago we thought the best he could possibly manage was a foundation degree in Sport at university. He has come on in leaps and bounds at his college and achieved more than we ever thought possible. This year even though they still provided a 1-1 support he said the 1-1 actually spend more time helping other students because he didn't really need him much. We are so impressed with his college for inspiring and supporting him so well and encouraging him to dream bigger. DFS told me his teacher told him all things can be possible if you want it enough. Also DFS took an additional year as he sat level 2 courses in his first year. I'm so glad we supported this choice and told DFS it didn't matter about all if it took him an extra year. Doing the level 2 course gave him so much confidence that he could do it. I hope others do equally well in their chosen courses.

Popfan · 05/06/2025 18:18

Hello everyone, hope people don't mind me putting on a bit of a boasty post but I'm so proud.... DS has finished his first year (carpentry) with a distinction! He worked really hard to get everything finished and done so was the first to be signed off. He has sailed through all the exam theory parts this year too.

He's so motivated and engaged and it's so different from his attitude to school. They don't take everyone on for the 2nd year but I think he should be a dead cert for this.

I hope everyone else's DC have enjoyed their courses and had a really good year!

MissionEmployable · 15/05/2025 13:44

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 30/04/2025 14:25

@Lindy2 Glad college is working out. Dd2 missed y11 so started on a level1 course as well, it helped her regrow confidence finally being asked to do stuff she could do rather than stuff she couldn't.

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Lindy2 · 30/04/2025 13:57

DD is doing ok. She's on a level 1 course (after an absolutely horrible last 2 years of Secondary school)

The main thing is that she's been able to attend regularly and is getting her confidence back a bit. She's even made a couple of friends. This year has been mostly about getting back into education and she's achieved that which is absolutely great.

She's done well on her level 1 and is on track to pass the course. She has enrolled on the level 2 course for next year as well.

It's her GCSEs resits soon. We're going to need a whole heap of good luck to get the illusive grade 4s but let's just keep our fingers crossed. Last year I didn't even think she'd actually sit any GCSEs so we're in a much better place than that this time.

Good luck to everyone doing GCSEs soon and completing their BTECs. 🤞

Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 30/04/2025 06:21

How is anyone getting on? We are getting to the crunch time for assignments.

Dd (level2) has a massive 'practical booklet' to write up which is a bit overwhelming and then hopefully just one more due at half term.

Though there is some kind of meet and greet practical, and maybe a keeper talk too, and giving a treatment to a dog, and ...

Trying to stay calm with this for the gcse resits.

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Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 27/02/2025 13:25

SuperTrooper14 · 27/02/2025 08:57

@TeenToTwenties Reviving this thread to ask how your DD is getting on? Mine is due to start a Level 3 in Animal Care in September, grades permitting. Any tips/advice gratefully received!

Dd is getting on really well thanks. Just had a progress report and for animal care it was nearly all 1s (excellent) and maths 2s (good).

Tips for level 3. Look at the spec and make sure assignment answers the required points for merit/distinction as you don't get many/any second chances.

If your DC is petite don't expect to get overalls that fit, we had to chop arms and legs off! Her college however does have a supplier of lightweight safety boots, lace ups that go small enough.

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SuperTrooper14 · 27/02/2025 08:57

@TeenToTwenties Reviving this thread to ask how your DD is getting on? Mine is due to start a Level 3 in Animal Care in September, grades permitting. Any tips/advice gratefully received!

Midnightstar76 · 29/11/2024 08:00

That’s good @TeenToTwenties good luck to her and hope she enjoys her experience.

Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 29/11/2024 07:57

She does have two others lined up, which now we need to firm up on, but she really really wanted a rescue. Ah well at least she has other options.
We contacted 15 places, most didn't respond.

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Midnightstar76 · 29/11/2024 07:54

@TeenToTwenties so sorry to hear that. It’s such a shame as getting the placement would have given her a boost of confidence. It’s really tough for our youngsters. I have tried a couple of places for DD but no response. DD is even trying to look for part time work but no response there either. Will keep persevering but I think college will have to help as we are definitely having no luck. I think it’s all the hassle with insurance that is putting potential placements off.

Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 29/11/2024 07:12

Dd went for a assessment/training day at a potential work placement earlier this week.
Sadly she got a nice thanks but no thanks email afterwards. (Saying lots of people interested, can't offer her a place)

Trying to decide whether to get her to ask for feedback. I fear it would come back with one or more of
. Too slow (dyspraxia)
. Asked for reassurance/ not confident (anxiety)
. Not chatty / friendly (anxiety in new situation)

She has other options, but this is the one she really wanted (animal rescue). She could have done with a confidence boost.

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Midnightstar76 · 28/10/2024 19:37

Hi @TeenToTwenties DD only has to do one week in January so plan is to help and see if I can get somewhere for her. However college will be contacting three places DD has chosen but will put feelers out to see if I can help. Thanks for reminding I really should do that this week.

Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 28/10/2024 15:12

DD has been informed she needs to do 2 x 1 week work experience as part of the course so we have been helping her send off some emails.

We have no idea how many she is likely to need to send to get something. So we are initially targeting 12 places in the hope she gets somewhere and then will set sights further afield if necessary. She's likely to need us to drive her so really don't want something an hour away ...

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Midnightstar76 · 13/10/2024 13:32

@TeenToTwenties well done to your DD passing her English. I think work based courses are great for building up experience for the working world

Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 13/10/2024 13:13

Midnightstar76 · 13/10/2024 10:53

Thanks @TeenToTwenties all good suggestions. How is your DD getting on with her course? Has she had any assignments set yet?

Dd is doing well thank you good attendance and not many wobbles. Her course is 'work based' which means fewer/(no?) assignments that go towards the grade (course is just pass or fail) but bits of prep work here and there.

Even better she heard she passed her Level 2 english functional skills so she doesn't need to do English lessons any more.

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Midnightstar76 · 13/10/2024 10:53

Thanks @TeenToTwenties all good suggestions. How is your DD getting on with her course? Has she had any assignments set yet?

Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 12/10/2024 09:45

I guess the obvious place for H&SC would be at a nursing home or retirement place. Just go in weekly and interact with residents.

At the other end of the scale a children's centre or similar.

If part of course then may be able to shadow a social worker / support visitor, but 'safeguarding' may provide obstacles.

A podiatrist? Dental place?

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Midnightstar76 · 12/10/2024 08:11

Thanks @TeenToTwenties it is level 2 health and social care

Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 12/10/2024 07:05

It may not be too late to drop to level 1 if wanted.

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Original poster

TeenToTwenties · 12/10/2024 07:04

@Midnightstar76 Remind me which course?

DD1's level 3 course (started 2015 so some time ago) had a specific work experience unit that they had 2 weeks off college for, with specific criteria (eg writing a CV, doing a learning review afterwards).
I know T levels also have work experience built in.

For DD2's course, which is 'work based' the work is done in the practical unit at college.
However as a whole at college they are encouraged to do work experience outside of college as it helps their understanding and employability. They also take the view any work is useful even if unrelated to course.

So first you need to know from asking college or looking at the spec is this a mandatory bit of the course or a nice to have. And if mandatory are they giving time to it.

We helped DD find placements last year on her gap by emailing around 20 businesses asking for 1 day shadowing (4 success) which turned into 2 ongoing weekly, one of which turned into casual paid.

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