BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

Ahhhhh, that is interesting! I will ask DS if he has these learning days. He has just gone into college in any event, and says he just did work in the library.

I think my friends DS’ college, seems to have out everyone in for the November resit. I was nervous about DS wanting to do it- even though he was “ only” 9 off, due to him starting at new college, in new town, with all change…. I didn’t want him to be mentally drained, and, yes, set him up to fail. Luckily, it’s not been mentioned, but, yes, it does seem most likely that that is the reason for staff shortages this week.

Thank you for describing how your DD’s college works, I’ll definitely find out more about my DS’s, 🙏.

So, dd's quit her next hobby event.
I think it's the right decision.
She's felt quite upset coming home after the past couple of practices.
She does have the option of joining the adult group next year, though, which may suit her more.

@Sisublondie
Thank you.
Bit of a wobble last night.
I was out with a friend and didn't get back til 11pm and dd was waiting for me at the top of the stairs 😬
I finally got into my bedroom at 1am 😴
She was anxious about going back today and is contemplating dropping out of a hobby event (which I think is the right thing for her to do...she's not enjoying it atm...)
Dh is having his op today and although it's minor, he's nervous, understandably.

@Sisublondie Different colleges have different policies wrt resits in November.

Some seem to put them all in regardless (good practice and they might pass), others wait until June (more learning time, don't set them up to fail) and others put only the 'just missed a 4' cohort in in November.

@Sisublondie

DD's college have 'Distance learning days when they work from home but the staff are doing other things, so INSET days by any other name I think. So it could just be a badly notified one of those.

The alternate could be to do with GCSE resits. Kids resitting are more likely to need exam concessions such as smaller rooms, extra time, readers etc. The number of rooms required and staff to assist may well impact on availability.

An additional issue could be that if 75% of the course group are doing resits they may think that teaching that day isn't worth it as so many students will miss it.

Thursday!!!!! Wha’?!?! 🤷‍♀️! How is she doing, feeling a bit more positive, I hope

Yes, I agree. It seems too long, especially so soon after they started. DS had his lessons cancelled yesterday, but went in anyway. Which I guess is good! I didn’t ask him why ( DH just said “staff shortages” was mentioned), but have friend with DS in neighbouring county doing his resits. I didn’t want to mention that to DS, as he is very happily cracking on with his English classes at the moment, and hadn’t mentioned the November resit, but seems a bit rubbish to cancel a whole days of lessons…. Is this a college norm? 🤷‍♀️

I am still at my Mum’s (Liverpool way), so DH in charge…. Funny how DS happily hopped on the college bus to come home ( he’d have been pushing for a pick up from me ).

You have made me think, now! I don’t know if I’m your neighbouring county, but I should check to see if I am and/or I’m looking at a two week Feb Treat?!

I hope DH’s op goes well 🤞 🍀… and that he recovers well ( and taxi duty not too heinous)…… and Good Luck to DD ( and you!) tomorrow……. I hope she manages to breeze through the day……..🤞💕…

@Sisublondie
I think its too long, tbh. But MATs decide their own term dates now, as long as they teach for a set number of days and have a set number of inset/training days.
In my neighbouring county they have 2 weeks at February half term.

@Sisublondie
She's not back in until Thursday 🙄
She has counselling today, so hopefully that might help
I'm so tired ☹️
Dh is having a minor op (under local anaesthetic) this week, so no driving for him for 2 weeks 😫
So, lots of taxi duties

@OWCAAgentP
She seems better today, thank you.

Oh no, no, nooooo! How is she today, I guess she isn’t back till tomorrow, then? That is a long time to have been off. I was actually reading this weekend, about the “ two week October” half term.. I hadn’t heard about it at all until you mentioned it. The article was about how some parebts lolare allegedly choosing schools based on it?! What the Hell?! 🤷‍♀️😈!!

Has she been in touch with any of her classmates? That may make her feel easier about “ re assimilating” tomorrow?! 🤞🙏

Oh, that is so great to see enthusiasm from them, isn’t it? I know what you mean, my DS was so beaten down by Yr 11, the only enthusiasm shown was for when he left.

How is the working from home going? Is the project something she can start working on now? Sounds positive!

Hope your DD is ok @swampwitch0

Half term is finished here but this week they have GCSE exams going on so DD is being set work to do from home and doesn't need to go in to college. She has just found out about the new project they are starting and came to tell me about it. It's lovely seeing her so enthusiastic after the slog that was year 11!

If we can get DD on the college bus home, we will meet her at the bus stop and walk back with her. Still a far less effort for us than a 1hr round trip.

Sorry to hear that @Borka
Dd is a very anxious person, sadly ☹️
I had hoped this school break would be without incident, but 🤷‍♀️
She had a better noght last night so 🤞

Oh dear, I spoke too soon! DS is worried about coming back from college in the dark now the clocks have changed.

DS doesn't seem anxious, but he only had a week off which I think worked better for him than being off for longer this early in the course.

Anyone's dc getting anxious about going back?
Dd has had a 2 week half term but there's an inset day scheduled on her first day back

Thank you @sashh 😊

Thanks for your suggestions. Nothing would persuade him to go back to his old school, but he needs to take a look at local shops and other places IT is used.
I'll look at transport companies as you suggest - once I give him ideas, he's happy to contact them itself, it's just all the "ghosting" as he calls it is getting him down.

Is there an IT/ computing club at his old school? Helping out with something like that could be useful.

If you are in the Midlands an independent IT shop has just opened round the corner from me.

Libraries often have computers for people to use, maybe volunteer to help with that.

I also think large companies might have opportunities, I worked one summer for National Express, they have lots if IT the network control department can check the temperature in each coach, see everything from motorway cameras, check the breath test of every driver (the drivers have blow a bretheliser to start the coach) then you have time tabling, seat booking etc etc.

DS course is IT and they have told us that it is difficult to get meaningful work in the area (computing), especially in the first year. We've been told to think outside the box and that actually anything (they suggested charity shops) would be ok.
DS has emailed a few places the college suggested and a few that I found - no one has even replied to him.
One place, he walked into, they asked him to email - no reply!

Work experience. This can be paid but usually is unpaid.

If she has organised it herself @swampwitch0 that is fantastic and when it gets to UCAS form she should remember and insert, "I proactively sought and secured my own work experience as I like to be ahead of..." you get the idea.

As long as it can be linked to the course then that is usually OK. There is some cross over with all work placements eg health and safety and policy and procedure.

Don't take the next bit as gospel, it's an idea of what the college may expect.

H and S it will be looking at possible hazards in the work place, carrying out a risk assessment, identifying the first aider, where the first aid kit is, where are the fire extinguishes and what type are they.

Policy and procedure, policies are what to do and procedures is how you do it. All work places have policies and procedures.

Wishing continued success for all your teens.

I'm not exactly sure wrt work experience @Sisublondie
I need to read up on the spec/college website but, unfortunately dd is not well tonight...as usually happens when she's been busy/not slept much, she vomits ☹️
Always just before bed ☹️
Hoping she'll get some sleep now...
Not sure I will!
Sorry to hear about the car 🚗
The party dd went to last night was in a tiny hamlet down a cart track, basically 😬
Not fun in the dark, wind and rain 😕
Glad your ds's party went well 😊

You do a far better job than I could at that! High five, for all, as teaching and teenagers takes some guts! 🌟

Paleolithic era…😈😹🙀😹!! Ditto!

Well! I feel terrible for joking about taxi journeys! , as yesterday, halfway through Halloween 🎃 M-Uber trips, my beloved old XC90 went into “ limp” mode, so I crawled along the nasty ass fast, winding road in torrential rain with scared DS and mate in back, with nowhere to pull over, to thankfully get home in one piece….. and DH had to take over taxi duties!!

BUT!!! DS’s First Party went well!! He came home smiling, which is all I could as for! ( however……! DS19 has just sent footage of the “ flat party” in Edinburgh he was at last night, with hundreds just stuck blocking the stairwells over floors to try to get in! Anxiety inducing! He managed to get out with his friends, and club it, instead!)

Halloween 🎃 👻 🦇 🧙 FUN! 🤩