BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

One of the things for DD is the 'aim' of SI is for the placement to have the possibility of actually turning into a job.
So spurred on by this thread, I have started a 'take 2' list of target placements.
She's not great at independent travel, so we have a limit of 30mins drive too (as that is 2hrs daily for us dropping and collecting.)

Looking for animal adjacent, or places that aren't too 'sensory'.
I have: Pet shops, Moles (countryside / agricultural / pet supplies shop), Marwell, and I am now adding in garden centres/nurseries.

Really hope they can find her something. Have you also heard of this website? It's the British & Irish Association of Zoos and they often list volunteer/WE positions and part-time weekend roles. My DD has secured two weeks of WE at Easter at a tiny local zoo we didn't even know existed until we looked on here!

https://biaza.org.uk/jobs

There was no criticism and I'm sorry you are taking it as such – it was simply an observation that the thread had gone down a different route and that's why I suggested starting another thread for anyone who wanted to just discuss practicalities.

I shall do!! DS is safely off to college, ( according to DH, as DS didn’t pick up!!) so I have all day to explore and await the 👻 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👻!!! I will update later!!

Welcome back, I hope you are feeling better after your break.

If other people had continued posting, or newbies had posted, then it wouldn’t have become a back and forth between two posters. No one else was making a presence to keep the thread alive, so it’s really unfair to criticise those that have kept a presence, and who ALWAYS chat to
everyone who posts, for that which is beyond their control.

I hope you have a.lovely day.

I suspect not Marwell as Zoos tend to want/need people with a level 3. Though I had been thinking DD could maybe do entrance / retail there as it isn't too 'sensory' for her and she would have the space in breaks to decompress. Thank you for reminding me though, it will go on the list.

Small world – I was just at a wedding this weekend in Ringwood, Hants!

So presumably the college has tried places like Marwell Zoo?

My DD didn't get the science grade she needed for Level 3 so she's doing Level 2 for a year first. While it's still the same subject (animal care), the gentler transition into the college style of studying has been a godsend for her. We're actually glad now she didn't go straight to Level 3 as I think she'd have struggled but now she should hit the ground running next year.

@MotherMary14
We are Romsey, Hants (so between Winchester and Southampton).
DD is at Sparsholt.

So yes If anyone knows anyone who can offer an animal loving 21 yo a placement as part of a Supported Internship, please contact me!

The other thing about T-Levels that seems weird is they appear to be 16-19 only ? Is that right? So if you want to do vocational as an adult you still do BTEC?!

With you on the MH + animals – we can see how our DD's is boosted by being surrounded by, and talking about, animals all day. Where are you in the country? You never know, some of us on here might be able to help. A FB shout-out is definitely a good call too.

The DS of a friend of mine seems to be doing something like that. He didn't get the grades for Level 3 and he seems to be doing a broad level 2 course, which keeps his options open to choose a level 3 course next year. She's happy with that (my friend) as DS had initially chosen a course she thought might not suit him, now he has a year to decide and if he does choose same course, at least he's more informed.

I think BTECs could be streamlined, I don't think T Levels are working as well as hoped (certainly in my area the work experience is a struggle to find) but I am kind of glad that we will be out of education before the V levels kick in.

A friend of mine in Northern Ireland was telling me about the transition year that's offered there, where kids can take time out after their GCSE equivalent and do a year of work experience and vocational learning before doing their Highers. Your idea sounds a bit like that! I think taster courses are an excellent suggestion.

@MotherMary14 The college are confident they will find something. But DD's mental health will be much helped by being with animals which is why we have been focusing on them. We gave them a long list at the start of term, and have said we will chat and give another non-animal related list after half term too. Also going to post something on facebook as who knows who might see that.
It is a shame she hasn't been well enough to learn to drive yet as that restricts (though we can drive her to a location, but some jobs require driving as part of the job)

Don't get me started on V Levels! From what I've read, it's just a rebranding exercise from calling them BTECHs. Utterly pointless. It also sounds like it will cost colleges a fortune in having to change all their logos etc. Money that could be better spent on course provision and tutor pay.

Don't get me started on V Levels! From what I've read, it's just a rebranding exercise from calling them BTECHs. Utterly pointless. It also sounds like it will cost colleges a fortune in having to change all their logos etc. Money that could be better spent on course provision and tutor pay.

I don't see why they need to kill off perfectly good BTECs in order to introduce some wider scope vocational courses too.

However, off the top of my head I think that if someone doesn't know what area they want to go into there should maybe be a level 2 'taster' vocational course that does 5 weeks each across 6 areas (or something) before they pick for level 3?

I'm still here and have been responded to when I post (quite a few pages back now).
It's understandable that it's turned into chat but it might be good if a few lurkers did post to get it back on track.

Anyone got any BTEC news? Generally how do people feel about the death of the BTEC and the new V Levels?

That's frustrating – with a SI the college should be pulling out all the stops to find your DD something. Have they presented you with a list of places they've approached? If they haven't, it might be good to ask for it so you can cross-ref against any possibilities you've researched yourselves. DD's college has been hands off with the WE process and I know there are some kids in her group who still haven't got anything sorted with a week to go and are so stressed about it.

Other than that, she absolutely loves it! She's finding the course really interesting and loves the hands-on experience with the animal - for the first time ever she's actually ahead of schedule and has completed homework before its due date! She's also really enjoying college life and the increased independence after school. After such a rocky year pre-GCSEs with her anxiety it's been wonderful to see her so happy. Just hoping she does well on her first assignment!

Why doesn't your DD contact the businesses herself though? I bet she'd have far more success if she went in and spoke to them. That's what my DD did and then the college signed it off. The business then filled in the college's paperwork.

We did the contacting them herself for a) when she took a year out and b) for work experience in her course last year. These are mainly businesses who didn't reply then either, or said no. The Supported Internship is more complicated as college needs to work with the business too. DD's confidence is pretty low right now (she is back on her meds) so it is difficult to know how best to approach things. Over half term we may give it a go with a couple of places, as she's not much to lose.

One of the reasons she is doing the SI is we hoped college may have more success getting an 'in' than DD had managed.

How's the course going otherwise?

Get what you're saying, but if I was coming onto the thread as a newbie and just saw reams of back and forth about personal stuff between two posters I'd be reluctant to interrupt!

I didn't think anyone else was on here still! Well, couldn't spot anyone among all the emojis… 😬 I was previously SuperTrooper1111 – changed my name after having a mental health break from all online apps!

So sorry to hear that about your DD. What will it mean if she can't get anything sorted? We were shocked when our DD came home telling us that if she didn't have work experience (also doing animal care) booked by the end of Oct she'd lose her place. Seems so draconian when so many businesses are reluctant to take on work experience students – or they've given spots to graduates desperate for any kind of placement while they look for a permanent job. DD's got one-day a week at doggie daycare now but it's been stressful.

Why doesn't your DD contact the businesses herself though? I bet she'd have far more success if she went in and spoke to them. That's what my DD did and then the college signed it off. The business then filled in the college's paperwork.

If people aren’t posting their concerns, or thoughts about BTEC, or, indeed, anything, then there isn’t anything to reply to. I’m assuming you are referring to me as one of the posters… I am trying to keep the thread alive, and it is usually only @swampwitch0posting on here and replying.

We are all here for the same purpose, but if people don’t post, then there is nothing for anyone else to reply to! Anyone who does post, ALWAYS gets a response, so it’s not fair to not post, then say it’s only other posters chatting 🤷‍♀️.. We are all here with the intention of helping one another.

This thread has been invaluable to many people, if you are lurking or watching, please post as well!