BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

I think it's good to micromanage them initially until they're comfortable with deadlines and completing assignments. I certainly plan to with DD - she needs to hit the ground running if she wants to progress from Level 2 to 3. I took a leaf from @swampwitch0 and got ChatGPT to give us an outline of what to expect in the first six weeks, after uploading the course spec. It's proved to be SO helpful. DD read through it yesterday and got really enthusiastic about what's to come.

My daughter went to enrol on her T Level and they’ve said she can no longer do the course. She is so gutted as this was the perfect plan in her head.
The reason being her science is not deemed good enough even though she did pass and meet the requirements it was on the lower side so they worried she would struggle with the science side.
It was a shock as they’ve previously said it didn’t matter if she didn’t pass!

Honestly, having watched a lot of friends' kids do BTECs, and having seen DD do a L2 over last 2 years, I really would help him - especially if any SEN/ND involved.

It is a lot easier to gradually start letting them be more and more responsible for managing and organising than it is to pick up the pieces when it's all gone horribly wrong.

If they end up having to juggle current assignments, resits etc then you risk them drowning, and with BTEC you have to be consistent - no last minute revision session and pulling it out of the bag at the end of the year.

My main advice would be not to fall behind deadlines set. Once they get going the deadlines come thick and fast and if you fall behind on any it's very hard to catch up, as at any time you will have 2 assignments on the go at once with quick turnaround times.

She says she slept well (glad one of us did!..)
We are doing a trial run of the public transport tomorrow...I'll go with her on the way in on her first day if she wants...or possibly older dd.

@swampwitch0

How are things today? Did you get any sleep? Is your DD any perkier? 🤞

I will ask (I'm away from home as DM in hospital) but she probably won't remember and she did the work based course not the theory.

Thinking back 4 years when she did a week on the level 2 theory, she did have an early assignment on biology, labelling parts of the body in mammals such as windpipe, lungs, etc and describing their function. So mugging up on gcse level human biology might help, plus animal kingdoms, parasites, illness transmission etc.

Also any 'reading around' such as signs of health/illness/fear/etc in animals, animal welfare act, the 5? freedoms of animals, requirements for enclosures etc might help give confidence too. Terminology, nocturnal, crepuscular, carnivore, herbivore.

DD was the only one at one point who recognised a glis glis as my DP's had them in their loft!!

Just a plan for a new btec student (subject dependant obviously...)

Oooh, I’m impressed by the fact you’ve found it, let alone the AI!! All I get for DS college is snazzy YouTube ad!
So, is Pearson our AQA now?! I’ll have a dive into that!

…( before I even think about anything further..)….!😹

@swampwitch0 wow - that is a good idea. What did you ask it to create???

Yes, it will be.
I'm hoping she will get more specific info on her induction days

Hey @TeenToTwenties, could you please ask your DD for me what students study in the first six weeks of Level 2 animal care? I'm hoping it's uniform across the board rather than up to individual colleges. DD wants to prep as much as she can before starting next week, as her nerves are starting to kick in and she wants to mitigate an anxiety meltdown.

@swampwitch0 Where did you find the spec for yours? I've found what I think is the right one for DD's Level 2 animal care on Pearson but it seems to be aimed at those teaching it rather than learning it.

Same here!
I don't have any experience of btecs as I did A levels.
Dh dis btecs, though.
I've printed off the spec and good old chatgpt had come up with a 6 week plan/tips and advice.

Hi everyone,

My DD has just enrolled yesterday at college to do a UAL level 3 course equivalent to 3 A Levels. This is all new to us as my DS did A levels at a sixth form college. She is quite excited about starting next week. I'm quite proud she is not following the crowd, some in her school were very snotty about her college, her form tutor even questioned her choices on her application form (in front of the whole class!) Her GCSE grades were good enough for A levels but she has hated all the pressure of the last two years and revision and final exams so hopefully the applied course will suit her better.

My foster son has just completed this course. He got DDM. His cricket improved a lot as well as had county coaches coaching him. He's off in September to study an Integrated Masters on Sports Coaching (Cricket) and Management at Worcester Uni. It's a 4 year course and you get to study in Australia, New Zealand or Shi Lanka in third year. The BTEC taught him time discipline in submitting assignments to deadlines set, great independent research skills, referencing, and he had to do an independent project using research and statistics and write it up as a dissertation. It gave him lots of confidence, he had fun doing it and loved going into college each day, he made new friends and he matured over the 2 years. He did his course at Edgbaston.

@Lndnmummy

Welcome! Happy for you to join the party 🥳!

Ditto! Well, the DS primary school is in next village along ( about 45 children in total), their secondary school is in the nearest town, about ten minutes away, about 1450 students, so massive change.

Your DD school is teeny tiny at 500!! I can see why she is excited ( yet nervous?) about big change to Big City .. I’m sure it’s going to work out really well… 🤞🙏🤞..deep breaths.. x

@swampwitch0
Well, I had an unexpected CT scan at hospital on my (fractured) wrist today and luckily my propranolol were happily in my bag 😹….

Seriously, though, I really hope it helped- as we have said, it’s reassuring the knowledge of them being there, so having asked for one tonight, at least shows she is aware that she is feeling very wobbly tonight.. 🤞💕🤞..it worked…

I do know what you mean about not being able to sleep when you know your DD is struggling . DS’ bedroom is next door, and I can hear when he’s awake. Can hear the tone of his voice, able to ascertain if down, sad, upset.. (. “Is he crying on the phone?? How do I go in without him thinking I’m eavesdropping??)… but, then finally able to try to sleep if I then hear him laugh. I understand, it is so hard, as even when he goes quiet, I then overthink, wanting to check he is safely asleep……. bloody children! 🙄

I hope you do manage to get some rest, even if it’s just lying still with your eyes closed, trying to sleep 🤞 💤 💕

Hello! 👋

We live in a village.
Her school has 500 pupils (so very small for a Secondary school)
The FE college is in a big city, which means public transport 😬

@Sisublondie
Thank you so much 💕 That's exactly how I feel. You've summed up my frustrations very well!
It's not about me, but bloody hell, I'm SO irritated by her attitude 😒
She's asked for one of her anti anxiety tablets this evening so I know she's feeling very anxious.
I'll be up until stupid o'clock, no doubt...I don't sleep well when I know she's upset/struggling.
Hoping we can avoid a full blown panic attack 🙏