2015 university open days

I do think approach to accessibility is an appropriate thing to discuss in connection with open days because not all unis are as good at providing information on this sort of thing at open days as others - sometimes you have to dig, sometimes there is someone specifically talking about the issues for those who want to do that.

AIUI you can't apply for DSA till you have a place (or till you have firmed a place). The post 16 evaluation is a precursor to that and can be done any time post 16. I don't know if there are ones for medical issues, my DD has SpLDs and AS. Her SpLDs do have a physical dimension but it's obviously not the sae as a disability such as eg blindness or need to use mobility aids.

There have been threads about DSA in the past I think...

does the post 16 evaluation whatsit for DSA also include medical conditions (as well as eg ASD)? DD gets DLA for hers, plus school adjustments for exams (separate room, clock stopped if she's ill), but we've never needed (or qualified for afaik) a statement. Might it be helpful to have a separate thread for DSA and what you need to so? Then it would keep other stuff away from Open Day stuff here.

Another DS with ASD here. We are after a uni that wants / helps students to succeed rather than throuws them in gladiatorial pit to fend for themselves.

Did anyone formed an opinion on Durham and Bristol concerning support and favourable environment for ASD? Did anyone attended Computing or ths talks? We ruled them out based on student satisfaction statistics and distance, but maybe should reconsider

Hocus I think I got confused with someone else quoting you. Sorry! You obviously know well what a nightmare it is!

We have found some uni websites useful and some...not. Same with the conservatoires. We have sorted it all early because it's relevant for the audition/interview/exam process at some of the places DD1 is applying to - they need the post 16 evaluation in place just to give adjustment in those situations (e.g. so that she can use a laptop/keyboard for written elements, she will get extra time for sight reading and scales, they will take into account her...challenges...in the interview process). Not all of them say this so blatantly but some do (and some imply which is the worst of both worlds really).

Our school SENCO didn't know about such a thing as a post 16 evaluation when we raised it with her. We only found out about it thanks to a lovely MNer who is ahead of us in the process. Then a trawl through the admissions info on various wbsites fleshed it out. School SENCOs are geared up for GCSE and A level time extension qualification, that's a KEY thing for them (and fair enough I suppose) but this is a whole different kettle of fish. Post 16 evaluations are also done on the 'old' basis rather than the new improved DfE 'designed to ensure that kids with SpLDs get shafted' basis. So it's well worth getting it done as soon as possible.

Hocus - you need a post 16 evaluation to qualify for DSA. If you qualify for DSA then that triggers the full range of support etc (much of which won't be cash in hand but may involve study support, adjustments etc) from wherever you go. Not all institutions make qualifying for DSA their benchmark (at least not every one that we have looked at (which is obviously a tiny number) mention DSA as their trigger for support, but most of the ones that we looked at do make DSA a hard and fast triggering qualification.

Not all school SENCOs are up to speed on this.

Obviously using a keyboard for exams might not in and of itself mean that someone qualifies for DSA since custom and practice is the key trigger for that.

Uhtred I would agree with this and I think I said that we were just going through this at the moment. All I can say is that at Ds's particular university they want you to go through the DSA process, and it appears to be the "trigger". I agree this does not mean "funds" in the sense of actual money. As I understand it we have to do this for DS (at his particular university) to qualify for using a computer in exams ( as will be further qualified by the university - he has done it for GCSE and A Level - but the uni will want to check for themselves.) It's not money but it seems to be the way my son's uni check they can give some adjustment - I hope that makes sense. My post was probably not detailed enough but just trying to give some experience as to how it is working with DS. If other unis don't want the DSA process - well that's a bonus in my book.

I did say someone else would know better than me

In which case LIZS - please read Uhtred's post and make sure you know how it works for the particular place your son wants to go to. Sorry - just giving our experience.

Also Uhtred I would agree re school SENCO. When DS needed to use a laptop for A levels, we checked with School senco that this was agreed with exam board. . Then check the box on the UCAS form. Only after that when your DC has an offer from where they went to go , then - as you say - check with the particular university how they do it.

Sorry to hear that Soprano. Not terribly tactful!

DS was also at Leeds yesterday and really liked it, will definitely be in his list of five. York next Saturday. I'm looking forward to as I'm going with him, DH has done the visiting so far

If one more person says to dd 'don't go to a university with the word Metropolitan in it's name' I shall scream. Did wants to do a specialised health related course - only about ten universities do the course and most are a long way from our home. sone friends and family are being spectacularly unhelpful!

Nice to hear that about Stoke Bishop, Dun - we would have gone if we weren't jetting off to Bath next!

And yes, dd2 was rather underwhelmed by Durham - didn't feel very wooed

DD1 is applying to York but not going to the open day next week - too much going on. If she gets an offer she will go to the offer holders' day if she hasn't got n offer from higher choices (the thing about her applications is that almost all her highest choices will have the lowest exam requirements so if she gets an offer from one of them she won't need a backup).

Oh I would add that some places that have interviews, auditins and/or pre tests won't give adjustments for those unless you have a post 16 evaluation. So it's worth getting as soon as possible.

LIZS - unless your SENCO is really good I'd bypass them and go straight to whoever your nearest university uses for evaluations of their students.

Hocus - you need a post 16 evaluation to qualify for DSA. If you qualify for DSA then that triggers the full range of support etc (much of which won't be cash in hand but may involve study support, adjustments etc) from wherever you go. Not all institutions make qualifying for DSA their benchmark (at least not every one that we have looked at (which is obviously a tiny number) mention DSA as their trigger for support, but most of the ones that we looked at do make DSA a hard and fast triggering qualification.

Not all school SENCOs are up to speed on this.

Obviously using a keyboard for exams might not in and of itself mean that someone qualifies for DSA since custom and practice is the key trigger for that.

Think we're passing on York open day but it may still be a choice and we'd then visit if offered.

Glad to hear the Bristol trip was worthwhile Dunlurking. I didn't go to Durham but your description matches what DS said.

Is anyone planning to visit York next weekend?

DS has now decided upon his (original) subject. He went to York on a taster day and didn't like it at all but they are very good for his subject and he has decided he should do a proper open day.

We too were at Bristol yesterday and attended some talks with passionate lecturers which completely showed up the somewhat indifferent ones we went to at Durham. Durham felt like they were resting on their laurels rather whilst I felt Bristol were working hard to get themselves back to the second to Oxbridge slot they occupied when I was applying to universities. .
Atia we went to Stoke Bishop and it was lovely. Just beautiful. I can see why it is expensive but it might be a deciding factor for ds, (if he gets an offer). He really wants a campus uni but Stoke Bishop feels like a campus, just without the library and the subject departments.

Lovely to hear about Leeds, we are going 10th October and ds needs to like it or we have to consider some London places, or St Andrews and I am running out of steam for open days. Also Birmingham still to go later in October

I'm working on the Cardiff open day date, but she's going to carry on from there to my parents (they live in south Wales), so one or both of them might well meet her there I guess. Shame I can't see them too, but work is non-negotiable. And yeah, Sheffield (or wherever else she might pick as her 4th/5th choice!) is going to have to be a blind pick, and go to the offer holders day if necessary. Don't think dd could handle many more, tbh, let alone me

atia good to hear good things about Leeds! Bristol is also another favourite with my DD - she also liked Bath - because of the course's placement opportunities - although not so much the campus site. Newcastle is out for us (too close :) ) but will probably add in Sheffield as a 5th choice without a visit as frankly I'm Open Day out!!!

Thanks hocus that is really helpful. I'm directing Ds in the first instance to the senco at his school who only recently started in the hope they are appropriately qualified to assess.

Ds currently uses laptop in exams but the Surrey lady mentioned some funding (DSA?) and we'd need a very recent assessment to access their learning support from the beginning.

LIZS - we're just going through the process it sounds like you were referring at the moment (Ds going to uni this year. ) You will need an up to date Ed Psych assessment report done after he was 16 (in our case a local one recommended by the uni.) Then you apply to DSA and then you have another assessment which helps the university decide what support he needs / is available, including being able to use a laptop in exams/ extra time if required etc. I can't say which universities are particularly good but I can certainly pm if you like if I can help answer any questions as we go through the process. The student disability office at the uni were were massively helpful. I would say when he has his shortlist get him to phone them and he will get an idea quickly I am sure how helpful they are for that uni.

In my DS case it is dyslexia. As and when it comes to it you need to make sure your son remembers to tick the disability box on his UCAS application.
Others will know more but we are in the thick of it at the moment. (I know we should have got on to it earlier.)

Atia I agree the S'oton kitchens were really tiny, no way everyone could cook and/or eat in there simultaneously!

Lizs it makes me laugh that my DS, who finds fault in so very many things at home /with us as parents, is not taking this opportunity to get as far away as possible! Nothing further than a 2 hour drive is being considered, which is frustrating as he could consider places like Durham, Edinburgh and Even Nottingham. They must love their Mummy after all

Went to Southampton last Sunday - looked at the map and decided I wasn't driving all the way down to West Quay for a bus back, so sussed out somewhere to park between the main campus and Glen Eyre halls. Walking down to the humanities campus it seemed there was lots of weekend parking available. Anyway, dd liked the campus and the subject talk, but has crossed it of her list having heard the details of the course. (Did wonder if she could have done that online and saved us a trip!) Looked at a couple of halls and liked the bedrooms but not the kitchens.

Yesterday did Bristol and Bath by train which was heaving. She loved Bristol - knew she liked the look of the course already, and really liked the talk and the feel of the place. She definitely prefers the city universities. We didn't bother going out to Stoke Bishop to look at accommodation, just watched videos of them in the Information Fair, lol, whilst I winced at the prices!

Then on to Bath - not her ideal course, but has interesting features, so she was curious. Knew already that the campus was on the edge of town, but hadn't fully appreciated how "middle of nowhere" it would feel! She didn't like that, although the talk was interesting and the accommodation nice, so I think it's been crossed off too.

The list seems to be shrinking rapidly, I'm not sure she's going to have 5 choices she's happy with really. But at least she knows what she wants - a very specific course, and not on an out-of-town campus. So far Newcastle and Bristol are joint favourites, and she loved Leeds although the course would be a compromise (zazas both my girls really liked Leeds, and having friends living there I know it's a good city to live in - as far as I know there's no catch!). Also planning a trip to Cardiff, and wondering about Sheffield.

We visited Leeds University's Open day yesterday and were very pleasantly surprised! Although in fairness I've never been to Leeds before so had absolutely no expectations. My DD is looking at Economics and we both honestly felt that the lecturer delivered the best talk out of all the universities we have visited and being the PFB we have been to quite a few (Durham down to Oxbridge and everything in between it feels :) ) He just got the balance right between information about the course, the department, the support offered, where is all leads to and the positives of the University. He was obviously so passionate about what he taught and the research that was involved in that my DD was completely enthralled. She also loved the campus - it felt like there must be a real buzz about the place when the students are all there and because it is so pedestrianised it was relaxing to walk around. She didn't expect it to be a favourite but it is definitely now - it is a lovely when a course offers exactly what she was looking for - even if she didn't really know what she was looking for! Is there anything about Leeds that we should be aware of - she is still caught up in the buzz to look at it objectively and I know very little - as not from the UK!