BTECs starting 2015 - General support thread

Thanks T&T. Think the other people she knows with dyspraxia also have aspergers and she doesn't identify with them. A good frond has ADD so she sees that as a more positive diagnosis. I don't know if a different diagnosis would make a difference but remember the angst of being a teen and can sort of see why it matters to her so going with it.

to the phone charging, it's a bit of a nightmare isn't it ?!

Support guy emailed back, very helpful. Will be seeing her weekly to help with organisation of work plus contacting tutors to make sure they support. Agrees with her that she ticks more than enough boxes to fit ADD with mild dyslexia. Wants me to keep in touch so feel more positive.

DD sent pic of something she did earlier, much better than before so encouraging.

Yes at least she did pass it. She did see learning support and was due to have dyscalculia test today but themes see up the booking. I fired off an email not knowing she ended up having hour's talk with the guy. They are probably going to screen for dyslexia and suggested she sees GP for ADD screening as they don't do that and when she said how much she feels the symptoms she feels she has affect her, he said he thinks maybe she could do with some meds.

He's said she's going to get support to help her now so she's seeing him again next week. I hope that last night was crisis point for her and things improve. She firmly rejects her dyspraxia diagnosis and was asking last night for us to pay for ADD screen. We paid for DS as he is high achieving and I knew there was no way school would do it but feel with her we've paid load in past for SALT etc and
loads in tutoring so given she is significantly affected by whatever it is she has then I would like to use college facilities plus NHS, though will see review this stance if things don't happen.

Can totally relate to the too general and non specific bit. Good that learning support are helping your DD. Shame it has taken mine this long to get there but she is now. However she is still talking about leaving this summer so we'll have to see how it all pans out.

Good luck T&T, fingers crossed.

Not going well here. First assignment back and she has just scraped a pass.. Really struggling with the darkroom so finally let me have a look at her book and that is not good, doubt she would pass it at this rate. She seems incapable of following the brief. DH and I are having to step in and are going to have to micromanage her. She doesn't research things properly, just writes a sentence and there is no depth or organisation to anything .

I hope that works, Teen.

Happy new year!

Fingers crossed for you Teen

Thanks Gas another swathe of emails went off yesterday including to BASES and to the local university

Work experience is unit 26, one of the optional ones so your ds's college may not be doing it. It does quite clearly state that the w/exp cannot be an extension of current work so coaching is out, although it may count if its with a different company I suppose

Here it is the specification for it. Ds has had to do CVs, covering letters and interview techniques as part of it - no idea what the actual assignments that he has been set are though.

A while back I asked DS if there was a work placement element to the course and he said they had to do some volunteering which is when he said that the refereeing counted. I have asked again but can't get much more than a grunt although I understood his job counts (sports centre). No point when he is in that mood!!

I don't blame your DS for wanting something more glamourous.

Could he contact some universities and ask about working with a PhD student?

What about contacting BASES and explaining his predicament and ask for advice?

Has he tried looking for job vacancies to check there aren't firms he has missed?

I am trying!

Yes it is the last week of the Easter holidays and first 2 weeks of summer term. He is working with 2 primary schools already as they outsource PE to the sports company he works for albeit after school hours. He would like to try a different area ie sports journalism, performance analysis etc

There is a sports injury clinic in the next town which I think is his next avenue. I think he will need to accept that he is not going to find anything glamorous until he is over 18

What is your ds going to be doing?

Presume this is during the Easter holidays so schools are out of the question?

What about shadowing a personal trainer who would also let him get involved in helping to develop training programmes.

As a last resort could he ask the gym to go back but say that the placement has to be more hands on as in shadow the trainers there.

By the tine my DS passes his driving test it will virtually be time for him to go off to uni!

ds sat the ref exams last year and passed but didn't get the 6 games in because he had an operation on his foot and was off the field for a few months. The county FA office is a killer to get to and would involve a bus a train and then two buses. Its only around half an hour by car but ds hasn't yet got a licence. db is in Yorkshire and did some work for the 2012 Olympics and then the LTA but his leads dried up. His school work experience was in a gym and they would take him back but he wants to do something other than answering phones for his mother's mate.

I was going suggest the FA actually as you can be a ref from 14 so I thought they would be more accommodating. Have you tried your County FA office - don't know how near you are to them but they might be more inclined than the national FA as they run the courses.

I expect the London firms will have students coming out of their ears and some are worried about insurance etc. I know my DH's place won't take anyone under 18 but where I work there is a constant stream of students.

Have you family in another part of the country that he could also look in that area too?

I do feel for you as my DS is a summer baby so he would be struggling too. Mine has to do volunteering. I was a bit shocked to find out that refereeing counts!

Will keep trying to think. Good luck

Yes Gas he was hoping to find a performance analysis company in London that would take him on but nothing - Sky sports, British Olympic association, the FA and a zillion other small clubs all want over 18. He's already coaching with a sports development company and that isn't allowed to count. Thought as we are within commuting distance of London it would be easier but its not :(

eatyoutveg Does it have to be sports related?

ds has 2 assignments too but much worse is trying to find a 3 week work experience placement for Easter! His birthday is in the summer holidays and everywhere he's looked seems to have an over 18s only policy.

Oh dear, so no let up

College told them the first term hardest, maybe next one might be a little bit easier ?

One term down and we've survived !

I haven't read your previous threads Mini but sounds like you have had a tough time so briliant news it has turned around.

I get what you are saying about people's attitudes. We get it doubly as not only is DS doing a BTEC but he is at the local tech not sixth form college. I am such a bad mother!

I am like eatyourveg. A year ago I was worrying how DS would deal with college since his work ethic at school was shocking. DS is has 4 out of 5 offers so far and and on target for top grades. Unfortunately the uni DS wants to go to is not offering such a good scholarship but I am hoping he will get something.

A few years back I was convinced that DS was not the uni type and that it would be my DD going. Other way round so it shows you never know how things will turn out