Son is struggling with apprenticeship

[TheChip]

He couldn't handle mainstream school, as he couldn't deal with the change in classes and the teachers changed so much they weren't able to understand or manage his needs. No diagnosis as he refused to engage, but suspect he is on the spectrum.

He went to a special needs school and he was fine. You'd not realise there were any issues.
Now he has started an apprenticeship and its not very structured, things aren't happening as they should be and he is quick to point this out.

He is coming home frustrated everyday and telling me about how he has complained again. I've tried explaining to him that he needs to just go with the flow etc. But he is really struggling to do this.
None of the other students like him because of his constant complaints to the tutor.

He was going to really try today to just go with the flow, but they were being sent home 2 hours early. Ds informed the tutor on the quiet that they were meant to be there until x time but because he has also annoyed the tutor with the constant complaints, tutor then went and announced ds complaint to the other students. 4 of which are now threatening to hit him.

My son is just trying to go by the rules, and do things properly. In a frustrating manner, I know. But I really feel for him. He has been really looking forward to this, and I'm really worried that he's not going to be able to manage it until the end.

Is there anything I can do to help make this easier for him, or is there any way he can get some kind of support within the apprenticeship?

@TheChip he should have a review with the employer/training provider 4-6 weeks after sign-up then they’re periodic after that. I had an undeclared SEN apprentice who struggled with the sheer volume of written work. He’d had no help at school. He got some learning support through us and did amazing! Hopefully the same can happen for your son!

Has he also got an employer? Someone putting him through this apprenticeship?

My DD has dyspraxia, and her version seems to come with some rigidity of thought and wanting to stick to the rules.
Anyway, she has found it easier with employment to be upfront about her difficulties e.g. 'I don't pick up hints easily so please give instructions in a clear, almost blunt manner'.

She did struggle in a nursery apprenticeship (which she had to give up for health reasons) with others not following the rules. e.g. On the one hand being told to wear disposable gloves for putting on sub block and changing between each child (allergies) and then other seniors saying 'come on, we don't have time for that'.

He has to handle having responsibility for his own learning I'm afraid. Once school is finished college or uni provide you with resources but it up to you to find a way to learn and organize yourself.

This is classic "this is new to me, I don't understand, I can't do it, it's everyone else's fault" thinking. All perfectly normal for anyone in the first steps of learning anything new.

Ask him to think:
What does he need to succeed?
What help does he need to support him?

Try to encourage him to explore other ways to learn if let home early. E.g. sit in the library and watch YouTube videos on the subjects that he's being doing that day.

He will be ok. It's just a bit scary in the first few months. Some people just need to develop the skill for working out what help they need and how to access it.