Poor Ds is stuffed isn't he?

[Mainlyfair]

He's already spent a year NEET as he didn't get on with A levels (undiagnosed dyslexia). Now he's had an accident and spent weeks off college have started afresh this year. They want him to defer but as he's 18 now, he won't be eligible for the second year will he?

He's fucked isn't he?

He can still take a level post 16 college to age 19. Dd repeated year 13 due to ill health no problem
Depending on college if it goes older

He'll be funded until 19.

So they can miss a year, but not 2? If he defers now he'll be 19 in the first year he goes back and 20 in the second, which won't be funded.

I'm so naive, I totally assumed if it's for genuine medical reasons, the funding would still be there.

What the hell does he do? So much pressure on a young brain.

If it's a two year course I think if he starts it in the academic year he turns 19 it will be funded for the 2nd but I am not 100% sure on that.
As it was for medical reasons it might be allowed.
How much of this year has he missed though? It's only halfway through the first term. Can he not catch up?
Although when did he turn 18? Before or after September 1st this year?
If before then this is his third year isn't it?

Apply for an education health care needs assessment then he can be funded for any additional time he needs

He may well still be funded depending on the course and if it’s his first level 3 qualification. Best thing to do is call his college and ask.

He turned 18 after 1st Sept.

If he does not have a level 3 qualification he might get funded.

Depending on how quickly he dropped out of a levels that may not have been funded.

Access courses are open to people 19 or over who do not already have a level 3 qualification.

(My DD dropped out of a levels for medical reasons and much later did an access course)

He's still recovering. He's done around 3 weeks in total and nose diving under the pressure to catch up. He was already on a back foot. How do I apply for an EHC needs assessment? That sound like what he needs.

@Mainlyfair ok so he had the first year (aka Year 12 in school terms) out of education.
He has now started a two year course but they want him to re-start next September?
Have I got that correct?
So he will be funded for next year - but as I said upthread I think he might qualify for an extra year (to age 20) as the course will be halfway through.
Definitely talk to the college.

I think it also depends on the type of College, our local Sixth form will let you stay on for your 3 years of funding but no longer (if you don't have a EHCP) the local FE college you can go to at any age and funding is more flexible.

Instead of worrying about the 'what ifs' get a meeting with whoever the pastoral person is at the college and have a proper chat.

Thanks @Needmorelego yes, you have that right. College are not great on the communication front.

@Mainlyfair what is the course he is doing? What's his end goal?
You can apply to do apprenticeships at any age so it could be when he has recovered some more he could go down that route and not return to college full time.

He's doing equivalent of 3 x level 3s.
I think an apprenticeship would be great but he really wants to do college.

I've emailed every day this week saying I'm concerned he needs extra support is there anything we can do - had no reply. I know they're busy and under resourced but I'm not sure if this usual/to be expected or a sign they don't really want him back.

It can take up to 20 weeks for an EHC Assessment. It is unlikely if he managed to complete GCSE to access A-Levels. It is unlikely that an EHCP would be agreed it more likely his needs would be met by ordinarily available SEN provision.
@Mainlyfair, do you know who your senior transition advisor (or equivalent) are, they support the mainstream Year 12’s who are NEET. It is not too late in the college year for him to commence his course. Although, there maybe additional work to catch up on and he may need to be prepared to put additional study time. College classes are ordinarily 15 hours a week. School is 25 therefore an additional 10 hours he may need to allocate each week to catch up. If he is late starting due to an accident there should be a reasonable adjustment or you could ask for an over age transfer. This would mean he returns to year 12 and starts post 16 again.

Thanks - I've not heard of a senior transition adviser role, do you mean in the community or attached to the college he's at (which is a different college to the first one!)...he had support from the local careers service but only up until he had his application accepted. I could get back in touch with them I suppose.

I'm really hoping for reasonable adjustment - he seems to have developed a longer term syndrome attached to the injury he experienced and needs a very gradual and phased return which can fluctuate. I'm not sure college are that willing to accommodate as wanting him to return fulltime asap or defer.

They are part of your Local Authority. They are part of the careers service. However they should still offer support to settle into college. If you would like to private message me with your LA. I can research to find out who you should approach. There should also be a Preparing for Adulthood team that could offer support, access and inclusion officers. Reasonable adjustments fall under the Equality Act 2010, dyslexic does qualify for reasonable adjustments and college are not appearing to be acknowledging this.

He can get an apprenticeship. Many apprenticeships have no age restrictions and are fully funded

If it comes to it then he will have to make a claim for universal credit & they will help fund the 2nd year.

Our FE college was very strict. It was the extra year only. Safeguarding for the other pupils was cited for not letting those with an EHCP do courses after the third year.

I wouldn’t worry though because there is always an Access course.

He needs something that can give him some one-to-one support and a phased return. That's all anyone ever needs IMO, we just seem so ill equipped to provide that support.

Thank you @Education1870 that's very kind of you. Can I ask what your role your expertise is from?

I worry as he's very down and blaming himself, feeling like he's useless and it's all his fault. It's breaking me hearing how low he's becoming. Trying to get him to see his injury and syndrome is not just a mind over matter thing, he needs time to heal and build up stamina.

@Education1870 I have just searched your posts on mn - I will definitely pm you. Thank you 😊