SEN need not apply

[Dsjobhunting]

My DS has autism. He's not really badly affected but he didn't manage to get any gcses above a 2. He's doing a course for SEN kids but having looked around at jobs and other courses his options seem extremely limited!
What I've found is that even "normal" courses in college are stipulating GCSE at a set level. Employers want GCSE at a set level. Even apprenticeships.
Then there are the local councils who you'd think might have jobs suitable for people with disabilities such as this but no. Even a helper in a library which I know he could do, MUST have 5 GCSE’s. What will become of my DS? I fear for his future as I won't be around for ever and he won't qualify for disability as he's actually marginally too capable. AIBU to think there should be more help out there and understanding for young people who just are not able to sit exams or learn a skill.
Don't get me started on jobs that don't actually involve driving but require a licence anyway. Which he won't have as he can't process the dangers in the car.
It all feels rather discriminative yet he's a bright and wonderful person who'd actually be an asset. He's not a physical type so the "trades" jobs are out. Any ideas while we're here?

I'd second the PP who said consider the computer qualifications. I was also thinking of possible seasonal work that should be coming up soon, such as a lot of marquee building companies who have most to do in the summer, and similar stewarding possibilities for summer events depending on what he might enjoy.

I'm not a great fan of many of the free or cheap online courses delivered partly by video, because the quality is very variable, but having a go at one or 2 of these that are manageable for him may show an aptitude for being able to take on properly funded ones: Alison | Free Online Courses & Online Learning Some may be accredited by (e.g.) City & Guilds - I did a Covid-safe workplace one, for facilities work, for example, and there are also project management ones (e.g. Six Sigma early grades) that are widely available, and that are somewhat useful for a lot of areas of work.

My son has inattentive adhd. He achieved Grade 2 GCSE in maths and English. He's doing a level 1 course in plumbing and wants to do level 2 this September and he's resitting his maths and English alongside this. They said if he passes his functional maths and English this will be ok.

Except now they are saying no. The entry requirements for level 2 plumbing are grades 3 in maths and English. He didn't get the option to resit GCSES only do functional skills which is a 2 year course, year 1 is functional skills and if he passes this then he'll do GCSE English and maths in year 2.

So he's spent a whole year doing well on a plumbing course but can't go on to do the next level cos he hasn't got the right GCSE'S but didn't get the option to resit GCSEs this year only functional skills which they won't accept for level 2 plumbing.

We are both so frustrated. They seem to make it so bloody hard for kids who aren't academic or who have SEN. My son didn't get diagnosed until after his GCSE'S and hasn't got an echp. He's bright but exams are where it all goes wrong.

I'm also worried for his future same as you @Dsjobhunting He's volunteering now and he's applied for 162 jobs in everything from cleaning to portering and they all want experience or GCSE's. He's had two interviews for fast food which he didn't get as I imagine his inattentiveness comes across as a lack of focus. He can't switch it off as much as I'd love him to. He's on a waiting list for a review of his adhd and the option to try medication, his review is already 4 months late so we can only wait. All i do is worry and I don't want him losing any more confidence which is what's happening now.

It's so so hard.

Have a look at project search

https://www.dfnprojectsearch.org/

he really needs to get his functional math and english if he doesn't want to do manual work. there's a lot of lost kids out there. my niece is doing travel and tourism with a view to work in travel agency or air steward. she didn't get any gcses but they are doing the functional qualifications alongside the course

I was also going to suggest hospital porter. It pays up to £22k and most only require basic literacy and numeracy qualifications, not GCSE's. Have a look at NHS jobs.

What makes you so sure that he wouldn’t qualify for benefits? He’s autistic, he can’t drive due to slow processing, his academic results were unfortunately too low to get him into work… what are his other options?

My kids are autistic too. I meet a lot of parents who assume - incorrectly - that their child doesn’t meet the criteria for all sorts of things.

Supermarkets sometimes take on people with learning disabilities to collect trolleys and return to trolly bays, or to do work in the warehouse loading up and unloading lorries. It would be boring but it would be a job. Also near where I used to live they had a plant nursery that grew plants for the council to use and to sell to the public. They also had a micro cafe that you could buy tea, coffee and biscuits. Drinks were £1 and 4 biscuits were 50p. Several of the staff had Down's Syndrome and they grew some lovely plants to sell and they took turns to sell the coffee and tea. We used to smile because my neighbour and I went to buy our summer bedding from them and they used to offer you a hot drink and biscuits then they would count you out 4 then often eat one 🍪 themselves. Could you help him find something like that?

It’s really tough. I have two girls who are both autistic, they both have ehcps and attend specialist schools. The eldest is 14 and has middling support needs but lots of anxiety and I think further study and work is going to be really tough. GCSE predictions are under 2 except for English which is a 4. We’re looking at possibly functional maths. Could your son do functional skills? It’s so tough as everything requires at least a 4 in English and Maths even apprenticeships now. It leaves children with disabilities out in the wild with no hope. Youngest of mine is 11 and is severely disabled and will never work.

I would apply for an ehcp. Ipsea have a model letter. Although a friend who is a Sen advocate advised that an ehcp isn’t as helpful at college as colleges can’t be forced to take students. But it might help. Sorry you and your son are going through this. The world is very tough for kids but seems impossible for kids with disabilities.

@Octavia64, we are in your neck of the woods and are looking at CRC for my older dd. This area isn’t great for Sen colleges and we’re being told that going back into mainstream is the only option after GCSEs unless dd goes residential.

Does your LA have a post 16 team? They should be able to advise what his options are, make suggestions on courses, training providers that specialise in teenagers and young people with no qualifications, skills are unemployed etc there might even be funding available and no need to ha an ehcp

@paisley256 are you able to pay for him to take his GCSEs as a private candidate? It may be too late for this summer's exams but re sits are November and January. Also.some exam centres that offer functional skills allow you to retake the functional maths / English quite regularly and no need to wait the year if that is all an option . Take a look at tutors and exams who have centers all over UK.

This! My 18 year old son is doing this in September

As this poster said - he can apply for an EHCP himself.

https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/extra-SEN-help#:~:text=Requesting%20an%20EHC%20assessment,re%20aged%2016%20to%2025.

My son who types has one, they last til 25 unless they go to university, so if you can get one it will help (and if he's only geeting a 2 at best it sounds like it will)

Agree with other posters. Request an EHCP needs assessment immediately OP. You can apply on behalf of your DS yourself. it will in effect mean the local authority have to provide and fund education that meets his needs until age 25 or until he achieves the outcomes in it. This can include specialist autism colleges that he can do courses up to age 25 that would provide education and work experience.

I had to do this after my DS’s secondary said it wasn’t necessary. Our local authority twice refused to assess as they said his school hadn’t shown what support he was getting (none) but on the 3rd attempt, after I made loads of complaints, he got at EHCP at age 15 without having to go to Tribunal. I now bitterly regret that I didn’t go to Appeal after the 1st refusal when DS was 12 as mainstream secondary school was a disaster for DS with long term affects on his MH, but we parents of SEN children are often made to feel that we’re in the wrong and the so called professionals know better!

IPSEA are a nightmare to get through to for advice but you can try and book an appointment on their website or try the call in helpline (go on the website to check times). They have templates to request assessments, advice about appeals etc. I think Appeals to the SEND Tribunal are running at about a years waiting time so start the process quickly in case it comes to that.

Think about what DS’s SEN needs are. Does he have any learning disabilities/difficulties, processing delays, MH needs (anxiety?), social skills, where is he at with independent living skills - budgeting money, personal hygiene, can he cook, do his own washing, operate machinery, keep himself safe in and out of the house?

All that can build a picture. Also apply for PIP. I didn’t think my DS would get it but he did with only a short home visit.

our local sixth form colleges (2 of them) have a load of courses for further education that woudl work. They are level 1 courses or courses where you can retake GCSE maths and English.

It is an important question to answer, do you think he could get maths and ehglish if he just did those with support? Because taking a year to do that will open a lot of doors.

But as I said they also have a lot of level 1 courses for students with very low GCSE grades.

Thank you so much for this information, I wasn't aware this was even an option. I really appreciate your response.

No advice i'm afraid but I worry this will be DD in a few years time she's currently 15 with diagnosed ASD, ADHD and dyspraxia. not been in school for 2 years and was turned down twice for an EHCP. I've just had that second decision overturned at mediation. But it's hugely worrying

I would look at doing one GCSE - either Maths or English, whichever he is better at. He could spend a year doing just the one GCSE. I'd ask a college for help with this - and try to get an EHCP for him via the college.

Hi all my son has Autism he is at college doing a course he likes, but along side this course he is having to redo maths, he has just failed his 4th reset which as you can imagine has been devastating he now is not wanting to go to college, it has been hard enough getting him to go as it is, is there anything that says he has to redo it again

Did he resit this Nov? I thought results weren't out until Jan?
Is he getting 3s or lower? They only have to 'work towards' not necessarily sit the exams, but there are funding issues.
You could try asking the SENCO.

There are definitely vocational courses at Level 1 for people with less than GCSEs! Also, as an interim job, Odeon are major employers of SEN and people with disabilities.