AIBU to think my son can pursue further education without GCSE English or Maths?

[Italiangreyhound]

AIBU to think my son can pursue further education without GCSE English or Maths?

My son had some very difficult mental health issues in school, and also the end of his school career coincided with Covid. He is now 21.

He did go to college (with an EHCP) and got a Certificate in animal care and maintenance, and had one GCSE already, but not GCSE English or Maths.

Due to physical health issues, he has now been out of education and work for three years.

I am very keen for him to resume some education, prior to getting into paid work.

What could he consider, please? He is very bright, but dyslexic. Could Open University offer something suitable? His big passion is animals. I wondered about the environment, bio-diversity etc. Anyone got any experience of this type of subject at higher level for 'returning' students without GCSE English or Maths, please?

Have you looked at Supported Internships? They are a pathway yo work, but again for those with EHCPs.

Has he learned to drive? Not driving has been a major stumbling block for DD2 and accessing work. Unfortunately she isn't up to it.

Driving plus English&Maths FS could make a productive year.

@Italiangreyhound

I would go back to your LEA (Local Education Authority). EHCPs run until the end of the academic year in which you turn 25.

I know this as I was your son, I spent several years out of education due to mental illness and returned first to a specialist provision at 19, and then back into mainstream education at 20. I went on to Oxford after sitting A levels aged 22, I’d failed my GCSEs at 16.

Obviously your son’s academic ability and interests dictate what path he would take, but he should be able to return to education with his EHCP. If he enjoyed his course would the next level be something he is interested in? With an EHCP he can be allowed to progress without meeting the GCSE requirement if he is deemed otherwise capable. Also, at 21 and with an EHCP he should be able to take Functional Skills courses instead of resitting his GCSE Maths and English.

EHCPs don’t run until 25, the end of the academic year in which YP turn 25, or 26th birthday in some circumstances if the EHCP has been formally ceased following the correct procedure. EHCPs only continue that long if they continue to be maintained. OP needs to know if it was formally ceased following the right process.

My eldest is currently doing an OU degree, they do have a handful of GCSEs though including maths and English, failed quite a few due to poor mental health. They had a massive mental health breakdown when they should have been doing A levels and crashed out of college completely. When they got their life on track again they decided to use their PIP money to fund an access course with the OU. (They have PIP as they are autistic). Using their money to fund it gave them the buy in to engage. It gave them the confidence to know whether they could work at degree level having missed so much education. When they finished the course they felt they had done well enough in it to then do the full degree. It has been a steep learning curve for them but it is working for them. As it is their first degree they have funding for it. But it is only counted as a part time degree even though they are studying full time.

Mine did Kings Trust 12 week programme and it was excellent (no EHCP required) he’s now on a supported internship via MENCAP. I believe an EHCP is required but as others have said you do have the option to reopen it. The supported internship also offer maths and English GCSE or functional maths and English. They also do a two year pre internship programme.

trainingacademy.mencap.org.uk/

He needs to think about what he’s interested in, then contact colleges himself and ask about entry requirements and access courses. He should do this, not you, else he’ll never learn to stand on his own two feet.

This is a question only specific colleges can answer.

pointless (and incorrect advice). If a young person has an EHCP it is exactly because they need additional support to access education including finding out what is accessible to them. It is possible to support a young person in doing this whilst helping them build independence. We don’t need to throw young people with difficulties in at the deep end on their own.

Your post is demonstrating you don’t understand additional needs.

inthequietofdawn
"DS, or his appointee if he has one, should apply for UC unless he has capital over £16k. If he has capital over £16k, make a credits only NS-ESA claim instead.
This is important beyond receiving money via UC. It is important to protect his pension (should a state pension exist by the time DS is SPA)."

This is a very interesting point and not one I had considered at all. Thank you.

TeenToTwenties he's learning to drive, fingers crossed!

@PurpleDragons
“I would go back to your LEA (Local Education Authority). EHCPs run until the end of the academic year in which you turn 25.
I know this as I was your son, I spent several years out of education due to mental illness and returned first to a specialist provision at 19, and then back into mainstream education at 20. I went on to Oxford after sitting A levels aged 22, I’d failed my GCSEs at 16.
Obviously your son’s academic ability and interests dictate what path he would take, but he should be able to return to education with his EHCP. If he enjoyed his course would the next level be something he is interested in? With an EHCP he can be allowed to progress without meeting the GCSE requirement if he is deemed otherwise capable. Also, at 21 and with an EHCP he should be able to take Functional Skills courses instead of resitting his GCSE Maths and English.”

thank you so helpful, glad it worked out for you.

*inthequietofdawn thanks I will check how EHCP ended. *

ScaredAndPanicky
I am so sorry to hear about your son’s experience. But glad he has managed to join the OU.
“When they finished the course they felt they had done well enough in it to then do the full degree. It has been a steep learning curve for them but it is working for them. As it is their first degree they have funding for it. But it is only counted as a part time degree even though they are studying full time.”

Thank you so much.

Livelovelaughfuckoff

"Kings Trust 12 week programme"

Sounds interesting, thank you.
trainingacademy.mencap.org.uk/

HeyThereDelila

We very much want him to stand on his own two feet. Chronic Fatigue means he is generally asleep for most of the whole day so I get used to doing things for him.

My son is also on the autistic spectrum.

Re: funding it depends on what educational opportunities he is pursuing tbh.

I don’t want to give incorrect advice so as per my pp, contacting the local LA SEN team is your best bet x

Just to add I’d definitely look at The Kings Trust courses if available in your area.

My experience of them in supporting young adults with autism in developing skills and confidence has been excellent.

Sorry just catching up.

For clarity a pp above is correct in that you need to know the status of your sons EHCP.

I used the phrase re-open which probably wasn’t helpful. Apologies.

On the circumstances I cited the plan has not been formally ceased - the LA backlog working in our favour.

So a better expression would have been it had gone dormant.

If your sons plan was formally ceased that’s a different matter but until he is 25 you can still request a new plan and you can use a lot of the information you previously held to support that application.

@BreadInCaptivity if the EHCP of the person you are supporting hasn’t been formally ceased, you didn’t need to complete a long form. The LA misled you about that.

The LA needed to hold an annual review (assuming they failed in their duty to hold ARs in the last few years). Or if the LA had held an AR in the last year, you/the YP/their family could request an early review.

And in the meantime the LA is still responsible for ensuring anything in F is provided. And the placement in section I is still relevant - although I appreciate it may not be appropriate for the YP to attend.

*BreadInCaptivity thank you. I will check. *

The Kings Trust courses - will look into them.

Re "If your sons plan was formally ceased that’s a different matter but until he is 25 you can still request a new plan and you can use a lot of the information you previously held to support that application."

Will look into it.

*inthequietofdawn Thank you. *

Could he find employment walking people's dogs or looking after their cats. I would think a lot of people would be willing to pay him.

Thanks for the info x

I have just had a thought is he a good photographer he could set himself up as a pet photographer. I am sure he will be in demand especially if he gets reviews that say Mr whoever really seemed to care for my pet while he took the photo. It could be a very good selling point.

Yes they. Have been a really great experience for my son hes not autistic but had a tough time through school and a disastrous year 11 because of illl health
He also has a severely autistic brother
Hes loved evwry minute of the 12 week programme and hes
florished

Is it not worth going back and securing those as a life skill, even if he could get on a course without the relevant certificate? Core Maths and English are things he is going to need for life, and will be assumed knowledge on any further course he takes, so he may struggle or be left behind

@inthequietofdawn

"DS, or his appointee if he has one, should apply for UC unless he has capital over £16k. If he has capital over £16k, make a credits only NS-ESA claim instead.

This is important beyond receiving money via UC. It is important to protect his pension (should a state pension exist by the time DS is SPA)."

Can you say more about this and explain.

My son has never had a paid job, he did college for two years post 16, and for the last three years he has been receiving PIP.

My understanding is that "You must also have worked as an employee or have been self-employed and paid enough National Insurance contributions (or National Insurance credits) in the last 2 to 3 years." Which my son has not done.

madaboutpurple

"I have just had a thought is he a good photographer he could set himself up as a pet photographer. I am sure he will be in demand especially if he gets reviews that say Mr whoever really seemed to care for my pet while he took the photo. It could be a very good selling point."

That is a lovely thought, I did discuss it with him.

If DS does not have capital over £16k, DS/his appointee should claim UC. This is not based on your income or savings. Neither is it based on his national insurance record. It doesn’t matter that he has never worked.

If DS has capital over £16k (other than the house he is living in if it is his rather than your house - unlikely but not impossible, so I thought I would mention just in case.) he cannot claim UC. Instead, DS/his appointee should make a credits only New Style ESA claim. This is not based on your income or savings. It would a credits only claim, so DS not paying national insurance contributions and never working doesn't matter. He wouldn’t receive any money from a credits only claim, but it would protect his national insurance credits which is important thinking ahead to his pension. The sentence you have quoted as your understanding doesn’t apply to credits only claims.

inthequietofdawn

"Instead, DS/his appointee should make a credits only New Style ESA claim. This is not based on your income or savings. It would a credits only claim, so DS not paying national insurance contributions and never working doesn't matter. He wouldn’t receive any money from a credits only claim, but it would protect his national insurance credits which is important thinking ahead to his pension. The sentence you have quoted as your understanding doesn’t apply to credits only claims."

So, does this mean he could maybe one day get a pension?

Thank you

Based on the current rules, yes. Who knows if or how the rules will change in the future.