EHCP, no gcse’s & college

[HayleyNC]

Was hoping that someone may have had a similar experience with their child.

My DD almost 18 has an EHCP, she has an EOTAS and has been educated at home within her needs since she was 14.

She has applied for and been excepted for a Art and design course at our local college. This will include foundation maths and english gcse’s. It has already proven to much for her as we expected, and was wondering if anyone else has been successful with the college just allowing there child to do the course applied for with out having to sit the gcse as well.

She is extremely creative, It would be such a shame for her to not be able to carry on with the course that she has a massive interest in and has been apart of her whole life because the english and maths are just to overwhelming demanding for her.

🙏🏻 someone can give me hope.

Will they not allow her to take English and Maths functional skills instead of the GCSEs?

Similar position here.

My understanding is that they only have to stay doing Maths and English until they are 18. Depending when her birthday is, could she stick it out until then?

Alternatively, if she still has EOTAS in her EHCP, you can study English and Maths away from college and at a pace she can cope with. We did this last year.

Unfortunately the local college has just been named on her ehcp so no longer EOTAS. Maybe studying the english and maths away from college like you suggest could still be an option….hoping to meet with the college asap so this is something I defo discuss with them. I will also look into if she has to continue with maths and english after her 18th which is in January, thank you for pointing this out.
Her timetable is only 2 1/2 days which is fantastic but still beyond what she can manage in a educational setting. Taking away the maths and english there significantly reduce her timetable but she would still be accessing the course she originally applied for and would absolutely excel and would be much more manageable for her.

It is functional maths and english but unfortunately brings her timetable to way over what she can manage in a educational setting 😔

I think if they don’t have 4 in English or Maths it’s actually a funding requirement that they continue study towards it rather than being what the college just insists upon. In which case I don’t think it’s possible to drop them from the timetable. But worth investigating other ways of achieving that.

Are you sure its functional skills? Just your original post said foundation GCSEs which are different?

The funding regulations that mean 16-18 year olds must study towards a level 2 in English and Maths also apply to those 18+ with an EHCP.

However, that doesn’t mean DD actually has to sit either or both this year and there is an exemption if DD is assessed as not able to study towards either GCSE or stepping stone qualifications. Provision at an appropriate level and in an appropriate way should be provided instead.

As well as speaking to the college, you could also request an early review of the EHCP to get provision included in there for E&M (or just one) other than at college or at college but 1:1 (and thus may be able to reduce the number of hours).

Yes.

DD missed all y11 due to anxiety and depression.

First year at college she ended with 70% attendance. She couldn't do a whole 4 day week, and we prioritised her course over maths & english so she missed way more of those lessons. We would drive her in late or bring her home early.
Both years it was agreed to only sit 1 GCSE resit as she couldn't have coped with so many exams so close together.

They only need to 'work towards' not actually sit the exams.

Just returning, going to need same discussions this year at some point.

Can she do the functional maths & English at college & then do art at home.
They have to do maths & English if they don't have gcse in order to get government funding. The maths & English are more important for employment.

Can she plan to increase the hours she attends? That's going to be key when she looks for employment .

No college would take DD for y14 just for English/Maths without a proper course too. 'Computer says no' due to funding.

They can, and must, with an EHCP if that is what the EHCP stipulates.

It's a legal requirement, funding requirement and an element in the legally binding EHCP that they have to ensure she studies for both Maths and English.

an element in the legally binding EHCP that they have to ensure she studies for both Maths and English.

That would depend on what is written in the individual’s EHCP. It is possible to have it written into the EHCP that one or both are not studied.