16 year old kicked out of college

Becky2025 · 2025-03-18T22:17:43+00:00

Hi wondered if anyone can help - long story short hopefully but my 16 year old has been suspended from college due to disruptive behaviour - her excuse they are bullying her so she tried to defend herself but has done other stuff like not completing work in class and refusing to put her phone away. Can’t blame the college for their actions. She has completed her level 1 health and social course and will get the certificate I believe after speaking to tutors today and believe she will be permanently excluded due to previous issues. What does she do now? She has not completed her functional skills level 2 in maths or English as she failed at GCSE’s as I took her out of school early as suffered extreme bullying. For her to progress into another course or attend a college she needs those function skills. Does anybody know what her options are? Please help worried she has thrown it all away over nothing thanks

xmasdealhunter · 18/03/2025 22:32

She is able to do the Functional Skills courses online. Functional Skills - Open College are one of the cheaper options. She could then go on to do an Intermediate apprenticeship (equivalent to 5 GCSEs) where she would get a qualification at the end, or try college again.

caringcarer · 18/03/2025 22:46

Are there any other colleges around she could catch a bus to get to? Agree online functional skills can work but you have to be motivated.

Arran2024 · 18/03/2025 22:52

My LA has a 6th form for kids who can't cope with mainstream. It sounds like your daughter needs more support than a mainstream college can provide. I guess she doesn't have an ehc but have a look at the Local Offer on your LA's website to see what alternative provision they offer and see if you can get her in.

CoolaSchmoola · 18/03/2025 22:58

If you are the person I replied to on the local Facebook group then as I said there, she needs to go to the Learning Shop in town for Functional Skills. The college will signpost you to other options, it's not just exclude and done.

Even if you aren't, FS would still be my recommendation for the rest of thos academic year using whatever provision is in your area. She hasn't thrown it all away, it's a small bump in the long road of life. We all make mistakes, I made some blinders as a teenager and I'm now highly qualified and have a great career.

I'd strongly recommend she focuses on achieving Functional Skills English and maths level 2 in preparation for either returning to college in September (many exclusions are fixed term, check the letter), going to a different college, getting a job or an apprenticeship.

Original poster

Becky2025 · 19/03/2025 10:27

Hi thanks for the advice - not she doesn't have an EHC but they put provisions in place to help her at college but don't seem to have made the effort to follow those. We are waiting for a letter but this will take weeks and in the time being my daughter will hit rock bottom. They are not communicating with me and i have asked to raise an official complain as feel the college and i agreed she needed additional support and they certainly have not offered her that.

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Arran2024 · 19/03/2025 12:35

Becky2025 · 19/03/2025 10:27

Hi thanks for the advice - not she doesn't have an EHC but they put provisions in place to help her at college but don't seem to have made the effort to follow those. We are waiting for a letter but this will take weeks and in the time being my daughter will hit rock bottom. They are not communicating with me and i have asked to raise an official complain as feel the college and i agreed she needed additional support and they certainly have not offered her that.

Tbh college extra support is really not worth much. They have a few extra TAs around to help but that's about it. Even kids with ehc plans often find this at college - unless the ehc funds extra help (and it usually doesnt), it is just a case of fingers crossed.

Some colleges are better than others and some courses are better than others. But imo she would be better in alternative provision and you could apply for an ehc if she needs this.

Original poster

Becky2025 · 19/03/2025 13:05

Arran2024 · 19/03/2025 12:35

Tbh college extra support is really not worth much. They have a few extra TAs around to help but that's about it. Even kids with ehc plans often find this at college - unless the ehc funds extra help (and it usually doesnt), it is just a case of fingers crossed.

Some colleges are better than others and some courses are better than others. But imo she would be better in alternative provision and you could apply for an ehc if she needs this.

Show quote history

Hi thanks for this and to be honest this is what college actually stated to me last time we met stating they may not have the correct support in place for her. Just want her to complete these function skills and get out of there

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Arran2024 · 19/03/2025 13:14

My daughter did have an ehc but wouldn't have managed mainstream college and so she went to the alternative provision, where she got FS English but not maths. So she couldn't do an apprenticeship in childcare. But by now she was 18 and she got into our LA NEET scheme (not in education, employment or training). It kicks in at 18. They helped her get an apprenticeship in a nursery and they gave her 1 to 1 tuition on the maths and her level 2 childcare. And now she works ft in a nursery.

My other daughter went to the supported learning dep of our local college and then did an internship with Project Search. You need an ehc for both of these.

Thing about an ehc is that they can do college courses up to age 25. It might be worth applying or even speaking to the supported learning department.

Original poster

Becky2025 · 19/03/2025 13:55

Arran2024 · 19/03/2025 13:14

My daughter did have an ehc but wouldn't have managed mainstream college and so she went to the alternative provision, where she got FS English but not maths. So she couldn't do an apprenticeship in childcare. But by now she was 18 and she got into our LA NEET scheme (not in education, employment or training). It kicks in at 18. They helped her get an apprenticeship in a nursery and they gave her 1 to 1 tuition on the maths and her level 2 childcare. And now she works ft in a nursery.

My other daughter went to the supported learning dep of our local college and then did an internship with Project Search. You need an ehc for both of these.

Thing about an ehc is that they can do college courses up to age 25. It might be worth applying or even speaking to the supported learning department.

Thanks for this good to know but they have told me that she is not entitled to an EHC as no diagnose the only thing she has is irlen syndrome which i had never heard of and the college's LSD didnt do anything for her

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Yellowtulipsdancing · 19/03/2025 14:03

Funding for post 16 is for 3 years, not 2. So after this year she will have 2 more years of funding available.

the big difference between school and college is with disruptive behaviour colleges will and do ask students to leave. Therefore, some support around how your child can be in college and meet their expectations regarding behaviour might be helpful so can succeed moving forwards.

Arran2024 · 19/03/2025 14:31

People are often told their child doesn't qualify for an ehc plan but they do. And behaviour problems can be due to sen - not understanding what's going on so muck about etc.

Your daughter is operating at a very low level anyway. Level 1 is not a qualification. It is more like a participation certificate.

I sympathise - my two were at level 1 level.

I would suggest you phone these people and ask for advice about applying for an ehc: SOS!SEN

They helped me ages ago. School told me my daughter wouldn't get an ehc but she did. Head hated me for going above her.

StrivingForSleep · 19/03/2025 15:51

Request an EHCNA. IPSEA has a model letter you can use. EHCPs do not require a diagnosis. Ignore anyone who says not to make the request.