Thread 22 Covid Cohort - Creeping towards the Future - Personal Statements and Interviews

[OrangeCinnamonCocktail]

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to threads about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue.

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.

Previous thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/further_education/4370509-Thread-21-Corona-Cohort-Nervous-waiting-so-frustrating
Role Call below
@20newnames / DS / Engineering
@Alsoplayspiccolo / DD / English + Film
@AnneofCleavage / DD / gap year? Primary Education
@BlueMarigold / DD / Biology
@crazycrofter / DD / Child (?) + Mental Health Nursing
@Decorhate / DS / Economics + Politics
@Delphigirl / DS / Oceanography
@DoggerelBank / DS / tbc sciencey
@ealingwestmum / DD / Middle Eastern and European Studies
@EerilyDisembodied / DS / History or Environmental Management
@estherfrewen / DS / History
@EwwSprouts / DS / Biology
@Fiddlersgreen / DS / Journalism
@Fruitygal / DD / Biology
@Hattifatteners / DD / Vet Med
@Heifer / DD / Biology
@Hopeful201 / DS / Medicine
@Horace123 / DS / Classics
@icanbewhatiwant / DS / History + Philosophy
@Isthisjustnormal / DS / Comp Sci
@KingscoteStaff / DD / Medicine
@mummabear74 / DD / Environmental Science
@mummyinbeds / DS / Law + French Law
@Nard75 / DS / Maths
@NCTDN / DD / Liberal Arts
@Oblomov21 / DS / Accountancy
@OrangeCinnamonCocktail / DD / Music (uni)
@PaddingtonPaddington / DD / Music (cons)
@Piggywaspushed / DS / Social sciences combo
@ProggyMat / DD / Classics
@SandyBayley / DD / Medicine
@Seeline / DD / Liberal Arts
@singingstones / DS / Neuroscience
@Wheresthebeach / DD / gap year? Marine Biology
@whoamitojudge / DD / Cabin crew training
@Zebracat / DD / Liberal Arts or Anthropology
@ZittiEBuoni / DD / applying next year

The other thing diagnoses provided for us is my confidence as a parent in reaching out for support. Before DS had his diagnoses I was worried I was just being a paranoid parent, once we had the diagnoses it took me a while to process it all or even tell anyone but once I'd decided to apply for the EHCP that was it, there was no stopping me. Similarly but on a smaller scale with DD, she just has a diagnoses of dyslexia but I suspect there might be more to it and am monitoring. It's never too late to get diagnoses and reach out for support.

@Volterra yes it does. Dyslexia falls within the scope of the Equalities Act for reasomable adjustments and also for DSA. I will be applying for both my DC.

We have done DSA for DS1 and is very helpful with financial support for printer etc, software that is specialist and uni one to one support - He says isn’t nuts I have to get to uni before anyone helps me ?

Fruity, he makes a good point.
At every stage of education, we’ve been told support will be much easier to access at the next stage.

Why??
How many people will fall by the wayside while waiting? It shouldn’t be a case survival of the fittest.

@Alsoplayspiccolo DS sounds very much like your DD! I'm hoping that's the case. 'Confidence' & 'Awareness' were the keys words missing from my long post...yes yes yes! Awareness for both ds and us his parents that we weren't doing something horribly wrong and that ds wasn't going mad and 'confidence' that once armed with a diagnosis, you can now find the right help.

It would be wrong of me not to add, that being able to afford private treatment has also helped DS hugely. Apart from adhd which we managed to get help with on time via NHS, his other SEN issues have cost a lot because the NHS waiting list, as long as the M25 and back. I don't know what we would've done if we couldn't afford CBT. It costs a fortune! every single time we've been for an appointment I've wondered what do children from poorer backgrounds with the same condition do? mental health problems do not wait until you can afford it, things like OCD, anxiety or depression change so rapidly that treatment really is needed at the first sign.

I'll stop there as I realise I'm starting to ramble on way beyond the thread subject.

@Monkey2001

Ooh Zitti progress seems to be on a good trajectory right now!

I have just got notification that DS's passport has been approved (phew), so should receive it next week and have a chance of getting the replacement driving licence in time for his test. We are all blaming lost licence on his possible ADHD now!

@Delphigirl weren't we expecting to hear about a driving test from you?

@Monkey2001 you are brilliant, thank you. HE PASSED!!! He is SO delighted and excited. Phew. I’m so sorry I’ve been silent this week - working away and we very waking minute filled. In fact I’m on a con call now. I will try and catch up and reply to you all tonight xx

👏👏 to him Delphi!

Great news @Delphigirl, the driving tests are going well on here this week.

Monkey, we haven’t forgotten about the passport either…

Well done @Delphigirl! DS currently at the GP with suspected appendicitis... that's all he needs! I'm working so DH has taken him

DS had first lesson yesterday. His legs were 'beautiful' apparently. His steering traumatised the instructor!

Fantastic news @Delphigirl. Lol at 'beautiful legs' @Piggywaspushed. I think we now need to get a move on with ds2's lessons.

Yikes esther, hope he’s ok. DH was reluctant pushed by me to go to GP, and had it removed 5 hours later just before rupture. Well done for getting him into GPs, a task in itself in this climate!

Great news @Delphigirl and hope your DS is ok

Congrats delphigirl!

DD finished her exam and said it went well . Perhaps I should get some gloves to go with the woolly hat...

…and the scarf to follow She’s getting there Zitti

@Delphigirl congrats re the driving test!! He must be thrilled

Great news about the test @Delphigirl!

@estherfrewen I’m hope your DS is ok, that sounds worrying

Great news Delphigirl and Zitti.

Estherfrewen I really hope DS is ok

Well done to @Delphigirl ds! @estherfrewen hope he gets good care and a quick op if necessary. Dd had appendicitis in year 7 and was passed from doctor to doctor until it eventually burst and then op was more complicated than it should have been 😬

We’ve thrown £200 down the drain on driving lessons - he would only do 2 hour slots so she had five 2 hour sessions and only got up to second gear in the last session! I’ve taken her out and she’s not learned much! So how we’re looking for a new instructor!

Well done to your DS, Delphi!

Fingers crossed for your DS, Esther - hope he’s dealt with easily and swiftly. X

Has anyone seen that the Government has just belatedly issued guidance that exam year students should be tested trembly in public exam conditions so that there is more evidence for teacher assessment should real exams not go ahead. I’m a bit guilty that Iwasn’t on her case about these mock exams now. Does seem a bit lat for the guidance...

Termly not trembly, although trembly prolly covers it!

How did the film studies mock go Zitti?

Well done Delphi's DS on passing driving test - whoop whoop.

Amazing news is that DD's UCAS form has been sent off today. So relieved.

Not so good news is I'm feeling under par today: headache, sniffly, itchy eyes, light headed and umm urgent dash to the loo. Am a COVID contact as saw my dad Sunday and he got positive LFT later that day then PCR next day. Seems too coincidental to be just a cold or other virus. Not sure if my above symptoms are typical but there you go. My booster was due today but thought I wouldn't go just in case I was incubating so I'm at the tail end of jab immunity.