Thread 28 - Corona Cohort Awaiting Offers, Advance Notice, Gap Years and New Jobs

[OrangeCinnamonCroissant]

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 27 Here

One of the complications we faced was the fact that they often can't choose the type of accommodation. I gave DS1 an accommodation budget and said that if he applied for accommodation cheaper than that he could keep the minimum loan, but that if he chose the most expensive accommodation he would have to pay for the difference. I don't want them to think that an en suite is funded by bank of Mum and Dad! DS1 preferred the halls with shared bathrooms anyway, DS2 would have chosen en suite if it did not affect his spending power, but decided that £8/day of is not worth it!

However, if they are allocated en suite when they wanted cheaper accommodation I don't think it is fair to penalise them.

@scabby1

Thank you for all the kind welcome messages. Ds has woken up to an offer! Hurray. Nottingham, AAA. Now waiting for Leeds & Bristol.

Nice morning surprise! Well done DS.

Congratulations Scabby. We are waiting on a Nottingham offer, but ours won't be for ages yet. Which means we miss open day, and accommodation. Oh well.

Great news scabby!

Solidarity with those still waiting. It's hard to fathom how some are so much slower than others.

Oblomov Nottingham accommodation opens 4 April now, so if your DS has assessment / interview in March he might still make it? Are those in person, maybe they combine it with an open day.

Yes Monkey I am wondering what happens if you ask for accommodation that you can afford but are given something 3-4k more expensive. Decline it and go private I suppose. Putting that in the don't-worry-about-it yet pile for now.

DS is going for shared bathroom as he's used to that. But one of his options only has en-suite accommodation on campus, unfortunately.

@Isthisjustnormal I will be applying for DSA too for DS. He has a medical diagnosis (autism and dyspraxia) but over 10 years old however he has an EHCP and PIP report which are more recent, I have been advised I will need to get the GP to write a supporting letter. However for DD (y11) who has a diagnosis of dyslexia done in year 5 I think I will have to fork out for a new assessment.

For any DC who has access arrangements but no EHCP, get them to request a copy of their Form 8 from school/college, DD has just got hers to show her chosen 6th form college. It's not a full assessment like an EP one, but is useful supporting information.

@scabby1 congratulations!!

@ExtremelyDelighted DD had a private assessment in summer between year 7-8 and no need for further to get DSA.

That's good to know @Fruitygal, I was worried y5 might be a step too far. I will have to see.

@ExtremelyDelighted I’d speak to the uni senco departments regarding DSA as they seem more knowledgeable than the schools

DH and I have both tested positive. We've both had vague symptoms for a few days, but LFTs were negative, and we weren't going out so didn't bother with PCRs, but went yesterday. Feeling rough at the moment. On the plus side DD has negative day 5&6 LFT s so is free again. She is managing a bit of revision, but is still very tired.

well done @scabby1.

Re the fees/accommodation. Ex and I are just going to pay all of it if DS goes. I will do the housing and ex will do the fees. I did argue that Martin Lewis said no to doing the fees but thats his choice.

Thank you everyone for the congratulatory messages. The Nottingham offer has perked Ds up after the disappointment of the Manchester rejection received on Friday.

Well done to your Ds @scabby1.I can understand your disappointment re. Manchester uni & your Ds not getting an offer . I really wanted DD to get into Liverpool - my old Uni, but no she didn't. Even after a traumatic interview in the crypt of the cathedral.I enjoyed my trip down Memory lane though.
Can any DSA experts tell me if I need a Echna ( is that right?) Before applying for this? I have ADHD & dyslexia assessments for D's but all privately done. Do I also need a Gp letter? ( because I try & avoid him as he's useless)

Thanks @Fferny1. I’m actually an alumni of Nottingham Uni too! (postgrad). It is a fab place to study with a beautiful campus.

Congratulations @scabby1!

Hope you feel better soon seeline.

Covid has this way of getting people at holiday times...

@Fferny1 You need a ....copy of a 'diagnostic assessment' from a practitioner, psychologist, or suitably qualified specialist teacher if it's for the dyslexia - ours is private from a psychologist

Thanks @fruitygirl.
So an ADHD & dyslexia assessment are all i need. I'm struggling to work out how they can decide how much to give you?
Once diagnosed the only extra costs for Ds are ADHD medication & annual assessments?

You don't need an EHCNA. However DSA will carry out their own assessment of need (you can choose the assessor) - this could be anything from hardware/software, training in assistive technology, mentoring, extra time in exams, lecture notes to be provided etc as well as any adjustments for physical disabilties. Also help for travel if needed (even if due to anxiety rather than physical disability).

I have been told you often do get asked for a GP letter, we may do as DS's diagnosis was over 10 years ago. But there is a standard format I think.

@Fferny1 - dyslexia (the one I know a lot about) includes a printer, ink, paper, additional textbooks every year, software for planning essays and organisation, laptop (you contribute a small amount towards this) and other software plus they communicate DSs needs to the uni - extra time in exams etc

Here is a section explaining .....

Students can receive equipment such as a laptop (subject to £200 contribution), a dictaphone for recording lectures and a printer/scanner for students who prefer working from paper. Specialist software can also be invaluable to breaking down barriers, varying from dictation software for writing essays, to text-to-speech software for having dense text read aloud to you and mind-mapping software for planning/organisation. Training is also provided to help students get to grips with their new software and/or equipment.

On the benefit of assistive technology provided through DSA, one student interviewed in the DfE survey stated that “between the 1st and 2nd semester I saw a large improvement in my grades, going from low 60's to high 60's mid - 70s. If I didn't have the specialist software, I probably wouldn't have completed the course”.

Non-medical support recommended might include a one-to-one study support tutor, along with a general allowance for any printing and photocopying costs you might incur. In addition, depending on your university or course, you might be eligible for reasonable adjustments to your exam conditions and deadline extensions.

Congrats @scabby1. Nice to have in the bag.
@Seeline Hope it’s mild x

Cheers @Fruitygal. we will be doing that!

Well done to @scabby1.

Sorry you’re poorly now @Seeline, I hope you’re feeling better soon.

No revision being done here. We are having a new boiler put in a different place and they have had to rip up the floor of DS’s study. They are being very noisy and he is not happy.

More building work being done in the week of his actual mocks in two weeks, he said he didn’t care at the time as he has noise cancelling headphones. Which he has now lost… 😬

Looking for direction for a lovely friend who's DS is looking at Economics (doing maths Level and economics plus languages) 2023 intake - grades should be A and A* - any places to consider thinking Warwick, Durham and LSE ... not my area ....ideas? (also any to avoid- know Leicester having issues with staffing and morale)