Thread 35 - Covid Cohort from GCSE 2020 'What They Did on Their Summer Holidays'

[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. It's all relative!
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 continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will find a thread within the Further Ed board.
Possibly a move to Parent of Adult Children Board in future? Post Results?

Previous Thread

@mummyinbeds impressive that you returned to such a clean house!

with the follow signs driving test, DS’s instructor said if you go the wrong way it’s not a fail as long as you do it safely.

Phew! Dd also has zero sense of direction and no observation skills. She can’t even find her way to the local supermarket, which is in walking distance.

Glad ds survived @mummyinbeds !

Hope all the dc are enjoying their summer break? I'm basking in the cool breeze now thankfully.

Please can anyone confirm what I've heard recently that remaining with your home GP whilst away at uni and registering as a temp resident with uni surgery is no longer possible?
I know there are a few on here who have dc with complex needs so with that I mind, are you planning on transferring to the Uni GP surgery OR are they going to remain with your home GP and register as a temporary resident at Uni surgery?

Thanks.

@Shimy mine changed GP, which was complicated for Covid vaccines as he did one in Scotland and 1 in England. I don't think they HAVE to change, but they need access to a GP whilst at university and at home you can help them with temporary stuff. It may be a funding thing that GPs in university areas need the funding to exist for students.

@Piggywaspushed great to hear that DS1 has picked up useful life skills. My DS1 still couldn't organise a holiday, he is clever but not practical, has not even managed to communicate about lifts to people going to a festival, so 3 had organised public transport although he was planning to drive them. Well done to yours!

I'm not sure re the GP. While DS isn't under any regular GP care or medication he is on the learning disabilities register with our GP surgery and familiar with the building and staff as he has a checkup every year, also I am registered as his carer. I need to look into this.

First time we left DS home alone for a week (last Dec) the house was a bit of a tip when we returned with crockery and pizza boxes everywhere, mucky tables and worktops and an overflowing washing bin (just what you want when you get home!). We went again a couple of weeks ago and this time I gave him a list of what needed to be done before we got back and gave him minimum spends but promised an extra £25 if the list was done. Came home to a tidy house and he finally learned to use the washing machine, hoorah! He is ready to go to Uni now :-) well worth £25!

Hello! I've just been catching up. I'm glad everyone has survived the mini heatwave we had.

It was a while back now but well done to @Horace123 and @HoneyMobster offspring on their fantastic IB results.

Thanks @Monkey2001 for the Lebara recommendation, DD has ordered a SIM today, more data allowance for less than I'm currently paying. Although we have decided this afternoon she could probably also do with a new mobile as the battery on her current one is unreliable (seems to go from 30% to off within minutes at times). I said I'd get one as an early birthday present for her to take to uni. I'm not really sure where to start though, she's only ever had hand-me down mobiles from family and really isn't bothered. The one she has at the minute is a Samsung Galaxy S10 which she likes, so we probably want something similar, newer but definitely not newest model. If anyone knows about mobiles and has any suggestions?

It's lovely to hear about everyone enjoying the summer. DD is loving life, she's had a few day trips with friends; we've had a weekend away and a holiday and are going camping tomorrow for the weekend and then to the Fringe for a couple of days in August; she's enjoying spending time with her friends and has her first boyfriend (read the earlier discussion about others' dcs' relationship plans with interest, as I'm not quite sure how that will play out come September!). No job though, and it's seeming less likely she'll get something as time goes on, which is a shame because the money would have been good but also it must be easier to get a job once you've had a job and the older you are without one the more difficult, I'd imagine.

I've had covid (second time) which was a bit rubbish, dd seemed to avoid it (again) unless she had it without symptoms before me.

I realised last night we're already a third of the way through what initially felt like a very long summer, and it's only 4 weeks today till A-level results! It's made me feel a bit panicky actually, about all of the things I still want to do with her and teach/show her before she goes I think.

DD back from Zante, worked 2 days of sports coaching, now off to Latitude. Not exactly breaking even so far...

@mango0 dd picked up three days work with Festival Republic - they seem to be behind a lot of the festivals (including Latitude - hope dd enjoys it @KingscoteStaff !). Might be worth a try?

Dd and ds come home Sat after lunch and we need to get away for our (UK) holiday by about 5. I’m hoping I can just stick the contents of their cases in the wash and then re-pack!

@Monkey2001 I know they don't have to change but because ds has complex needs I'm wondering whether it's best he stays with the home GP or de-registers and joins the university surgery instead. It's a bit complex as we are mid various referrals and this might be ongoing so I wanted to know what others with dc with complex needs were doing. At the same time Its been mentioned to me that you can no longer remain with the home GP (since last yr) if you are away at uni so if anyone else has heard this, it'll be good to know.

@EspeciallyDeIighted DS is similar in that he has long term needs. He knows the system at our surgery and is comfortable with that. It has also has its own pharmacy so its easy to get his meds. I'm worried about him de-registering and moving to uni GP and all his care going awry etc it might be easier to only register as temporary resident with the Uni GP Surgery, that's if they still can.

Back from Lanzarote- fabulous time with no appendix issues! DS now got some extra shifts at the swim school he works for but they close for summer next week. He then has three days well paid work as a mystery shopper where he is driven round and has to buy under 18 products to see if they will sell to him. He had to look young - tick - and be under 5’9” - tick! We are all just concentrating on not thinking about results day… He has got on the Lancaster Success Programme if he gets insurance choice which gives him lots of extra stuff when
he goes by way of meet ups and employability help etc. After the whole missing final exam and appendix debacle we are just hoping he gets his insurance now.

DD’s school emailed yesterday to say results online at 8am and school open at 8.15. I think Dd will look online first and go in afterwards.

Dd can go in at 8.30 or wait for an email at 10. She says she’ll wait! I suggested she might be up early with anxiety/nerves and she looked at me like I was a lunatic! It was the same with GCSEs - I had a disturbed night full of dreams about grades and she just woke up at her usual late hour and too her time getting ready, no sense of urgency. Ds will be the same with his GCSEs too. I suppose it’s good they’re relaxed!

Glad the appendix issues haven’t recurred @craggyrat . His insurance choice sounds good. Loving the mystery shopper job!

@crazycrofter thanks - he has spoken to GP and has referral to general surgeon to discuss but that won’t be any time soon …! Mystery shopper sounds quite fun - it is almost £100 a day and he is now on their books so could do it at Uni as well if anything comes up

@crazycrofter thanks for the suggestion re. Festival Republic, we had a look last night but there didn't seem to be any casual positions advertised. DD did get a text from someone from a Subway manager last night so that may a possibility.

@craggyrat Dd does some age restriction audits, it sounds like probably a different company to your DS though as no one (other than me!) drives her around and it's paid per audit rather than per day. It's not great money but it's been quite a good experience for her as it's pushed her out of her comfort zone a bit, she doesn't always find it easy though as she's not the most observant and for some of them there are quite a few things they ask you to look out for. The amazon audits she does are the easiest and the best paid! They do require having a day where she can be home all day waiting for a delivery though.

DD got an email from Birmingham last night about their new system for allocating accommodation. It's difficult to tell from the email whether it will be a good thing or not. She'll get an email on results day if she meets her offer, which will give her a link and a time window to log onto their system and choose her room from a selection of all of the room types available (so it sounds like the choices she'd made previously won't come into it). These will be specific rooms in specific flats and there will be the option to view the profiles of other people who have booked rooms in the flat, but it also sounds like you can't create your profile until results day. Hmm, it sounds like it could be a bit stressful, but maybe I'm just projecting! I'll have to prep her not to spend too long deliberating over profiles and potentially miss out on a room in one of the affordable choices.
What do other potential Birmingham parents think?

@craggyrat as the parent of a 5'2" lanky 18yo that sounds like a good job, would it be possible to name the company? Or is it trading standards? I have been surprised sometimes when I've bought him alcohol in pubs and he hasn't been id'd.

@Shimy I think I am going to phone our GP surgery next week and ask about this issue. Also will ask the learning support team at his uni what others do.

Actually 5'5", it's DD that's 5'2"

@EspeciallyDeIighted - company is Cosine and he is doing lottery ticket buying. I hadn't realised you had to be 18 to buy them

I think it used to be 16 but that changed it at some point

I haven't looked at this thread for months. DD is excited to be off to Exeter to study medicine in September.

She has a packed summer planned. She literally started working the day after she finished her last A level (with inevitable hangover) for Host - it's been great - she's worked at an Ed Sheeran concert at Wembley (where she had a fantastic view of the stage) and served Caitlin Jenner and Tinie Tempah at Goodwood Festival of Speed. And she did a cloakroom shift last week for 6 hours..... very easy money - she had 4 items to look after all night! She's clubbing in Marbella this week and back at Goodwood for the racing festival next week - then off to Dubrovnik for a few days. And she's flying to Ibiza on A level results day for a few more days of clubbing! I'm just exhausted looking at her schedule. Oh and then she's working at Reading Festival too....

My summer excitement consists of a week in Cornwall.....

Just back from our week away where we managed the heatwave by much standing in the North Sea. Got to love Northumberland the beaches were almost empty. Had a fab cottage if anyone want a recommendation. Took DS & his friend and they were great company.

Now to catch up on what I've missed.

Yes pleas @EwwSprouts been meaning to go for ages! PM me please.

@EspeciallyDeIighted That would be great, i'm going to call our GP also, I hadn't called in case they go and de-register come September, thought i'd keep quiet until I know exactly what the new protocol is.

Did anyone hear the latest news re: A'Levels & GCSEs? that results might be delayed due to imminent exam board strikes AQA etc.

@Shimy yes, a friend just posted about the AQA strike. It wouldn't affect DS as his are all Pearson/Edexcel but it would affect DD's GCSEs.

Re the GP, I might phone and say "if he were to go to university what would happen" rather than "he is going to university".

Remember that you can visit any GP and be seen as a visitor. You just fill out a form.