DS Dropping A levels after 1st year

[Time4acuppa]

Hi all,

Just after some idea on how to help my daughter move forward after wanting to drop a levels after the first year. She is really struggling with the travelling (about an hour from home), the courses themselves and has pretty severe mh issues.

She wants to go into childcare, which I personally think will suit her really well and is very keen on it. She has applied to several apprenticeships but nothing has turned up and the poor thing is feeling really rejected and down. I tried to reassure her that it’s not because she’s not good enough, you just have to be lucky on the day and I suspect they get a fair number of applicants.

I suggested she applies to the local college (different college to the one he is in now and is about 1pm ins away) for the lvl 3 childcare course where she gets 2 days on placement and the rest at the college.

My concern is what happens come September if she doesn’t either get into the course at the local college or an apprenticeship. Will she have to continue his a levels until something turns up? I really don’t think she could cope with the second year with the subjects she chose after GCSEs.

I know they are supposed to stay in education until 18 and she’s really worried about not getting anything before September.

From my experience they wont chase her too much if she just leaves and gets a job, despite the education til 18 thing.
Lots of childcare jobs, e.g. residential schools, respite homes etc, will help her do a level 3 in chilcare/residential childcare and that counts as education even though there is no college part.
If you look at local larger provisions in your area, the job applications, a lot will ask for a level 3 or be willing to work towards one. Those places would facilitate her learning and count as education.

Nobody will chase her if she leaves education now. Why do you think she won't get on to the childcare course? She obviously has the requirements as she was accepted on to an A level course so I'd assume she'd get in - childcare isn't massively over-subscribed or anything but is always a popular course so they'd pretty much make as many spaces available as needed I'd have thought.

Also college might let her restart, and pick new subjects- if my plan was to leave as soon as 18, then I would just pick some fun ones to fill the time. I know a few people who took three of four months of 1st year drama etc and then quit after their birthdays.
I would try for the childcare one first and if she doesnt get it, or a job that offers it, then just anything, luckily childcare is a career that diesn't often require a-levels.

Some might be helpful though, for instance I did art, which was helpful in the special school I worked in as I painted props for plays and massive sensory wall displays for the kids. I did english too, and could write them sensory stories etc.
Another TA did a fashion course and was good with a sewing machine, she would adapt the kids clothes for their tubes etc on the side and that was brilliant. Another had done music, which was amazing in our music lessons as lots of the kids loved hearing her play. Having orther skills is always valued

She's doing the right thing dropping A levels.
It's not the only route.
My ds did 2 years.
The second year worse results than the first.
He then went ti colleague and flourished from Day 1.
Passed all his courses and got into Uni.
He passed his degree and is now working and very happy.

That’s great, thank you all.

Shes just worried and in a bad spot at the moment. She said she feels a failure for not doing the a levels, but I have told her that in no way she is and she has to do what she enjoys. I did the old yts scheme in admin which worked for me. She just has to find what works, and I’ll support her whatever she decides.

Hopefully she’ll get a spot at the local college, but it’s good to know there are other options and we won’t have the education people hammering at our door!

Please reassure her - I went and dud my a levels in my late 30's
Some at night school some through work.

Do you have a college doing T Levels local to you? Could be an option

I'm pretty confident that the college will take her. Most of them recruit right up to September and she sounds like a good fit to me.
Avoid TLevels if possible...BTEC or CACHE are better in my opinion.

She must already meet the entry requirement for level 3. Can she get an interview now?