Y12 2023/24 - support, discussion and looking after each other

[BonjourCrisette]

GCSEs are over and we are beginning the next stage. Let's hope it's a bit less stressful than this summer has been! All welcome to discuss, share experiences and support each other as our children move into Y12/BTECs/apprenticeships and start a new phase.

@Rowgtfc72 yes I would have some safeguarding concerns too if that was my DD. I’m not sure what the answer is other than prepare her for different scenarios and how she could manage them. It’s not an easy situation to be in but it’s what I had to do in a much smaller way with my autistic DD who catches the train some days on her own & has already had 2 different instances with men making her feel incredibly uncomfortable. One ended up involving British transport police. It’s a horrid world when we have to discuss worst case scenarios to prepare our YP for what could happen sadly. At work we talk about getting male allies to ensure in particular young women feel safe. I hope her apprenticeship continues to go well though.

My daughters is now 3 weeks into her part time job. Really enjoying it so far.

I have good impressions for company so far - she had some challenges starting as she had to wait until she turned 16 to do paperwork.

Managers seem nice and they have an app with their shifts etc which they can also see extra ones available and book themselves in. Also seems to have a chat function for staff.

She had her first payday Friday and that was very exciting for her.

I did see that some open days were online @Alsoplayspiccolo, but how bizarre. It was interesting just being there and seeing all the students. DS loved seeing people that had been at his JD. I sat in the cafe for about an hour whilst DS did the tour (I didn't want to cramp his style). I was sat next to a table of singers and they did keep breaking into song. It was like an episode of Fame!
The head of woodwind is only in his 3rd year.

Got ring college today. They've had to move around Chemistry and Biology as one of the teachers has left. Had a month of getting use to the timetable and now it's a mess. None of the subjects fit in, they're overlapping each other and there's a little box of writing above the timetable saying If subjects are overlapping the student may have to change classes in a different subject? Talk about leaving them in limbo at the weekend. Luckily not working so ringing up this morning. Ds just got use to his classes, routine etc.

@SummerChilling she travelled down to London on the train on her own this summer. Longest journey and first without her friends and she was fine. My brother took her to Reading festival and left her with a friends daughter, just checking in every now and then and she was fine.
I'm more worried about drunken blokes banging on her hotel room door at 1am, or following her to her room. She's 6ft tall, solid and training for her black belt in karate but to all intents and purposes still a child.

@Rowgtfc72 Is there someone on the spot that she can get in touch with in case of issues. Maybe you or the person that books it can have a word with reception/the manager so that she knows she can call them if necessary and get a fast response? Maybe she can also have a room in a quiet area of the hotel? There must be a duty of care for whoever is organising her accommodation - she is a child, as you say - and it doesn't seem unreasonable that you'd ask them about it.

@Changes17 still at the sorting out stage although dds boss said she'd arrange a chat with us' because I know your mum will worry'.
When I asked before dd accepted the apprenticeship she was very vague. I know the other two apprentices don't have a responsible person but then they're only an hour away and together and 18 and 21. Dd isn't 17 till March.

Ah, that makes sense. And yes, of course you will. How is she feeling about it?

So a few basic things to think about asking for on the hotel - not a ground floor room, access to floors to be by key card so the lift works on key card or the corridor door or both as well as the room. The room must have a phone in etc.

@Changes17 she's buzzing about the responsibility, until I asked her what she'd do if someone knocked on her door at 1am and she said she'd ring me!
I like the idea of reception knowing she's alone and may ring.
@Wolfcub dd said she wouldn't want to be on the ground floor and I have absolutely no idea about where they will put her but keycards to corridors as well as rooms would be lovely.
I did wonder if she'd be better next to reception? Her phone is never more than 6 inches away from her.

I'm pretty sure we were told we could check out where she would be staying.
I've just googled and premier inn and travelodge say no unaccompanied under 18s. As do a lot of hotels.

A teacher left at my sons college so timetables completely changed and how it's worked out they've had to create a whole new A level Art class for just 2 students so it wlll be just them and the art teacher for 2 lessons per week plus electronic work set another lesson.
So instead of 3 lessons a week in a class of 30 it's now 2 lessons with 2 of them and 1 lesson of work set electronically. I guess they'll have lots of quality time with the teacher but he's just got to know some kids in his class so not sure what to feel about it.

@Lollypoppet That sounds really odd. Surely they'd be better off making two smaller classes instead of one large and one tiny and splitting whatever teacher time there is equally?

It seems pretty strange 🤔 there's only 2 of them though who are doing art as well as a science and they've had to move around the science.

Has anyone's child come down with a horrible cold/flu virus? Just so frustrating as you know they're missing so much by being off.

Yes DS2 has bern unwell since Thursday. 111 prescribed antibiotics and inhaler. My other 3 DC are ill now too, I think possibly Covid.
Needless to say DS2s school have bern their usual empathetic selves and putting his absence down as unauthorised
He tried going in yesterday but got in a tizz during a science practical as he'd not understand the instructions. The 6th form admin has made a huge deal out of it, so I've escalated to the SLT.

DD had an awful cold a couple of weeks ago and I had it last week. It was a really horrid one. Not covid, though as we both tested a couple of times to make sure.

Yes same. I've tested them for covid but negative.

Oh God. We've just managed to get DS properly settled into the new early morning routine, after a lot of anxiety and missed trains, and three days off with a recurrence of his awful nausea, and then our wonderful, gorgeous dog died very unexpectedly on Friday and it's completely destroyed him (and me). We let him have Monday off, but yesterday and today the mornings have been awful - he's just so sad, and I'm not much help because I'm utterly heartbroken myself, although I'm trying to keep a lid on it in front of him. He has made it into college yesterday and today, but it's killing me to see him like this - he was so panicky this morning and he's terrified of crying in front of the new class. Being at home surrounded by reminders is worse for him though. He saw the wellbeing counsellor yesterday but I don't think he really engaged with her. His best mate is off with COVID, which hasn't helped. He's had such a battle to get through his exams and get his college place, and now this 😭

That sounds really tough @spiderlight and I hope you can both grieve for your lovely dog. I’d be heartbroken too but unfortunately it is part of learning life lessons as an employer wouldn’t give you time off for a pet. I remember having to negotiate time off for my grandads funeral as my mgr was a A-hole at the time it was horrid I had to do 9hrs of driving to go to the funeral & back then be in the office the next day.
Train strikes here have meant a day working at home and a teams meeting class check in for DD today. She’s actually really benefiting from a quieter day to recharge.

@spiderlight I'm really sorry. I hope you can both take some comfort in your happy memories. I feel for your son - it's still early enough in the term that they're all trying to keep their 'game faces' on, and it's hard to do that when you're grieving.
Take care of yourself too - it's hard anyway, and hard to see your child suffering and not be able to help.

Wobbly week last week here (I think in part as DD struggling with grief herself), but seems to have got some of her mojo back this week. Had alarming incident yesterday where I received several messages from college saying she hadn't attended lessons and could I please report absence or encourage her to go to class. Couldn't get hold of DD for a couple of hours and was starting to worry as would be massively out of character for her not to attend lessons. Eventually, she got in touch and had been in a Maths challenge thing, so hadn't had access to her phone.
Don't know if I'm pleased that college is on it with absence, or annoyed that they worried me for no reason due to their own system failures!

@spiderlight so sorry to hear about your lose. I can imagine it can be so difficult. From last 2 weeks my DS seemed happy and seemed settled in college. Every Monday and Tuesday off for him and today after coming from college didn't look very happy so I got worried! Upon asking Ds said, ' just tired'. I feel for you both. My prayers are with you and your DS. Going out will help even just for shopping or meeting a friend or relative.

So sorry to hear about your dog@spiderlight. Loss of a beloved pet is always a really tough experience. At least he's seen the counsellor, even if he wasn't yet able to open up, and so hopefully they can discreetly let anyone know who needs to that things are difficult at the moment. And I hope you are looking after yourself as well.

@spiderlight sounds like things are tough. Hope the week gets better.

Oh that’s sad @spiderlight sorry you’re all having to deal with that 😞

Thanks, everyone. He'll be ok. It's just blooming hard 😢