Vocational courses 24/25

[TeenToTwenties]

Would anyone be interested in a vocational courses thread for the new academic year?
My DD did 2 years at level 1, has had a gap year and is now returning to do a level 2.

@coffeeandteav that course sounds very interesting

@Lindy2 hope your DD has settled in at college 🤞

@OxAl82 my DD needed extra time 25% for exams at school. Her school recently contacted me to collect a form 8 which she will need to give to college before any exams so she gets the 25%. Have just opened it and it is evidence from Seneco/assessor that her application was approved when she was at school. Hope this helps but if you have not received one do get in touch with their school for it.

@Popfan I am 48 and I went to school with a lad who admits even now he struggles with English, spelling etc but my word he is so so talented. He makes his own Kayaks from scratch and has his own successful business from that and an absolute love for kayaking. So who knows I think Carpentry is an excellent choice

@Midnightstar76 If you can try to find the spec of the H&SC and the T&T courses on the Pearson website. Print out the page with the units and get your DD to find out which options from the many the college does. There is such variety it can make a difference.

Plus they may be starting the H&SC with boring but mandatory stuff before it gets more interesting.

@TeenToTwenties I had a complete stress trying to sort out college access online. Got there eventually so she could get on the student portal but it was not easy to navigate

The IT is stressful.

Thanks @TeenToTwenties will do that tomorrow and explain it may be boring stuff first 🙂 She has had enough of my suggestions today 😂 and I have been ordered to stop talking about it. Oh well we can but try and help.

Great, thank you!

DD has been to her induction days and has completed her first week.

It's going OK. She seems to like her course so far and the non school environment is suiting her much better. Having to do maths and English again adds quite a lot of extra hours to her weekly timetable but hopefully it won't overwhelm her.

I'm just keeping everything crossed that it continues to go OK.

Just hopping back on for a quick update. DD has now said she enjoys her course and wants to stick with it. She didn’t go and see anyone but has just decided. Oh well I am just glad she is in a happy place and she can move forward.

That's good, and I hope it continues.

DD is complaining a bit that the Level2 course doesn't seem to be covering more than the Level1 did. I keep saying it must do, and to give it time. I wouldn't want it to be too much new straight away anyway as she would get overloaded.

I’m sure it will have new content @TeenToTwenties at some point in her studies hopefully. When I was looking at level 1 and level 2 courses with DD they did seem different. Have not looked at the specs yet on the Pearson website for the courses but I will look at DD’s course and check for what is covered in level 1 as well as curious to find out. They are such similar courses in course title but level 1 had childcare in the mix where as the level 2 chosen doesn’t. However you could have branched off to do the childcare course after level 1 if you wanted.

How are everyone's DC getting on?

Mine had a work at home day (while teachers doing progress reviews) recently which she coped with without collapsing which is an improvement.

Have assignments started coming in yet?

Morning DD has had a wobble in that she said would I be cross if she failed her course. I think she is not very confident in her abilities but I do wonder if she would have been better doing level 1. No assignments set yet. I received a letter from college about work placements and having to sort out ourselves. Letter was vague and did not say when for etc so I am stressing about finding something now. Any tips advice appreciated on this one.@TeenToTwenties I am surprised at the amount of free time they have but yes one of those days free will be for the work placement so not so much free time when it all gets going.

@Midnightstar76 Remind me which course?

DD1's level 3 course (started 2015 so some time ago) had a specific work experience unit that they had 2 weeks off college for, with specific criteria (eg writing a CV, doing a learning review afterwards).
I know T levels also have work experience built in.

For DD2's course, which is 'work based' the work is done in the practical unit at college.
However as a whole at college they are encouraged to do work experience outside of college as it helps their understanding and employability. They also take the view any work is useful even if unrelated to course.

So first you need to know from asking college or looking at the spec is this a mandatory bit of the course or a nice to have. And if mandatory are they giving time to it.

We helped DD find placements last year on her gap by emailing around 20 businesses asking for 1 day shadowing (4 success) which turned into 2 ongoing weekly, one of which turned into casual paid.

It may not be too late to drop to level 1 if wanted.

Thanks @TeenToTwenties it is level 2 health and social care

I guess the obvious place for H&SC would be at a nursing home or retirement place. Just go in weekly and interact with residents.

At the other end of the scale a children's centre or similar.

If part of course then may be able to shadow a social worker / support visitor, but 'safeguarding' may provide obstacles.

A podiatrist? Dental place?

Thanks @TeenToTwenties all good suggestions. How is your DD getting on with her course? Has she had any assignments set yet?

Dd is doing well thank you good attendance and not many wobbles. Her course is 'work based' which means fewer/(no?) assignments that go towards the grade (course is just pass or fail) but bits of prep work here and there.

Even better she heard she passed her Level 2 english functional skills so she doesn't need to do English lessons any more.

@TeenToTwenties well done to your DD passing her English. I think work based courses are great for building up experience for the working world

DD has been informed she needs to do 2 x 1 week work experience as part of the course so we have been helping her send off some emails.

We have no idea how many she is likely to need to send to get something. So we are initially targeting 12 places in the hope she gets somewhere and then will set sights further afield if necessary. She's likely to need us to drive her so really don't want something an hour away ...

Hi @TeenToTwenties DD only has to do one week in January so plan is to help and see if I can get somewhere for her. However college will be contacting three places DD has chosen but will put feelers out to see if I can help. Thanks for reminding I really should do that this week.

Dd went for a assessment/training day at a potential work placement earlier this week.
Sadly she got a nice thanks but no thanks email afterwards. (Saying lots of people interested, can't offer her a place)

Trying to decide whether to get her to ask for feedback. I fear it would come back with one or more of
. Too slow (dyspraxia)
. Asked for reassurance/ not confident (anxiety)
. Not chatty / friendly (anxiety in new situation)

She has other options, but this is the one she really wanted (animal rescue). She could have done with a confidence boost.