BTEC/T level/other vocational 25/26

[BTECnewbie]

Hello all. My DS will hopefully be starting a level 3 extended diploma in September (assuming he gets the grades). I know very little about BTECs having come through the A level route myself. So I’d love to have a support thread for parents of kids taking vocational qualifications this year.

Just catching up with the thread. Sounds like everyone's young people are settling in to college life. Mine is loving it so far. She caught some horrible lurgy though then I caught it but feeling better now.

She has come home with an A4 list of materials that need to be purchased (throughout the year). We have some stuff already but will try to buy a few things each month.

What course is the photoshop for please?

Sorry, pushed send then DD came in and said they can use an app called Polish or something?

Re: photoshop - Level 3 Fashion and design btec

Lots of colleges/universities use the VLP moodle.
Not sure what dds college uses
Photoshop is an paid for application, not a VLP

We had to buy a few bits of stationery, steel toed boots and there is a fee of £150 for materials. My daughter is on a level 2 course this year and I seriously hope she gets into level 3 for next year. I really don’t know what will happen if she doesn’t make it in.

Thanks for responses. Doesn't sound like I have to purchase it then I guess as it's not on the extensive list.

teafor1 I hope your daughter has a good year and can progress to L3.

We've spent about £160 on materials/items needed

Really?? Wow, that's a lot but hopefully it will last for the whole course? I'm going to do stock check first 😁

Yeah, dh was a bit 😫
...And we can't find the bloody paintbrushes that I know we've bought...😬

That made me laugh! I always buy stuff then can't find it. I end up checking my receipts to double check I definitely bought the item and didn't dream it 😂

The worst thing?
I bought two packs!
😬🤭😖🤔😀

😮😮 Hopefully they'll show up (no doubt after you buy replacements)!

Evening all! Well! @swampwitch0, I sadly wasn’t too safe in the stormy weather, in the end! My nearest town was knocked out already, early last week with both 02/vodafone mast going down.. then, an as far unidentified worker allegedly sawed through the towns WiFi cable ( or whatever it is called!!), so , being on O2, I was stressed as was off grid… but, then…. as the winds picked up…. on Friday eve, we had a couple of power cuts, nothing remotely out of usual, I started heading out of the kitchen to get something, looked out of the front of the house ( old farmhouse so “quirky” layout) which is glass, and shouted to DH “ hey, forget the power cuts, amazing fireworks!!!”🎇.. till my brain kicked in and I realised they were in my garden…. And not fireworks! Pretty impressive display, tho!! A couple of my trees had branches down and couple of wires were sparking off and shooting everywhere and welding to each other and creating pretty amazing display as the whole garden was kept being floodlit! But, the 🚒 was very quick and our house was prevented from being razed to the ground! So, all good!!! And, we are back on grid and back to normal!

And, the coolest thing about the whole drama for DS?? Obvs the blue lights all over and fireworks lighting the pitch black up ( no street lights here, even when no power cuts) but DS19 was super gutted and jealous as at Uni, so “ big bro” was missing out….. AND!, he was chatting to one of the firemen, who, it transpired, did his course a few years ago! 😺

So! I need to read, to catch up with all your goss!! Hope you guys are all well?!

@Sisublondie
Omg!!!
So glad you're all ok! Sounds very scary 😨
It was really windy here, which wasn't predicted by the met office so it took most of us by surprise 😬
My neighbour had to chase his wheelie bin down the hill 😬
We had an online meeting with dd's college tutor earlier and she's currently at grades DMM 😊
She's off on a trip tomorrow, too
It's my birthday tomorrow, so dh and I are going out (somewhere..)

DD, doing Supported Internship, has sadly had to go back on her antidepressants and is missing college as she can't cope with life.

I'm really sorry to hear that @TeenToTwenties
Is it her first try? Could she give her meds some time to kick in and re apply/re start?
I wasn't sure if dd would cope tbh, but she hasn't had to have any of her anti anxiety meds yet
Thinking of you x

I think if the meds kick in and we get her in randomly for a while it will be OK. She needs to attend reliably though so college can 'talk her up' to potential work placements. She's just turned 21 and it is her best chance into proper work.

Really hope she sees some improvement soon x

@swampwitch0
Thanks, so do I. I don't want to go back to the dark days of 5 years ago.

@TeenToTwenties Oh, I am so very sorry to hear that about your daughter. Do you know if it was anything specific that has triggered her?, or has she just been overwhelmed by it all? Is she able to take an agreed break from the supported internship, will a short break hopefully count as “reliable “ attendance? I do hope she is getting support for this additional difficulty from the college, and that they are understanding. I hope the meds start working asap, and that she starts feeling more on an even keel, and more positive and hopefully able to return.

Sending hug 🤗 and positivity to you both… x

I hope college will be ok, they have in the past. My elderly DPs have been unwell necessitating me being away a lot (plus worries re them dying). And no animals on this course either.

@swampwitch0….Oooooh!!! All that positivity!! ( well, save for your neighbours wheelie bin!!! 😈😹🙄!.. reminds me, I managed to dodge a older chaps full trolley 🛒 rolling into my car at M&S before! He caught it with mere inches to go!- we did laugh!)..

Well. First of all, Congratulations 🥳 to your DD!! That is excellent news!! She must be so proud of herself ( and you!!). DS got his first assignment results during the Storm Blackout.. he got a Distinction 😺, and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him almost confused with confidence at achievement! If that makes sense.
I so hope your DD has seen this as confirmation of her own ability to suceeed at her course, and to think of these fab grades when she may be feeling a little meh…. Well Done!!

And… last but not least….. HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🥳 to you for tomorrow!!!!!!!! Ooooooh!! Out, out!!! Where would you be hoping to go?! x

@Sisublondie
Wow! Well done to your ds! 🙌
My birthday is today and we've been up into the Peak District. Dh bought a lot of cheese 🧀 🙄

Sigh.
Dd text on the way to the train "not a good day" 😕
Do now I get to wait until she gets home

@swampwitch0 i hate stuff like that! You now have to anticipate what happened.

My dd seems to be ok but really tired. Overly so. She’s missing some of her other activities because she’s too tired. I’ve started her on some over the counter iron pills to see if that helps at all. I’m thinking it’s just the stress and newness of it all. One positive thing she said today is that the class is starting to talk to each other. It’s a smallish group doing a niche thing so I hope they bond. It’s quite physically demanding too so that’s taking it out of her.