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.

That's fab!
How is she going to get there? 😉

@TeenToTwenties
Brilliant!

@Sisublondie
The frustrating thing here is that theoretically public transport is available.
The reality, sadly, is that buses either don't turn up or are really late - various reasons, not least the constant accidents on a nearby motorway junction(s) and local roadworks. It's crazy. There are no less than 3 TTROs active at any time on the busiest routes lately.
Trains can be tricky, too, as there has been line closures for months due to upgrades on the line.
It feels like its the car or nothing here atm ☹️😡

@TeenToTwenties amazing news!

Is it half term now for many? If so enjoy the break!

Yup we have half term now so 11 days break for DD.
Well done to everyone for getting this far!

Happy Half Term, everyone!!!

I have brought DS to a nearby city which we don’t know at all really, he is meeting a new friend off his course to watch that new anime film. 🍿 We left stupidly early ( my idea) in case of traffic/got lost/plus I’m crap at parking, especially in multi story car parks! But! We are here, parked ( after a faff, as I couldn’t actually get out of my car!), his friend has just turned up, ( he is also ND) and they have gone for a walk round the shops before their movie starts ( his friend knows his way around here), so massive achievement already today! It’ll be a two hour plus round trip home, so I have decided to go and watch a film myself!! Only ones that start around now are some pet cartoon, or a not great looking teenage rom-com “ Regretting You”… So! I’m going to watch that, so I’m close by too, if he needs me. There are only 5 other tickets sold! 🤷‍♀️🙄😹! .. might even treat myself to a “ Baskin Bobbins” as I used to call it!

I hope everyone else is enjoying what the start of what is hopefully a good break, even for those with assignments/ prep work to be done! 🤞🙏😸

@TeenToTwenties..

Oh, what FABULOUS news!! You must both be so relieved!! Absolutely amazing. But, what a crying shame she can’t walk to it……….😈🙄😈😻😹!!!

Eeeek!! Yes, I hear you! - and, nothing like TTROs to strike fear….. As for the unreliable buses and non existent trains…. do you ever wonder how different it would be for you if these things actually ran the way they should?? It must be infuriating. Disgrace!! So, yes, it is back to a car being the only reliable mode of transport! ( ummmm…. If not broken down, or stuck in traffic…….🙄😹….)!

Dd has been on half term for a week already - another week to go then an inset day! 😬
She has sime plans to meet friends next week, and a Halloween party on Friday 🎃
The annual fair is in town, so we might have a walk down later and get some chippy chips 🍟 😀

I can't say there's a huge amount of work going on here 😉
Dd tends to do her work after lunch/into the evening, which usually means that I'm having to argue with her to stop at 11pm 😬
There was a ceramic bead explosion at 11pm last night...I think I'll still be finding them next year 😬

Ditto!! I was just about to post the same! ( well, save for the bead explosion!! 💥 🙀! And sadly, yes, you probably will be doing!)…

I’m pretty certain DS has accomplished zilch today! I’m hoping he’s doing what I would do, using the first day off as a faffing around, doing nothing day, then cracking on for the rest of the week! However, I’m pretty sure the lift he wants me to give him tomorrow to the town his college is in, is for 🎃 carving………..🤷‍♀️🙄😹!!, at his new friends!

In other news, he has his FIRST EVER PARTY on Friday!! 🥳!

So, is DD working now?! Or, just picking beads up! 😹

@swampwitch0

How was the fair and the chippy chips?! 🍟
Does DD need an outfit for Friday?!

How is everyone’s first day going?!

I just wanted to give a little hope to other ND DC parents regarding the hell of parties….. I have had years dreading Christmas and Halloween parties, as, together with ANY parties in general ( but birthday ones aren’t as obvious) as DS is never invited to any.

I got a text from him , asking for a lift to the neighbouring town on Friday night. Just that. “Ok”, I thought, “ I’ll ask him the details later”…….… It was then followed by “ It’s at “Jess” ( “Toby”’s GF house). For a Halloween party”… ….So, I thought “ OH my God!! That is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! But!! I must play it cool!!!!!”….. thinking I’ll just ask what time he needs to leave and just be nonchalant …

….. it was then followed up with ….. “It is my First Ever Party”…….

Yep. It’s fair to say I cried my eyes out!!! I’m SO excited for him! 🎃 👻 🦇 ⚰️ 🥳

Aww @Sisublondie
That's wonderful 😊

Hi all, hope half term is going well for everyone.

I've a question about illness. DS college has a new policy that pretty much all absence is unauthorised. They were talking about doctors, dentists, etc. but then moved on to headaches and colds. They are aiming for 95% attendance and DS is not ill all that often, but I was quite surprised at this rule.

What do other colleges do?
School was annoying enough but at least illness was authorised.

@LarkspurLane DD had woeful attendance for her first 2 years, something like 75 and 80% due to MH. Never had an ounce of complaint (though it was a level 1 course and she has an EHCP). Might have been helped by her working hard when in and keeping up. We just notify as 'sick - mental health'.

95% is a reasonable target at college age.

@LarkspurLane
I'm afraid I have very little time for such draconian attendance policies.
They are applied to tick an ofsted box and - frankly - I've always considered them discriminatory towards those dc with chronic conditions/disabilities 😡 (I say this as an ex Chair of Governors..)
When I'm feeling charitable, I accept that the SLT/staff hate these policies as much as parents do.

Oh, and dd has had 1 day off sick since term started due to a stomach bug picked up at college
She was also late once due to an accident on the motorway 🤷

Hey, all ok here, thanks! 🎃 carving at his friends today…

Hmmmmm. So, do you mean zero absence is allowed- including medical appointments and the like? That seems insane!!! I know school is different, and I was fuming when DS19, or rather, me ( and not even a joint one, bizarrely, even tho DH and I are together) got an arsey letter at dropping below 96.98 or something.. but, that seems to be setting them up to fail! Is this the first time you’re aware?

I will try to check my DS. He had just been made course to, and I did note a thing was made of his “100 %” attendance, as it is only sheer luck he has not had a MH break so far..

Hope your break going ok, otherwise!

Thank you!! I’m 😻 so happy for him! .. now just 🤞🙏 it all goes well………… ( you know what it’s like!)

Ahhhhh… ok, so you really do know what you are talking about when it comes to this kind of thing! Draconian is an excellent way of describing it….. a “ one size fits all” policy… not the best for ND DC, who some days struggle to get up and get dressed.

So, please tell me your DD wasn’t marked as absent (unauthorised) for the college- borne stomach bug?! And, the accident tail back………..( where I’m sure you said college were informed, as this was right near the start?!) 🤷‍♀️!

Good to hear that is how you notify. I’ve never really thought to ask others! I was cross with DH way back, when he was about to call school to say DS had stomach bug….. when he couldn’t get up, as he was so stressed because a little bully had chucked a bottle of water at his head at school the day before.

It is heartening your DD’s college is sensible, and understanding.

It seems that we would get unauthorised absence for both of those things - but arriving late would be ok, so if traffic allowed them to arrive at some point that would be ok.
They told us with great excitement that we could have time off for funerals - probably an hour - I didn't ask any more.

One of my friends says she sends her son in sick and he gets sent home at register to get around the issue. I won't be doing that.

The college seems really chill in every other way so I was just wondering if it was something forced on them, or something to try to deal with woeful attendance.

In other news, got an email yesterday to say DS had passed his probation - woohoo!

@Sisublondie I refuse to put something like 'other, refusing' when it is a diagnosed MH condition. She was in as much as she could be, so not skiving.

@LarkspurLane.. ..: Ahhhhhhh! The old sending sick children in to get round the issue… hmmm, yep, I’ve never done that, either! I do remember when DS’ got old enough to talk, their little school friends saying sometimes they had “ had a runny poo last night, but mummy says not to say!”.. I don’t miss that 48 hour rule thing!

Time off for funerals! Great! Sounds like 21 years ago, when I was first working in law in London, went back north for Christmas/NY to see my dying father, was in work for one day before I went back home as looked like it really may be the end, dealt with court cases from there, came back to work after his death and funeral, 3 weeks later ( which I guess is quite speedy)… and at my appraisal didn’t get pay rise ( whatever, fine), but was told I’d used up my annual leave so only had like 5 days left for the year.. WTA…….?! 🤷‍♀️🤯!

I love your name, by the way! @LarkspurLane! I’m sure the road I used to walk past and pervevover the houses at Uni in Newcastle was Larkspur Terrace!

But!! More importantly……… 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳to your DS on passing his probation!!!!!! That is amazing news!!!! You must both be SO relieved!!!!! My DS hasn’t heard, yet. Nervous!

That is really fab thing to find out!! Really, really well done!!! 👏