Advice for after sixth form no uni

[Bleakmidwinter900]

Hi
please can I have advice , my august born child (just turned 16) is currently in year 12 and should be going to the same sixth form for year 13, I’m asking what can she do next after year 13 , she has autism and some health issues she doesn’t want to go / wouldn’t cope at uni , but would like to stay in education as long as possible as it’s good for her and the only time she mixes socially.

I am also wondering what she could do at a college where I would still qualify for child benefit. As a single parent it really helps.

The school are have been good supporting for her additional needs but I’m worried when she leaves she will never be able to work properly.

are colleges usually good with SEN children ?
Currently she is doing one A level course and two others which I think are Btech

many thanks

You don’t know what your child is studying…??!!

Does she have an EHCP? If so education is fine until 25.

if not, then some colleges offer university level courses if you see what I mean where you do not have to go to uni but can go to the college.

https://www.ucas.com/applying/you-apply/what-and-where-study/study-options/studying-higher-education-college

Yes of course I know what she studying , I simply said I think the other two are btec as I’m tired and we’ve just come out of hospital so other things going on so had to double check , but I want advice on her future options thank you .

Is commenting to uni an option - it’s unclear whether it’s the living away she couldn’t cope with or the learning?

I think you need to expect the CB to stop once she has completed her Level 3 qualifications. If it doesn't stop that is a bonus.

Does she have an EHCP? If so have you heard of Supported Internships which is support into work. There is a thread on this board about them.

Could she attend a local university?

Does your DD have an EHCP? This is a crucial question. If she does, then it may be possible to get some post-18 courses funded. However, given that she's shown she's capable of level 3 study, the LA may try and cease to maintain. You will need to show that there are elements of Section E 'outcomes' that have not been achieved yet.

I am in a similar position and spoke to Ipsea (a charity that offers free advice for SEN families). They said that even if a DC with an EHCP is capable of level 3 qualifications, you may be able to argue that post 6th form, they would benefit from attending a college/education setting to do a course that worked on more practical skills which focuses on their independence/work skills. With an EHCP, the LA could fund - and possibly even provide transport (but probably not without a battle). An important point to note is that with an EHCP, it will be ceased if a young person moves on to university - in which case they apply for a disabled student allowance.

If your DD doesn't have an EHCP then it becomes harder in terms of funding post 18. However, she may qualify for some funding depending on her financial circumstance.

What does your DD want to do? What are her level 3 qualifications in?

Have you looked at what post 18 college options are available in your area and spoken to anyone yet? In terms of SEN support, they vary massively.

Is your DD in receipt of PIP? If so, I'm assuming you know about carer's allowance? When she leaves school, she could apply for other benefits which in turn could help with entitlement to course funding.

I've just had a quick look at the rules around Child Benefit post-18 which are here. It seems that she may still qualify up until 20 if certain conditions are met:

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19

No she doesn’t have a ehcp the previous school just did a safety plan , which has been passed onto the new school sixth form she started September they are still chasing her files.
should I ask if she needs a ehcp? She’s under SEN and the new school have been a lot better for support etc than the previous school. She really lacks social skills etc and struggles a lot. I was hoping for a college setting but unsure what courses qualify . Yes we’ve only recently applied for pip as that’s from 16 waiting to hear back regarding that.
I haven’t spoke to anyone yet I’m thinking of requesting a meeting with the school to discuss all of this . There is one local college I could go and talk to.

I found my foster sons college absolutely brilliant with him. Far better than his special school had been. He started on a level 2 BTEC course and did functional skills English 1 and spent a year learning GCSE Maths. He passed all of his courses that year and moved on to the level 3 BTEC which we thought would be too difficult for him but no he managed them well because his college gave him a 1-1 support in academic sessions and he was fine for practical aspects of the course. He was given software for computer that aided his reading. He became so much more independent and built up a brilliant relationship with his tutors. He won the college prize for most improved student last year and managed to achieve 2 x distinctions and 1 x merit which at the beginning of the 2 years we thought would have been so far out of his grasp. Now he's at uni. DH spends a couple of days a week with him helping him with life admin and laundry/cooking but he's coping with his course and learning to make new friends with people on his course. Finding a supportive college is key. We found DS doing btecs and loving his course a huge relief for us because when he left his special school I was sick with worry about his future. Now I'm hopeful he will be able to get a job at end of his degree.

What a lovely post.

Is it any higher education DD doesn’t want to pursue or only university? There are other forms of higher education, if that would suit.

For further education in college, without an EHCP, while the 16-19 funding regulations allow more than 2 years funding in some circumstances, if DD achieves an A level and two level 3 BTECs, it is unlikely the college will get funding. You can see the regulations for this year here.

If you think an EHCP is required, you/DD can request an EHCNA yourself. It is worth looking at IPSEA and SOSSEN’s websites and model letters.

It isn’t relevant to the OP, but just to point out @Toomanyminifigs, Outcomes being achieved doesn’t necessarily mean it is lawful for LAs to cease to maintain. This has been covered in case law. LAs like to believe otherwise.

@caringcarer that is such a wonderful, inspirational story. Thank you for sharing. You and your DH must be so proud of your foster son.

OP - does your DD have any idea what she would like to do? What are her qualifications in? I take it there's a career's advisor in her school and she's in contact with them? They may be able to offer advice/information about training schemes/colleges in your area. Your DD's school should be working with her on her post-18 pathway.

In terms of applying for an EHCP, there is some good information here. Ipsea and SOS!SEN offer free phone advice. It can be very difficult to get through but do keep trying.

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/asking-for-an-ehc-needs-assessment

Having an EHCP will give her more funded options post 18 but just to warn you, your local authority may well fight you all the way. They may argue that she's come 'this far' without one she doesn't need one (as of course they will be mindful of costs). That doesn't mean you shouldn't apply though. If they do force you to tribunal, you could be looking at a year+ so it's definitely worth getting the ball rolling now.

Are there any unis within travelling distance from you? She could still attend while living at home. Look up how to apply for a disabled student allowance. They can include things like paying for a PA/taxis etc so don't rule it out. It might be worth attending some Open Days with her.

@2x4greenbrick That's interesting. Thank you. That is indeed what I was told with regards to Outcomes.

@Toomanyminifigs there is more to be considered than just if Outcomes have been achieved. Outcomes being achieved is one element the LA must have regard to, as per section 45(3) of the Children and Families Act 2014, but it goes beyond that, so Outcomes being achieved doesn’t always make it lawful to cease.

Have a read of B & M v Cheshire East Council [2018] UKUT 232 (AAC) - “Achievement of outcomes may indicate that a young person no longer requires SEP specified in a plan, however it does not follow from CFA2014 s45(3) that, where “outcomes” have been achieved it is no longer necessary to maintain the EHCP.“

It is discussed further in the Noddy guide if you want to read more.

I think college would be the best option, she wants to work with younger children.
The university is quite far away and she wouldn’t be able to commute on her own and she really doesn’t want to go to uni. She would be happy to stay at school for more than two years because she actually likes it there but I don’t think they offer anything after year 13.

Yes I know she has come this far without the ehcp however it’s not been easy and the last two years of main school were mainly spent in the SEN block. I think I’ll have a meeting with her sixth form teacher & the SEN and go from there

Schools have funding for 3 years of post-16, just in case you weren't aware. It's not uncommon for DC (with SEN or not) to re-take Yr12 if they realise they've made the wrong subject choices. If your DD ends up struggling with juggling a full timetable, some schools will allow them to drop one subject or drop one and start another and do a Yr14.

If you are thinking of going for an EHCP, it will be worth starting to gather evidence now - for example keeping a diary of when she's struggling at school, what support/scaffolding she needs to home and at school. Examples of how she differs from a 'typical' teenager etc. You may already have this if you've recently applied for PIP for her.

If she wants to work with children then there may be level 2/3 courses in childcare that might come with funding? It's definitely worth speaking to the school now though and any colleges you can think of.

Have you looked at childcare courses at local colleges? It could open up opportunities for her to work in a nursery, primary school TA, a nanny, childminder etc

Hi
one of the courses she’s doing now at sixth form is childcare. I’m going to speak to them see what they advise for after year 13

A lot of child nurseries will employ a person an put them through BTEC childcare. They work 4 days with DC and 1// day at college.

Uni is actually really good for disabled young adults. There’s so much support. My daughters review has 2 tutors provided by disabled students allowance then uni itself provide support my daughter has epilepsy and ADHD and is coping fine. The tutor help them cope with work load.
my son who has learning difficulties obtained a degree from a uni in our home town. Without the tutors from disabled students allowance wouldn’t have been possible. I would definitely talk to yr child and see what they want. There’s so much support at uni that it’s possible.
if they leave college your child benefit will stop just like it would when they reach 20

You need to explore what local college options there are. If she has five good GCSEs this will open more doors, but even without there are likely to be plenty of options. There will be some specialist colleges and general ones, with a range of courses - school should be helpful in pointing you in the right direction. At this stage you are unlikely to get an EHCP so I wouldn’t focus on that. Could she attend a local university?

OP may have to appeal, potentially more than once, but it is possible to secure an EHCP at this stage.

There are a lot of BAE apprentiships opened up this week. From practical skills such as welding and fabrication to degree apprentiships. They state to support a diverse workforce, we went to an open day yesterday and all of the kids/young adults there seemed happy and valued. Why not try there if she is a practically minded young lady.

Thank you everyone I’m going to request a meeting with school to discuss everything and go from there. Yes she did her gcses and got 4s mainly

If DD got mainly 4s, I’m surprised she is doing an A level. If the A level subject is a subject DD did at GCSE, what grade did she get? When deciding on the post 16 routes, did you and DD look at what other level 3 courses are available at college?

Coukd she go to a local uni and come home each night? Or coukd she study a degree course at a local fe college with a university centre? Both v common options, although latter might be more nature students than 18 year olds., alternatively what does she want to do? Her btec a level equivalents will be slightly more vocational based, so maybe a sen friendly employer? Autism initiatives might slso be a good route.