Kingston College or Kingston University for Art Foundation Course

[TYamYam]

Hi, I would like to hear your opinions if you have similar experience.

My DD is offered an unconditional place at Kingston University Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
At the same time she is offered a conditional place at Kingston College BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
DD has ASD with EHCP, however, if she would choose KU then EHCP will be ceased while KC still be able to make reasonable adjustments.

I wish she could just go to KU as the offer is unconditional, however, she is scared as EHCP will be ceased.
I also wonder that although KU has a quite solid reputation, KC was also very impressive when we visited their Open Day.

Thank you for your time for reading!

I’m not the expert as am just as the beginning of the process with my DD, so hopefully someone will come along to advise, but if she takes the KU option, can you/she apply for DSA (Disable Students Allowance)? This maps over to the uni and will provide funds and instigate additional student support and funding that mau be more valuable than an ECHP - for example at some universities it offers weekly academic mentoring and also, separately, weekly pastoral support. Within that they would advocate for your child over accommodations that she may need (extensions on assignments, additional tutor support etc). From speaking to others who have had children with EHCPs at school, the support at university has far outstripped that of what was provided (often reluctantly) by schools, because it is funded under the DSA?

My first suggestion (subject to an expert coming along) would be to contact the student services/disabled students team at KU to ascertain what support she might be eligible for and what to apply for? I knew nothing about it until a rep at Bournemouth Uni on a open day explained how they are there to support students like our DDs. We’ve not applied there, but it helped to know we should expect support and to ask what was available.

You can also ask on a FB forum called ‘WIWIKAU- parents of neurodivergent children’ which is specifically for parents like us with children applying to university. They have been amazingly supportive, knowledgeable and guided me to a completely different medication route (after 2 years of trying everything mainstream and being told there was nothing else) - my DD is now prepping for uni in September as a result of the life changing impact of the correct medication, albeit she will be 20 when she gets there, but she is ready now.

CautiousLurker01

Thank you for your quick posting which is very very much useful!
Yes definitely I will contact the student and disability service to find out more details. I didn't know that the support at university can be outstripped than schools but agree schools are often reluctant to support my child since she was diagnosed...

I will also check the FB forum thank you so much. I'm a foreigner and I can't find anyone who are in similar situation around me and feeling isolated.
I see a ray of hope..!

Kingston Uni is one of the most prestigious and hard to get into Art Foundations there is. Don't give up the offer without considering carefully. All universities have support for disabled students. Speak to them and see what they can offer.