'Undecided' about School vs College NEXT WEEK.... what to tell Ds?

[54isanopendoor]

DS is Autistic & Dyslexic.

He moved School last year to sit his Highers.
He got A, B, C & picked up a Nat5 A too.
Very proud of him.

His area is Computing.
Local School contracts it out to local College so no Highers / Ad Highers avail.

He was offered a place on a 2 year HND.
BUT.... equipment he needs wont be ready in time (not till 'at least October now') So, not good ...
So, he changed to a different course. But it's only 1 year (specialist eqiupment less of an issue for this one but stilll a bit). He has a friend on this course tho'.
BUT... that would mean choosing & applying for Uni around this Christmas, just when he is settling in to the course (it takes him AGES to settle). I think this is too fast given how hard he has found these decisions & he is worried he is 'not ready for (small local) College yet'. He'll need momentum, (so no gap years)

His other option is S6
BUT not great course choice, & NO friends, so 'killing time' in a way - depressing?
BUT also gives him a year to mature & develop a hobby he has (Cadets!), perhaps learn to drive but also to get the eqipment in place for local College this time NEXT year with direction & the certainty which he badly needs.

He is struggilng hugely to decide (for WEDS !!!) . I think he needs a steer.
I think probably S6 as, although College might be ok this year the wheels will likely come off if he has to leave for Uni this time next year. He h thas the chance to have this year to mature / breathing space, so why not take it ??

But I don't want him to think that I think he is 'not up to it' ??

Any thoughts (given that y'all don't know him I appreciate)

S6 - and focus on life skills like driving and cadets (presumably good for his independence) whilst you wait for the good course?

He's got time to play with, I'd rather he launched into college with the ability to drive and more independence.

Can ds get any reading materials or do any prep in s6 for the good course?

Ps free disposal - my experience of my nephews with ASD is that it's harder when something falls apart school and college wise than taking their time in the first place.

Is there no chance of doing one year course at college then going into another more advanced college course?
All 3 of mine are ND and have faced similar dilemmas, but it's difficult to advise as college course provision varies a lot over the country and our variables were different. One thing is true, getting it wrong takes a while to recover from.
DS1 is starting a hybrid college/uni computing degree this year, its a shame the lack of equipment is preventing something like this.
DS2 & 3 both stayed on for S6 but they had friends (a long time coming for DS2).
S6 is killing time for lots of pupils, I feel a bit sorry for the teachers sometimes!

İ will say that if the one year course is an NC and your DS already has a Higher in that subject he may find the course a bit basic (although I recognise that an easy course may be a good warm up).
Also college courses are not really full time (usually the equivalent of three days) so quite a lot of spare time to fill (with gaming in DS1s case).

Congratulations to your DS on his results @54isanopendoor.
That gives him a very good base to build on for getting into uni.

I'd say S6. Gives him a breathing space to build on soft skills, further consolidate his results and his ideas for the future.

Can you sell it to him as less pressure and more time for cadets, driving etc? Also to give the college time to get equipment in place? Not having to make decisions about uni by December this year?

Friendships can change in S6 as some kids have left so there will be others without their friend too.

Thanks @AyBeeCee @Wbeezer @mapleleavesreturn

Atm he can't get 1m to School without Massive scaffolding (plus a lift)
ie arrives without iPad / not charged / no equipment (no shoes on 1 occasion)
Hence the bullying - he IS 'different'. Now, this may be a pattern that he would break in a different situation, ie College, but it's a big risk. Ditto Uni in a year...

College is only 8m away so a bridge between School & Uni.
BUT there is ONE bus that gets him there.
He WILL miss it, 3 days a week. I have a 2nd child, also ASD, v similar, doing Nat 5's this year & she needs to be transported too. So that would be very hard.

He was going to do a 2 yr HND at local College then last 2 yrs at Abertay.
Perfect. BUT this course is now in a leaking cupboard with no desktops & a College laptop he struggles with. DSA laptop available but not till Oct/Nov. Plus he'll also need funding for emotional support / dyslexia support before then.

So he swapped to an HNC Cyber Security - (new course, new room, new tech)
But this is just 1 year. So all issues as above re speed of Uni readiness etc.

If he did the HND after he'd not have enough funding to complete a degree..

What he WANTS to do is an Advanced Higher or 2 in Computing subjects at skl.
But our School doesn't offer any at all :(

It's a real bugger !! :(

To be honest not many schools offer AH in computing subjects.

@AyBeeCee
this School doesn't offer any computing at all. Not AH, not H, not N5, even N4.
Other local Schools do. It'd be perfect if he could take H, or AH at 1 of those.
I can ring County in the morning & ask, I guess but I know the answer will be No.

What about an OU YASS. There are several computing/IT ones. My DD did one alongside AHs and Hs in S6.

They are free to S6 students and are meant to get around lack of AH choice locally.

School wont support YASS apparantly.
His chosen Uni don't accept NPA Level 6 as Higher equivalent
It looks like he can maybe do a Higher Computing at a different local School but timetable issues, plus stress for him (& me, transporting him around all winter)
So none of that is appealing...

BUT it also transpires that the local HNC/D course does not include the specific modules that his chosen Uni requires so he'd have to start at Y1 & therefore be short of funding for his 4 year degree. What a headache ...

It's a shame school don't support YASS. Not sure DD got much support from school on her YASS (other than signing her up) but OU tutors couldn't have been better. DD felt well supported. Its a shame YASS isn't recognised by more unis. DD was lucky that she didn't need the YASS to count for uni entry.

In my area (South Lanarkshire) transport (taxis) are provided to get kids to other schools/colleges for subjects not offered. Can you push for this? My DCs school had some extra money for positive destinations/levelling up etc that they used. I would even try the PTA to fund the transport if school are not forthcoming.

Good that you are checking out HND modules for uni entry. One of my DDs friends fell foul of this and had to start again in 1st year. Might be worth having alternative plans rather than a single uni just to be sure (read a thread yesterday about a boy set on a single uni).

If you are rural (Highland but maybe other areas ) then there is an online Higher Computing course available. Would save the hassle of transport.

Is it literally just the laptop that's holding him back? Why won't the funding be available until October? Is there no where else you can source one from before then?

No online option.
I'd have to transport him to a 2nd High School for Computing Higher
DSA funding 'takes time' & person who deals with it says 'not likely till Nov'

yes, if he did the HNC he'd have to start again at Y1 Uni (ok, but maybe not funding wise?)
If he did the HND he'd be ok for Y3 entry but ONLY for a general Computing degree at his chosen Uni.

If he wants to do the two year hand surely they have to make it work for him if he's been offered the place otherwise it's discrimination.

I'd be on their case re the laptop. Is there nothing temporary that can be put in place.

I just spoke to Saas & they say that a Disabled Student funded specialist laptop can be sorted in 4 weeks if necessary & it shouldnt' be much longer than that anyway. So, he could start this course if he wanted.

They also said that he can have funding for an HNC year, an HND year, & 4 years of a degree too if necessary. Again, College were much more negative about it.

At this point, I simply want him to do SOMETHING next year. S6 is ticking away..
He is stressed about this decision so sleeping badly (already bad re ASD but worse than usual). I've just tipped him out of bed & insisted on
Food. Shower. Decision. TODAY...