What are the best education/ preparation options for Alevels(maths, psycology,CS) during a year off due to illness after GCSEs?

[J03sP1zza]

Doesn’t look like ds will be going to school this year and will be accessing hospital school at some point.

Just don’t know what to do to ensure he is ready for Alevels next year. Advice seems thin on the ground. 😩He’s bright and got good GCSEs but by the time he starts Alevels next year will have had a year and a half out of proper education. I know with maths in particular that could be an issue.

He’ll start first year of A levels.

There is stuff out there but it seems a bit hit and miss and in our case not necessarily relevant to what he needs or wants to do.

I’m just surprised they don’t get assessed by an education expert and have provision tailored to them which builds towards future aspirations and the courses other kids their age are expected to do.It’s such an important time. Maybe further down the line this happens more.

It is still early days for us.

I’m just surprised they don’t get assessed by an education expert

This is what should happen as part of an EHCNA.

and have provision tailored to them which builds towards future aspirations

And this is what an EHCP should do.

I say should, and sometimes it is questionable whether the 'expert' actually is expert. Although whether their apparent lack of expertise is intentional or not is debatable.

That seems nuts. What a waste of resources. Surely if you’re too ill to attend mandatory education you should get that automatically. Money spent on processing informed parents jumping through hoops could be spent on the kids themselves.

What happens to the kids whose parents aren’t informed enough to get an EHCP and who can’t support their dc’s education without one?

Unfortunately, DC whose parents know the LA's statutory duties, can navigate the system and fight for provision get the best support.

Legally there is a distinction between Compulsory School Age, which finishes at the end of Y11, and the Participation Age, 16-18. Education isn't compulsory for 16-18y/o's, education, training or employment (that also has an element of education or training) is. Although no one follows up those that are NEET.

DC that are CSA are entitled to medical needs tuition which, to an extent, assesses their needs and is tailored to them. However, it is not comparable to a needs assessment or finalised EHCP.

An EHCNA is more than just an assessment by "an education expert". It gives the right to request assessment from anyone reasonable. An EHCP is legally binding, whereas anything less isn't.

I wouldn't want to give up the right to an EHCNA for an automatic assessment from "an education expert" because, no doubt, it would be less comprehensive and the outcomes unenforceable.

Also, not everyone having medical needs tuition will need a full assessment. A child out of education because of their SEN meets the legal threshold (has or may have SEN and may need SEN provision via an EHCP.) for an ECHNA.

Money spent on assessments is a drop in the ocean compared to the money LAs spend defending indefensible cases at tribunals. If only the general public knew how much was wasted.

I just think 16-18 is a really crucial age in life, no less important than CSA and if you’re ill you need support with education and training which is where all 16-18 year olds are at.

Illness can have a big impact on life and the direction it takes. A bit of investment in ensuring kids get the right support and access to the right education/ training they need to get their life back on track would surely save in the long run.

Not sure what your son's health problems are OP, but you are right that keeping going with maths when he can is important.

I would recommend starting off with some transition work to make sure that he has all the GCSE material secure. His school should provide something or, if you google 'A level transition work' or similar, you should find ones from other schools.

Then check which exam board his school take and get the textbook for year 1/AS - you will probably need two, one for pure and one for stats/mechanics. There are lots of websites that have videos - my favourite is TLMaths.

For CS and psychology perhaps he could do some MOOCs instead of specific A-level work? CS50 is a good one for computer science

Whilst I agree the LA's statutory duties should extend to those below and above CSA, and in time believe someone will challenge it, going down the EHCP route is more appropriate for DC's needs.

The assessment can be comprehensive, an EHCP comes with the right of appeal, can continue until 25, and as long as it is specific and quantified it is much easier to enforce provision via JR than it is with even vaguely suitable medical needs tuition.

Appropriate SEN support is often a fight whatever the child's age. There are many CSA pupils not receiving suitable provision, so extending the LA's duties would still fail many DC whose parents can't navigate the system.

Problem being, LAs will argue, medical needs alone do not constitute SEN, therefore they do not meet the threshold. Hence us being twice refused assessment.

My son does meet threshold - easily - though, because his conditions affect him in such a way that he meets the statutory definition of SEN. Which is why they had to concede. Unfortunately, not all medical conditions do. That didn’t stop them deliberately stonewalling and timewasting, knowing they would have to give in and assess eventually. They didn’t care that this was causing him to be NEET from the end of Y11, until they pull their fingers out and get a plan in place. NEET team sent us a one page questionnaire at the end of Y11 and basically said, get back in touch when he’s better - erm, that isn’t going to be for years. I expect we will be pushed to tribunal at every stage of the EHCP process, because basically they don’t want to deal with him, he’s too ‘difficult and complex’. (He really isn’t. His needs are very simple and easily met.)

Now also need to access their NEET careers team, as the only offer they LA have for post 16 EOTAS does not provide anything which will help him towards his chosen career. Standard careers service are hopeless and only seem to know about standard, uncomplicated pathways. We need to identify a clear pathway he can actually access, that we can then fight the LA to provide.

The vast majority of DC who are out of education because of their health (physical or mental) will meet the definition of SEN under,

"has a disability which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream schools or mainstream post-16 institutions."

and will require

"educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the same age" i.e. special education provision.

Even if the LA argue there is no SEN a tribunal is likely to see things differently. Although, as you say, you are likely to be pushed all the way.

RB v Calderdale MBC (SEN) [2018] UKUT 390 (AAC) is relevant case law about a child with health needs and poor attendance.

I agree, but LA’s will use every excuse in the book to claim children don’t meet the definition, to force parents to tribunal. They have no intention of actually going through with the tribunal, they know they don’t have a leg to stand on, but they also know a lot of parents will be scared off or unable to deal with that situation and back off.

Nothing will change until the government imposes sanctions of LA’s that deliberately game the system like that.

I completely agree, especially that nothing will change while LAs continue to get away with acting as they do. Arguably it is DC with parents who, for whatever reason, can't navigate the system and challenge LAs that need the support the most.