Post 16 college without EHCP

[ItsWheelieNana]

My son is currently in yr10 - autism/dyslexia/dyspraxia. He's at a specialist independent school but doesn't have an ehcp.
He's getting a lot of support at his current school as the norm there for all the kids but he'll really struggle in mainstream college without support in place.

Has anyone got any advice about looking at college / apprenticeship options for him after GCSEs?

Should we be looking at colleges this year? Or wait till yr11 to start looking?

It doesn’t hurt to start looking now, but applications won’t be until next year,

You should request an EHCNA. The only way to guarantee support is via an EHCP. The support available in a mainstream college without an EHCP will be far more limited compared to what DS is receiving now.

I agree with @YellowRosesWithRedTips .
My DD missed y11 with MH issues, started college without an EHCP. Within a week it was clear she wasn't coping but every time I asked for an adjustment the reply was 'does she have an EHCP?'. So with help from MN I applied for one and within 3 days got the answer back they would assess. From that moment on college immediately became responsive.

To help you, start by listing down diagnoses, issues, and all the support he currently gets.
Obviously for colleges you need to look at what courses he would be interested in and could cope with, as well as wider support available at the college.

Hi .
I am glad I found this thread and hope someone may be able to help me 🙏
I don't know what to do and what would be best for my eldest daughter .she does have an ehcp pan for emotional social and mental health difficulties with social interaction and social communication difficulties which impact severely on her education and learning.
This was issued in October 2020.
She went to Farnborough college of technology which was a disaster lack of understanding flexibility.communication.
Her exams were in two subjects slightly higher for vocational pathways but not high enough for A levels .
Unfortunately with out being negative finds non academic and academic subjects very hard and struggles massively in special emotional interaction in making any friends
The SENCO ignored her plan and Hampshire EHC Hub.
She is now under adults mental health including medication.
She had such a limited choice of courses there was nothing to choose there were barriers within the college.
3 year's have past can't get pass a BTEC one stuck at level one Maths .
Undecided if she should go back to college to do functional skills or at home doing learn direct.
Equally miserable in both college and home .
Do we forget the maths think about some voluntary work she enjoyed Farnborogh library work placement.
Or do we look at learn direct for maths at home .
Am a non driver so Hampshire EHC Hub suggested Hook inclusion college.
She seems so stuck and so are we in moving forward.
Should we concentrate on therapy and forget college
Thank you for any advice suggestions 🙂😐

Hi @Mum2girlsx
We are in Hants too. DD is 'y14 equiv' and we have gone off piste this year doing therapy, work experience, and functional skills English at home. We have put maths on hold for now. The LA haven't exactly been helpful but they aren't blocking it. However I'm not asking for funding either. I'm trying to keep EHCP open in case DD does want to return to college next year to do a Level 2 BTEC, though more likely she'll do part time work.

Can you clarify what year group your DD is and what her highest qualifications to date are?

Functional Skills seems more accessible that GCSEs.

(or by Functional Skills do you mean more like Life Skills?)
(have you heard of supported internships?)

Hi
My daughter is 19 .she came out of FCOT unable to do her level 2 BTEC course.
She had an EHCP plan and was turned down from vocational pathways.
The college choices were non existent.
So she left in attempting to do online learning including functional maths but am undecided if she should try again as our only option.
Hampshire EHC Hub and Sen not very good
Don't know what to do

You would be better starting your own thread.

It is the LA who is ultimately responsible for ensuring provision is provided, and it can be enforced if written correctly, rather than the college.

Have you requested an early review? When was the last AR? Does the EHCP include therapies (SALT, OT, MH therapies).

Have you looked at other colleges? If college isn’t suitable have you looked at EOTAS?

Hi again
She is not able to confidently use public transport has severe anxiety and autism.
She is starting therapy soon and under medication which the college knew about.
Maybe should forget about the college for a while and like you keeping her EHCP plan open.
We live in Farnborough Hampshire

I mean functional maths skills and I T skills.
We are at home too

Sounds like the EHCP is poor and you need an early review. Therapies should be in F therefore can be in excess of what would otherwise be available. Have you looked at transport? And travel training?