KS Transfer and keeping motivatedd

[Fearfulsaints]

My DS is preparing for his key stage transfer to sixth form. No where offering his subject choice can meet needs.

He is currently at a special school which doesnt have a sixth form.

The options locally that say they can meet need is an SEN unit at an FE college offering life skills ( which he doesnt need really) or a handful of vocational qualifications in subjects he isnt interested in like animal care or gardening which he has already done.

He isnt doing gcses but he is doing 4 qualifications to meet the entry criteria for the course he does want to do, but its going to be very hard to motivate him when they dont help him get to where he wants to be because they won't have him anyway.

Any tips to help me keep sane trying to sort a package for next year and him motivated that its still worth trying in his qualifications when they might not get him to where he wants to be..

No where offering his subject choice can meet needs.

Is this your opinion or are you basing on what the settings say? If it isn’t your opinion, would it help DS’s motivation to know you will appeal if the LA finalise, which must be by the 31st, without naming his/your preference?

When you say ‘they won’t have him anyway’, what exactly do you mean? State colleges don’t just get to say they won’t have him. That isn’t how the law around EHCPs won’t. The institution can be named even if they object. The bar for the LA to prove one of the lawful exceptions is high. Much higher than LAs and many settings admit. Now, that is admission into the institution rather than the specific course, but depending on how F is worded, it can mean certain courses/types of courses must be provided.

When you say sort a package, do you mean EOTAS/EOTIS/C? If so, explaining to DS the range of what can be provided will help with motivation. He won’t realise the scope of what can be provided.

What course does he want to do?

@ExistingonCoffee

Thanks for the reply. Im just feeling down today and panicing rather than being rational. Its such hard work!

My opinion is two of the FE colleges that offer the subject are not really a suitable environment. They have lots of large atriums and an enourmous canteen and are very school like with thier set up. I need to really think if there is anything I could appeal / add to the ehcp /change that would make them accessible to him. i think i could have more success with the LA naming them regardless of thier no as they are state. But obviously, because I sort of agree with thier no, i need a think if that's sensible to fight for..

The college that was a suitable environment is actually not state so it has a bit more say over who it admits. Its commissioned by one of the other colleges to deliver its course but it does it in a very relaxed non school like environment with a small cohort. (its not a cost issue the costs are the same)

Im yet to hear which aspects of the ehcps the institutions couldn't support - to know whether to appeal/add to or chabge tge ehcp consider going for eotas.

The ehcp is a bit shit because we struggled with updated reports.

The course is music production level 2 but this having searched a reasonable distance from our home (1 hour 45 hour). These were the only ones running a course at that level.

He has autism but his special interest is music and he plays two instruments incredibly well.

If the college that is suitable is wholly independent but has said no, I would speak to them again. Make sure they have up to date and accurate information. LAs are notorious for sending consults with inaccurate information and half the picture. You have nothing to lose by approaching them about their concerns and asking them to reconsider.

If the LA is being cagey about the consultation responses, have you tried asking the institutions directly?

The college he wants said they have given feedback to the LA on a significant number of provisions they cant meet and negotiations should be through the LA. That they are very happy to be reconsulted with if the ehcp changes but will not enter further discussions.

They added they have spoken to parents directly before who have said bits of the ehcp dont matter or are badly written and then taken in students who they then havent actually been able to support as it turned out the student did need the support.

I dont want my son to go somewhere he really couldnt cope as its pointless - but I do think he would be fine there from the tours we had with the support they say they give on thier website, and they described to us and knowing other ehcps they have agreed.

If the college and the LA are both being cagey about the consultation response, you might have to go down the SAR route.