College

[borderslass]

DS was meant to start a life-skills course one day a week at college 3 weeks ago, the staff at college, his teachers and myself agree that he needs quite a high level of support but council and social work have said no money available so he's having to start half day with the little support they've got.
The class size is double what he's got at school, hes in a school with under 100 kids from P1 - S5 the college is huge and has merged with the university.He has several issues with the college if it doesn't work he might not be able to go full time next year.
Not needing advise just needed to vent some of the frustration of what problems the cut backs are causing.

This is awful. I can't believe they are refusing to support him for one day per week. I agree about effect of cut backs. I am really worried about funding of support for disabled people and their families. I received a letter a couple of weeks ago telling me that the services my ds receives from social care are being reviewed and may well be cut. Six weeks ago I was told I was eligible for extra direct payments, two weeks ago I got a letter telling me that this wasn't the case again due to cuts! I have written to the head of the council and my county councillor, who have so far expressed sympathy (very helpful!)and the head of the council here started to tell me how it was the last government's fault before I intervened to get him back on track!

The College will have a Learning support Team and should be able to offer some in-house support.

Connexions in your area is probably worth contacting - unless you live in an area where Connexions has already been disbanded.

I'd also try NAS to see if they can suggest avenues for getting him support in education.

Best wishes

I should have added - if he had a Statement when he was in school the Educational Psychologist has a responsibility to ensure that any placement he planned to attend post-16 was suitable. Wthout support this placment is not. You could argue that you want him to stay on in school post 16 rather than transfer to an unsuitable FE place.

Also, with a Statement, if Connexions is still in your area they are supposed to support him up to age 25. If Connexions has disbanded then speak to the LA and if they refuse to help take the matter up with your Local Councillor.

Explore as many avenues as you can and make a real nuisance of yourself. when, at one point it looked as though my Ds would not have a suitable post 16 placement i got the FE College to agree that I could sit with him in lessons to provide support.

Anything is possible if you shout discrimmination and disability prevents him from acessing education.

WetAugust We're in Scotland don't have statements used to have a record of needs but that was replaced by something else but DS wasn't given one as all his needs are being met at school a child needs to have several agencies working with them and all his are at school.
The EP has been working with college to try and get support but there's no money for any. He has one year left at school he will be nearly 17 when he leaves next June there's no provision for him to stay on after that, the plan was always for him to come back to his own community.
The life-skills courses he's doing are work based as even though at school he's not one of the most able the college course they wanted him to do wasn't suitable as the kids are less able this year.
What is connexions never heard of them?

Hi borderslass -try contacting Careers Scotland - they are the scottish equivalent of Connexions.

Social workers been on the phone she's disgusted as this has been planned since last November says that shes going to keep trying for funding.