Autistic teen

[Sixtwentytwo]

My 16 year old was diagnosed with autism at the end of the summer, she’s always found school difficult but one way or another we got her through and she passed her GCSEs
She’s now at sixth form and has dropped from 3 A Levels to 2 as she couldn’t manage the workload/stress of being in college full time.
Her diagnosis coincided with starting sixth form and since then she’s been worse than ever, can’t walk to college if it’s raining, is constantly shouting at us for making the slightest noise etc.
I have been blaming the diagnosis for this decline, she blames starting college.
She now wants to quit college, is anxious and stressed.
Do I let her quit? Am I ruining her life chances? Are A Levels really important? Is it worth all the stress and trauma they’re causing? She doesn’t have an EHCP so can’t continue with A Levels post-18.
Any advice would be fabulous.

Ds dropped out of A Levels as he could no longer cope with a mainstream environment.
He did have an EHCP though ( that he got at the start of sixth form). So that meant there were more options open to him. Because of his difficulties and high needs. I think we would have struggled to find a suitable path for him, without the intervention of professionals and the local authority funding a specialist independent placement.

He is not doing A levels now at his specialist placement, despite having the academic ability and them offering that as an option. His mental health and coping mechanisms are not in a place to be able to manage that level of work. At the moment I'm not trying to think too far ahead about his future. There are other paths than just the A Level route. And a young person whose MH is poor and whose needs aren't being met is not going to thrive, even if they have good A Level grades.

If you feel that an EHCP could be helpful for her going forward. Then I would absolutely do a parental application for an EHCNA.

A student who was 16, 17 or 18 on 31st August prior to beginning A levels in the September continues to be funded as a 16 to 18 year old even if they turn 19 during the course.

If DD can’t access full time education, which she can’t if she can’t cope with 3 A levels, rather than dropping out you should apply for an EHCNA. IPSEA have a model letter you can use. The benefit of an EHCP is it can provide therapies that DD wouldn’t otherwise get.

You are very lucky the college have agreed to dropping an A level because it has a negative effect of their funding as DD is no longer classed as full time. But going forward DD needs an EHCP to enable her to access education and get the appropriate support she needs.

In case it is relevant to you, because DD isn’t in full time education if you are claiming child benefit for DD you need to speak to HMRC. If DC can’t attend full time due to their disability there can sometimes be an extension. If not then DD can register with the local careers service to get a 20 week extension.

Hi, I've also got a 16 year old diagnosed this year with ASD. We are still waiting for the paperwork, so she isn't getting any support in 6th form/Yr 12.

She's missing at least a day or two a week of school, and would leave if she could. I don't think she'll stay for long.

I'm not too worried on the long term impact of not passing her A levels. They can always go back to education. It's more the lack of opportunity to be out of the house, self esteem and wanting her to be somewhere whilst I'm at work.

What will your daughter be doing all day if she's not at college? I think it's so important for them to be doing something productive, being part of society.

Would she be happy to volunteer/get a part time job?

DD doesn’t need the paperwork, or even a diagnosis, for college to provide support.

If DD isn’t able to attend full time you should apply for an EHCP.

@Thatsnotmycar thanks, I'll ask about that. She's been told at school that she needs it. And I was also told to come back when we had it, as I was asking about what could be offered.

Legally the school must make their best endeavours to meet a pupils SEN, diagnosis or not.