EHCP and A levels and a possible extra year?

[PermanentIyExhaustedPigeon]

DS is in y10 doing GCSEs at a small independent school (funded via EHCP) and we are starting to look at what's next for post 16.

He is very very bright and definitely well suited academically to A levels and then going on to university but a combination of ASD and a very late August birthday make him very young for his age and I seriously doubt he will be ready to leave home for uni a couple of weeks after his 18th birthday. Unfortunately he will have to leave home to go to uni due to where we live, otherwise I'd be very happy for him to live at home whilst studying.

A gap year would be the obvious suggestion for most young adults but due to his needs that's unlikely to be suitable or affordable. I think he will really need another year of structure, learning study skills etc. I wish he had been able to start school a year later tbh but unfortunately where we live that wasn't possible.

Would we be able to ask about him doing 4 A levels over 3 years? The school would 100% back us on this being the right pace for him, but would the LA agree to fund it?

That is possible.

You could also consider 2 A levels (plus additional support such as therapies and PfA) over 2 years and then another 2 A levels or 1 A level and EPQ or similar (plus additional support such as therapies and PfA) over another 2 years.

Or 3 or 4 A levels (plus support such as therapies and PfA) over 2 years then a package of provision in what would be Y14 focusing on PfA, accessing the community, enrichment, study skills, therapies etc. (maybe with some supported work experience).

Thanks, that's really given me something to work from! I'm guessing PfA is preparing for adulthood? What sort of things could I ask to be included in that?

Yes, preparation for adulthood. What can be included depends on DS’s needs but could include things like cooking, travel training/driving lessons, accessing the community, money management, self help skills, personal care, household tasks. You will need evidence they are required. Have a look at this checklist, this website and this booklet.

ds2 did get funding up until year 14 but the circumstances were different i.e. home tutors and he started the A level course in year 13 rather than year 14 (as he had a few years out of education). It is also worth noting that boys, even those with HFA, can mature a lot between 14 and 18. At 14 neither of mine I would have expected to be able to manage university. ds1 was in special school at 15 and getting very, very anxious about impending GCSE's. ds2 was only just starting to re-engage with academic study after three years out of school with the help of home tutors and not going out of the house at all. Now ds1 is in his third year of university and ds2 is coming to the end of his first year. Both in student halls and apparently coping as far as I can tell. So even if you don't manage to get an extra years funding it might still be OK.