Apprenticeship starting I have to September

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So we are thrilled. DS2 has won an apprenticeship with what is widely regarded as the best firm for apprentices in our area, to start in Sep.

As you'd expect it's a conditional offer requiring satisfactory references and exam results.

He's been sent loads of paperwork to complete and has returned all of that.

He doesn't have an actual start date yet, that's tbc on the contract etc because they haven't yet reached agreement with the college he will attend FT for the first year.

So does he just wait to hear or should he be keeping in touch? I wouldn't want him to make a nuisance of himself but at some point he needs to know what college it is so we can make travel arrangements. Should he confirm with them that they've received references OK or leave it to them to get in touch if they don't? It doesn't feel like there'll be a lot of time after the exam results.

Also, as a side note, is there any value, to the employer, in all the paperwork he's signed now. He's not 16 until the summer, so can he legally be bound to anything he's signed? . There's no reason why he shouldn't it just seems odd to ask a 15 yo to sign it all.

Surely there’s no rush to make travel arrangements for a course he won’t be starting for another 7 months?

How many different colleges could it possibly be? Not more than 3 or 4 surely? If he really feels he needs to be doing something before knowing which college it will be, can’t he just work out what his transport options would be for the various colleges?

No there's no rush, it just feels like a long time to be doing nothing. I feel like it's a bit risky to be merrily carrying on assuming he has a place for Sept without keeping in touch.

The college could be anywhere really, sometimes firms put them up in hotels during the week. Plus he'd like to know. I don't think it will really make a difference to his decision, but the quality of the college is quite a big part of the quality of the apprenticeship. It won't be the one he thought it would be when he applied or has been historically, as they're not running the course next year, which is the reason for the delay. There isn't another technical college locally so it really could be anywhere.

Plus he's been sent a contract but is worth anything without a start date?

”Plus he's been sent a contract but is worth anything without a start date?”

Yes of course. Offers of employment frequently come without an exact start date. It sounds like he’s been told September, so it’s just a case of finalising the exact date. Not at all surprising they can’t be specific this far out.

He should keep in touch, but no need to worry unless months go by with nothing.