Unsuitable 6th form placement-Tax Credits

duchy

Bit of a nonsense heading but all will become clear -hopefully
DS has aspergers-moved to a grammer 6th form college for a levels and it hasn't worked out. Support needs can't/aren't been achieved. (He has a statement) I could kick up but honestly it isn't worth it-support is as good as the willingness of the school providing it -and they simply aren't willing. DS's anxiety levels are sky high and self confidence/self esteem in his boots. School say his anxiety now makes him a risk in science labs so can't take any of his two science as levels as he can't sit the practical modules. They say as he now isn't sitting 3 as levels there is no place for him anymore at the school.
Education dept have told me to expect a wait of several weeks at the least to find and arrange a new placement-Obviously not acceptable at this point in an as-level year. Conexxions I've been waiting a week now for them to call me -Lea say they have made the right person aware but not even a phone call.
So I've told the lea I will be very interested to hear their proposals .
In the meantime (not told the lea as they will then stop looking for a solution) I've organized a place for him at a college for one of the same as-level courses (same syllabus and books -interestingly the college are further along with the course than the grammer school 6th form he was attending) and am arranging him to start a 10 week OU Science short course (10 points) to tide him over whilst the lea get their act together. There *may* be some funding for the OU-or there may not. I can just about cover it though.
However as I work part-time (single parent) as his anxiety levels rocket due to the aspergers if I am not around to support him -I claim ctc/wtc. at present these are stop gaps to keep him in education and to ensure he does get to take and pass the as level maths this summer (unlikely if new full time provision doesn't happen until after the easter holidays -as seems likely from the time scale given to me by the lea.
I want him back in full time FE and that is what I am hoping they will provide however the present stop gap plan is technicaly a mix of part-time FE and part time HE (arguably as some 6th forms do allow a level students to also take the same OU course and the OU have a special scheme for this)
Sorry lots of background -my question is........as this is stop gap to keep my son IN education until full and proper provision can be made by the lea am I likely to be able to appeal to keep CTC even though by the letter of the regs (should be FE not HE courses and this is a mix) he isn't in fulltime school ?
I realise I should be advising TCs now (or I think I should) but as this in effect a waiting period for consultation and a new proposal from the lea am I ok to wait until they come up with a new placement proposal ?

beanielou

Sorry that you are having all these problems.
I dont have any answers for you but dident just want to ignore your post.

Savvy_Sue

I would suggest a phone call to IPSEA for a mix of advice and application of foot to rear end of LEA ... Also the NAS may be able to advise because these 'odd' schooling situations are probably something they've met before.

I don't know if CTC will let you ask 'in principle' questions without taking your details? I've always found HMRC quite good for this. You phone and say "If this were to happen, what would happen to my CTC etc?"

One thing, if you can't get a definitive answer, I would try to keep some of it by in case they eventually say "We want it back." I believe you can negotiate instalments, can't you?

Another question is whether your son can self-study the Maths? I know it's far from ideal, but it is more obviously suited to self-teaching than things like languages.

I am really sorry it hasn't worked out.

Gemmzie

As long as he's not out of education for more than 13 weeks I believe you can still claim WTC and CTC, I'll check but that was true for me (about four years ago)

Child Benefit rules say...."If a young person who has left full-time non-advanced education or approved training returns to it before s/he is 19, child benefit can start again."
Or if he registers with Connexions then you may be able to have the Child Benefit Extension Period (20 weeks) but whether the young person can return to education after this and get Child Benefit reinstated, I'm not sure of.

Hope that helps

Savvy_Sue

Also does the college where you've found him one science course not do maths as well? Even if it's a different syllabus / board / book is that worth exploring?

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello duchy,

Your son has done so well to get as far as he has.

I found out prior to my daughter sitting the 11+ that a grammer school were not really interested in providing support, regardless of academic ability.

I would sit down, and form your own plan of action.
You know what you want the final out come to be, so work back from that.
I would not wait for the LEA to come up with something, go out and find it, and put your case for what you'd like to happen. Try and make appointments with the heads of 6th form and the senco, and see what they have to offer, although consider them as sales people, and the prospectus a sales catalogue.

Some schools may have joint 6th forms, so can provide more choice, but shop around. If it's anything like mainstream school, it's bums on seats that provide the funding, so there may be options for taking your son mid term. If it means your son needs to travel, then the LEA may offer assistance.

If he is not able to start at a new college / 6th form till Sept, ask connexions about E2E- Entry to Employment or the Acorn scheme. My son had 8 months on one of these schemes, not that he wanted to go into work, but it provided a stop gap until he could start full time college.
It was a positive experience for my son, and restored his self esteem. From being broken by his school experience, he regained his confidence, and had his anxiety under control. Don't look at it as a long term solution, but a temporary measure.

I hope you find a the solution your son needs,

Munchie

duchy

Thanks for such positive replies
To pick up on a few points......
The Maths he can pick up mid year at a local college-smaller cl!!! than he had in the 6th form and same sylabus. I've met the lecturer and am quite impressed. He can start next Monday after half term so this year's maths work won't be wasted and he can still end up with one as level . College will support him first couple of weeks at the very least for the 2 half days he is in to do the subject. I'm an ex OU student and as his issues are enviroment rather than academic (the work is no problem it's dealing with people/noise/busy surroundings that freak him) the Open University keeps the science going (and the prospect of a real academic qualification that will count towards a degree) and do something to rebuild self confidence and self esteem. Obviously college can continue to more as-levels and a levels in September . The OU could also continue. Lots of options -just they don't quite fit the pigeon hole of CTC and CB. I guess if the lea can't come up with something suitable it'd give me more welly if I do need to appeal withdrawal of benefit.
Part of the issue is the schools that offer the right subjects aren't asd friendly. The grammer schools are too protective of their league table positions to be that way sadly.