Advice please for 16 year old left education

susiewuzy

Hello,

My daughter has had a very difficult time at school, she didn't get the GCSE results she had hoped for in August, and therefore her school wouldn't accept her on to A levels. She was given other options as well as studying English again, to try to better her grade, but she refused and said she would go to college instead.

She decided on a level two ICT course and was going to study GCSE English alongside this, but due to lack of effort etc.... she was removed from this course and put onto a level one vocational course instead. This was supposed to start last Tuesday, but by Thursday she hadn't even turned up, and she was withdrawn from this course on Friday.

She doesn't know what to do, I don't know what to do, college is probably a no go now, even if she could think of something she was actually interested in. And her grades aren't that good.

She has no motivation to do anything, it seems. Although she has mentioned she might like an apprenticeship...

I have trawled the internet and connexions keeps coming up, but I don't think this exists in our area anymore. I have found an organisation called 4YP, locally, and have contacted them and they have said I can take her there tomorrow, which I will, and my daughter has agreed.

Am I doing all I can do? Does anyone know if this 4YP is the right step?

Also, it's not of major importance, we get no tax credits etc.. just child benefit. Do I need to ring them and cancel this now?

Thank you.

AP007

She doesn't know what to do? Turn up to college would have been a start.

If she has no motivation to do anything why is that?

DCFC79

Theres also national careers service.

Might like to do an apprenticeship is ok in theory until she decides to not bother and stops going.

You want to find out why she has motivation before its too late.

shop-to-drop

I think she needs to get in touch with connexions. They will be able to help her and give you advice re child benefit.

Try to support her to get help to sort herself out BUT let her do it for herself. If everything is organised for her she won't be motivated probably part of the problem re College.

Good luck.

TeaCake

Ring the college and talk to student services about restarting, it may not be too late to get on to a course this year. College is very different to school and most are willing to give students a second (or third or fourth) chance. It might be worth getting an appointment with a careers adviser to talk about the future as well.

Why is she lacking motivation? Could she be depressed? Might be worth a trip to the GP?

martinsurrey

Can I ask how she's supporting herself now?

Seems to be a lot of you doing the running here, maybe a big dose of reality now, followed by the English resit next year?

spacey2012

Agree, who is topping her phone up, giving her pocket money, that kind of thing.
If it is you, you need to tie these things to turning up for college and see if they will give her once last chance with a shaggy dog tale.

Cycrow

collage isn't out of the question, if she wanted to, she could most likly get on another course next year, its just if she is actually willing to work at it or not.

it might be an idea to try and figure out what she might actually be interested in.

Perhaps get a part time job for this year then look again at collage for next year.
maybe the work might end up giving her motivation to actually try at collage

paddedjohn

A lot of kids have no motivation at that age especially when they realise they've got to do school again, you can help her by not running around after her and she will soon realise she's in the big world now and needs to sort herself out.

susiewuzy

AP007 wrote: »

She doesn't know what to do? Turn up to college would have been a start.

If she has no motivation to do anything why is that?

I wish I knew the answer to that.

susiewuzy

martinsurrey wrote: »

Can I ask how she's supporting herself now?

Seems to be a lot of you doing the running here, maybe a big dose of reality now, followed by the English resit next year?

She can't support herself. She doesn't even have a part time job. She turned 16 at the end of July, and I don't think she has even looked for one.