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Further Education Colleges

longman

I have been trying to find out about provisions for supporting autism at FE colleges. What I've got from the Department of Business Innovation & Skills is a bit of a mix.

I wondered if anyone attending Further Education Colleges had seen any sign of these provisions. I'm not doing a survey or anything. But it might help if anyone can confirm these initiatives are working effectively.

The Skills Funding Agency supports all students in FE colleges with an identified learning difficulty and/or disability, regardless of the learner's background and relative disadvantage.

The Public Sector Equality Duty applies in all F E colleges.

47 Equality and Diversity Partnership Projects were set up in 2012/13 and 40 more will be set up in 2013/14. For example Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College is working in partnership with "Ambitious About Autism" to support progression in vocational courses (is that really F E colleges?)

EHC Plans under the Children and Families Act are from September 2014 being put into practice for ages up to 25 and in FE colleges. Anyone seen any sign of this?

Even without an EHC plan F E Colleges are under duty to ensure provision for age up to 25

FE colleges have to admit a young person if that college is named on their EHC plan

Parents

  • I wish I could offer much help, but I'm floundering around with all sorts of conflicting information.

    If one believes the Children and Families Act is going to help up to the age of 25, someone with a statement of special education needs will from september get an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) in its place. This will ensure access to disability support in whatever course of education that person seeks, up to the age of 25.....

    Lots of IFs there....doesn't bother politicians like David Willetts or Michael Gove, but for real people under 25, with a disability, what will really happen?  Answer is - I don't know.... does anybody?

    For example, if your son is not receiving any support, does that mean he's not statemented? Possibly you could clarify whether he fits in with the scheme the Government has on offer.

    Aside from that you have the usual dilemma of 6th form where he is now, or going to a 6th form college or FE College or some such other resource.

    If the school where he is at now offers a healthy supportive environment, and his peers aren't picking on him or trying to undermine him, then staying with what you know may be the best option. But you say there are school related issues.....bullying?

    The problem about going somewhere else, which is why I raised this question, is that colleges have not been good up until now, at adhering to disabiliy support undertakings. Some colleges are good, some are disasterous, and some are completely unashamed about being absolutely disgraceful. We are told the Children and Families Act will change things, but with politicians like Michael Gove engaging in ill-informed meddling, has anyone any hope of success?

    The other point I should make is you have raised this under a heading querying the integrity of F E College reform. It might not be the most obvious heading other parents who've been through this, or young people on the spectrum who've been through college would look under. And what you need is their experience. You might want to post your questiion again under a new topic heading more appropriate to the help you are seeking.

Reply

  • I wish I could offer much help, but I'm floundering around with all sorts of conflicting information.

    If one believes the Children and Families Act is going to help up to the age of 25, someone with a statement of special education needs will from september get an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC) in its place. This will ensure access to disability support in whatever course of education that person seeks, up to the age of 25.....

    Lots of IFs there....doesn't bother politicians like David Willetts or Michael Gove, but for real people under 25, with a disability, what will really happen?  Answer is - I don't know.... does anybody?

    For example, if your son is not receiving any support, does that mean he's not statemented? Possibly you could clarify whether he fits in with the scheme the Government has on offer.

    Aside from that you have the usual dilemma of 6th form where he is now, or going to a 6th form college or FE College or some such other resource.

    If the school where he is at now offers a healthy supportive environment, and his peers aren't picking on him or trying to undermine him, then staying with what you know may be the best option. But you say there are school related issues.....bullying?

    The problem about going somewhere else, which is why I raised this question, is that colleges have not been good up until now, at adhering to disabiliy support undertakings. Some colleges are good, some are disasterous, and some are completely unashamed about being absolutely disgraceful. We are told the Children and Families Act will change things, but with politicians like Michael Gove engaging in ill-informed meddling, has anyone any hope of success?

    The other point I should make is you have raised this under a heading querying the integrity of F E College reform. It might not be the most obvious heading other parents who've been through this, or young people on the spectrum who've been through college would look under. And what you need is their experience. You might want to post your questiion again under a new topic heading more appropriate to the help you are seeking.

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