Answer to Question 1 - What are these vocational qualifications worth?
All TVC Courses lead to nationally recognised qualifications. Qualifications that create real opportunities for progression. We will not catalogue courses that do not lead to good progression opportunities.

Each qualification has a 'level' and these can be used to compare with other qualifications in the National Qualification Framework. From 2010 this will be the Qualifications and Credit Framework. Most TVC students will be working through levels 1 - 3 but some who have found particular difficulty with some school work may start at Entry Level. Every course has a target level to achieve. A comparison chart is included on the courses and qualifications page.

All TVC qualifications with their levels and performance points are listed on the TVC Courses and Qualifications page.

Answer to Question 2 - What happens to TVC learners when they have completed their course?
TVC courses can open up many opportunities and many TVC learners complete one year and progress to an Apprenticeship or a full time FE course. TVC learners are prized by those recruiting apprentices. TVC students will have confirmed their interest in a particular career, gained enough skills to make them useful and know how to build portfolios for assessment purposes. Some students continue for a second year and go into employment and an increasing number to higher education.

Answer to Question 3 How can find out about apprentice opportunities?
Many TVC training providers also train apprentices and will recruit directly from those already working with them. They will have the contacts with employers and will guide the learners towards opportunities as they arise. Connexions also provide excellent support - vacancies are listed on the web site - www.connexions-cd.org.uk. It is in everyone's interest that the young person progresses to what we call 'positive destinations' and everyone will help to make this happen.

Answer to Question 4 How can parents support TVC learning
Learners will respond positively if you show interest and encourage them to talk about their work on their TVC course. Try not to be judgemental or critical and help them to find their own solutions to any problems where possible.

Believe in them - if they have chosen a course they are interested in we will ensure it is a the right level and there is no reason why they should not achieve. We expect them to achieve!

Regular attendance is the most important factor in making sure that success is achieved. Poor attendance will reduce chances and will also be reflected in any reference for a job, Please obtain a copy of the timetable and encourage prompt attendance at all timetabled lessons. Some courses require a considerable amount of homework and it is helpful if the young person has somewhere at home to complete this.

Part-time employment can provide a valuable experience of work and can help young people grow up and face responsibilities but working excessive hours inevitable means that learning will suffer. Please help to keep this in proportion.

Also please see this very valuable information from the 'Sleep Council' http://www.sleepcouncil.com/Leaflets/downloads/the_good_night_guide_for_children.pdf

Answer to Question 5 How can I help my son or daughter make the right choice of course?

Making the right choice of course is critical to success. It is essential that the young person makes a commitment to a course and remains motivated throughout. This will only happen if they believe that it is the right path for them. Encourage the young person to seek advice - teachers will know the ways of learning that suit them and Connexions advisors will have a good overview of all the options available. Teachers and advisors will talk with the young person about what they like doing and what sort of work they think they could do and enjoy. They will encourage realistic options. It may be helpful if you can answer questions about your own work or enable them to talk with other relatives about their work. Try to avoid forcing your ideas upon the young person - they have to do the work not you - and it is a fast changing world out there!

TVC Training Providers may want to interview your son or daughter to ensure that they really want to do the course and may give them a test to check they will be able to operate at this level.

Joining your son or daughter at the INSPIRE event (October/November at Plymouth University) and attending parents evenings together is a good way of starting discussions and supporting positive ideas. The 'How to Join a TVC Course' page. may be helpful.

Answer to Question 6 How can my son or daughter get onto the course they want?

The TVC now offers about 90 different course covering 30 vocational areas. Altogether it provides 2,000+ places for young people. Some popular courses may be oversubscribed and there has to be some way of selecting those who are most likely to benefit from them.

A few TVC courses have entry requirements and these are for good reason. The courses that demand a particular GCSE grade in specific subjects need those skills to be present to make a progress on the course. Without them success is not possible. If this is the case the young person must work hard at the necessary GCSEs. If they are unlikely to achieve the target grade then alternatives should be considered.

Entry to most TVC courses is by interview. The course leaders will want to see a genuine interest in the course and see that it has been chosen as a key part of the young persons career plan or individual learning plan (ILP). They will be expected to show some knowledge of the work they will do and have a clear picture of where it will lead them. They may have to sit a test to check that the level of the course is right for them.

Parents can help support the young person by encouraging them to explore options and seek advice. They will need help in preparing for interview and developing confidence to work in a new location with new people.

Answer to Question 7 How do students get to their Training?
As a parent, you are responsible for ensuring that your child gets to their place of learning when on the 'home' school site or somewhere else in the city. There are maps and directions to all training providers on the Directions To Training Providers page to help the young people.

The schools or community colleges will play a part in organising the young people for their journeys by showing learners where to go and may well organise a visit to the trainer before the term begins. Most learners travel by public transport and may be eligible for discounted travel on CityBus or First Western National buses. Some training providers who are located in areas difficult to access by public transport, collect the students from their school or community college (and return them) with minibuses. The school pays for this service.

Travel arrangements are taken into account when the programme is 'risk assessed'. The tutor will check that the young person is comfortable with the travel arrangements, knows where to go, how to get there and has the good sense to make the journey safely. Where possible they will be linked with others making the same journey.

If a student does not arrive at the trainer or leaves part way through the day the 'home' school/community college will be informed.

Answer to Question 8 What happens on the schools days?
The days spent back at the home school/community college base are very important. There will be opportunities for some students to take other subjects from the sixth form curriculum. An increasing number are 'mixing and matching' vocational qualifications with traditional courses and some will be taking A levels. Most TVC students will be following an enhanced 'Enrichment Programme' that creates opportunities to gain useful additional qualifications and improve Key Skills. Key Skill qualifications are built into Apprenticeships and students who can gain these qualifications while at school will have a head start on others applying for similar opportunities.

Perhaps most importantly the days at the home school/community college give the tutors opportunity to support the young person with all aspects of their learning. They can help explain things that have come up, encourage and motivate the young person as well as liaise with trainers to sort out any difficulties and monitor progress.

Students who attend school/college regularly are the highest achievers.

Answer to Question 9 - What will a TVC Course cost me?
The Young Persons Learning Agency who refund schools or community colleges for the cost of TVC training. This covers tuition, books, materials and any necessary safety wear (overalls, boots, hard hats) or hygiene uniform. There will be no cost for these items to students or parents but if the student would like to keep the 'kit' when they leave they may be expected to make a contribution to the cost (ie Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing kits are the most expensive) Travel to training is the parents' responsibility but some schools/community colleges help out when possible and meet the mini bus costs to courses that are off main bus routes.

Answer to Question 10 How do I know how my son or daughter is doing when they are off the school site?
Each day a register is taken and every 7 weeks a progress tracking report is completed by the training provider.  These are posted on www.i-Plymouth, our webbased tracking tool. This is read by the school tutors and used to support students.  If there are any problems (attendance, punctuality, progress etc.) these are also posted (but only home schools can see them) - you will be contacted if the school feels you should be made aare of any concerns. If you have any worries please contact the school/college co-ordinator who will be very happy to help you support the young person.

The electronic online reporting gives schools instant access to your son or daughters progress grades and comments together with attendance records. These can be printed and sent to you with the school/college report. An opportunity will be provided to discuss progress at the annual parents evenings.  We hope to develop parental access to this site soon.

Answer to Question 11 Can my son follow a TVC course and do some A levels?

More and more students are asking this question. The simple answer is YES but there may be timetable restrictions. As Plymouth now has a Citywide timetable for post 16 studies this is becoming less of a problem. You need to talk to the home school and perhaps look at the options available through other Plymouth schools (http:www.Plymouthfindacourse4me.co.uk). Mixing and matching traditional 6th form courses with TVC vocational courses is becoming increasingly popular. It can open up a range of progression opportunities.

Answer to Question 12 How can I get onto a TVC course?

We are sorry but we are only able to provide courses for young people who are on the roll of one of our partner schools and will be under 19 years of age when they start the course. We do receive many enquiries from adults who are desperate to take up TVC opportunities but we are unable to help. We recommend you contact the College of Further Education or view the opportunities listed on The Plymouth On Course pages of the City Council web site. http://www.plymouthoncourse.com/default_home.asp

Answer to Question 13 My daughter needs a work experience placement - will I have to find one for her?

For some qualifications a work experience is essential as assessments may have to be carried out in in real situations. When this is the case the school and provider will work together to find a suitable placement. One where opportunities to demonstrate the specicfic skills learnt can be provided. If the student loses this placement it can prevent a successful conclusion to the course.

For other courses a work experience placement is very desirable but not strictly necessary. Students would benefit from a placement but may prefer to use the day to work towards other qualifications, in school. This is best discussed with staff from the home school.

If is is agreed that a work placement would be helpful students may become involved in finding their own placements. Sometimes this is with help from parents and their friends. This can be very helpful but each placement must be cleared for health and safety by the Tamar Education and Business Partnership. If the one day a week placement is for longer than one term, it is now a Child Protection requirement that the employee supervising the student must be CRB checked, to ensure that he or she is not a person unfit to work with young people. The TVC office can organise this.

Question 14 - How do I know my child will be safe when off the school site?

Attendance is recorded on mornings and afternoons. School staff can see these registers and question absence.

All TVC course providers have had full health and safety checks and will have risk assessments for all TVC activities. These are reviewed annually and checked by the TVC office. All staff employed by TVC providers will have had an enhanced CRB check to ensure that they are not unfit to work with young people. The TVC office will have the date for this and a CV for each member of staff.

A tutor from the home school will have 'risk assessed' the TVC activity. They will have checked that the student is mature enough to cope with the demands of the course and safely find his or her way to the providers site. A form; SC9 is often used for this and can be seen on the 'Partners Page'.

It is a requirement that each TVC student receives a health and safety induction when attending a course off their main site. The provider will have a 'child protection officer' and students will be introduced to that person and know where to find them should they become worried by anything.

Work experience placements must be approved (see above).

Post 16 students will be allowed to go off the provider site during lunch breaks but pre 16 students will be under supervision unless a form is signed by the students parent/carer to allow them off the prover site during breaks.

Most students are able to travel to their placement individually as they go to school. There is travel training available for students who are unsure about using public transport to a new location.  Some pre 16 students may be taken in a minibus. The driver of the mini bus will have been approved for this activity.