Supporting your child in college or sixth form

Starting college or sixth form is an exciting step, but it can also feel challenging for both you and your child. You can help your child adjust to a new environment and greater independence.

As a parent or carer, your support can make a real difference.

Encourage and support

College and sixth form are often very different from school. Your child may be travelling to a new place, following a different timetable each day, managing coursework and deadlines independently and making new friends.

You can help by:

• Regularly checking in and listening to any concerns they may have
• Helping them organise their time and keep track of important deadlines
• Supporting them to get involved in clubs, volunteering or enrichment activities
• Reminding them that it can take time to settle into a new environment

It's normal for learners to need a few weeks, or even longer, to feel confident and comfortable.

If your child is unsure whether they have made the right choice, encourage them to seek advice as early as possible, by:

• Speaking to a Teacher or Tutor
• Contacting learner support or student services
• Booking an appointment with a careers adviser
• Looking at our Stop.Don’t Drop page for further advice and guidance

Help them gain valuable work experience

Many courses encourage or require learners to gain work experience. Even a short placement can provide useful experience and insight into the world of work.  It can help your child develop workplace skills, build confidence, explore career interests and strengthen university, apprenticeship or job applications.

You can support them by:

• Encouraging them to speak to tutors and about opportunities
• Helping them find local employers
• Suggesting they speak to family, friends or community connections
• Supporting them to create a CV and covering letter and ask about placements

Share your experiences

As a parent or carer, you can be one of the biggest influences on your child's decisions and confidence. Talking about your own experiences can help them understand that challenges are a normal part of learning and working.

You could discuss:

• Adjusting to new environments
• Working with different types of people
• Managing responsibilities and meeting deadlines
• Overcoming setbacks
• Building confidence through new experiences

Encourage them to explore their future

Having a goal to work towards can help learners stay motivated. Encourage your child to think about what they want to do. This might include: 

• Further study or higher-level courses at college or sixth form
• University
• Apprenticeships
• Employment
• Self-employment

Use our range of tools to help them explore opportunities and career ideas.

Support their wellbeing

Starting somewhere new can feel overwhelming at times. A little reassurance can go a long way. Remind your child that it's normal to feel nervous about change and most learners experience challenges when adjusting to a new environment, but their confidence will gro and they can ask for help.

If they are struggling, support is available through:

• Tutors and teachers can help with concerns about the course, workload, deadlines or settling in
• Student support services can offer wellbeing, counselling, learning, financial or practical support
• Careers Wales can provide impartial careers information, advice and guidance to help them explore their options and next steps – contact us
• Meic offers free and confidential information, advice and advocacy for children and young people aged 25 and under in Wales
• Mind provides mental health information and support, including help finding local services

We can help

Careers Wales can help your child explore their options, understand their next steps and make informed career decisions.

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