IN THE THIRD TERM
University open days begin in the summer term and continue until the autumn . If university is their first choice , these are a great way to get a feel for different institutions ’ courses , facilities and campuses . Visit page 52 for more information about getting the most from open days .
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Your child can also seek advice from :
• Careers advisers at their school / college .
• The National Careers Service , which offers advice by phone , webchat and email . For details visit nationalcareersservice . direct . gov . uk
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD POST-18 DECISIONS
Arm yourself with as much information as possible so that you ’ re ready to support your child when it comes to discussions about their future .
• Careerpilot www . parentzone . careerpilot . org . uk / parent
In addition , there may be careers / higher education events for parents or carers at your child ’ s school or college , and special parent / carer sessions at UCAS exhibitions , so go along if you can .
DISCUSSING THE OPTIONS
• Support your child to make informed decisions , rather than deciding for them . Putting pressure on your child to follow the path you think is best is likely to be counterproductive .
• When you talk with your child about the future , be positive and focus on what they do well , what they are interested in and what they want to achieve . School reports , parents ’ evenings and grade predictions can be useful reference points for your discussions .
• Encourage them to get some different ideas and perspectives by talking to teachers , careers advisers and other family members .
There are numerous sources of advice and guidance online . The following are a good place to start .
• National Careers Service nationalcareersservice . direct . gov . uk
• UCAS www . ucas . com
• Prospects www . prospects . ac . uk
• The Uni Guide www . theuniguide . co . uk
• The Complete University Guide www . thecompleteuniversityguide . co . uk
• Apprenticeships www . apprenticeships . gov . uk
• Southern Universities Network www . sunoutreach . org
• UniExplorer www . uniexplorer . org
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