A famous poet once wrote that April is the cruellest month. Which is clearly nonsense, as August is the most nerve-racking time of the year - at least for those of us awaiting our kids' GCSE and A-level results. But don't panic.

The first thing to do is reassure them that things really aren't as bad as they seem. They're bound to feel deflated, but you can restore their positive state of mind by being proactive.

If it's the A-level results that have disappointed, then they should immediately phone up the admissions tutors of the university they were hoping to enter. There's always a chance they'll still accept, even if the results don't quite meet the entry requirements.

If the university can't accept the placement, the next step is Clearing - the process which places more than 30,000 students at university every year.

UCAS automatically post Clearing Passports to students who have not met their university entry requirements. What you and your child must then do is search through university course vacancies posted on the UCAS website. and in national newspapers. You may find courses similar to the one they were initially aiming for. Alternatively, it's worth chatting with your child about other subjects that may be better suited to their academic skills.

Encourage your child to ring up the courses that seem suitable, chat to the admissions tutor and see if they're able to offer a place. They may end up with a shortlist of offers, so it's important they have a good think about which one they'll take. Help them out by advising them on what you think would be best suited to their intrests. The Clearing Passport must then be sent to the university they've chosen.

If it's GCSE results that have disappointed, then give the local A-level colleges a ring - one of them may very well accept them anyway. It could also be that your child is better suited to vocational courses such as BTECs. To discuss the options with an expert, call Connexions Direct on 0808 001 3219.