| Archive for A Forum For Carers |
| Tinkerbell |
1-2-1 support for pre schoolers?Dose anyone know who I would need to contact about 1-2-1 support for a pre schooler in the Sefton area?Early years education don't seems to know? My son attends nursery (which is attached to a school) and is about to move into the big room (age 2-3 years), so far he has not been supported in his room as "they have more thatn enough staff to cope with him". However, I am concerned about the room he is moving into. On friday he went for a play session (from his usual room) but he fell over (or they think another child pushed him!!), He banged into the table in the middle of the room and then fell over toys on the floor (he can't bring his eyes to look down). With his condition he's not good in a small room or confined - he needs space to track and locate. We have STEPs intervention 30 mins every 8 weeks but I think he will need more support. Thanks in advance Trish |
| Speeds |
Hi Tinkerbell
Do not know for your area but Thomas my son had 1-2-1 at a Mainstream nursery. As the nursery was private and not LEA there was a different fund. Does the Sefton Area have an Early Years Service? Can the nursery help - they should have a SENCo and it is not good enough for themto say they can cope - obviously they cannot if he does not have a dedicated person? If not - call your local council and ask to speak to the Special Needs person there and they should be able to advise. Lastly, if you have no joy then see if you can contact the local Downs Syndrome person or Autistic Service in the area - they are very knowledgeable about resource and although these are not your son's condition they would be a useful information service. What we had to do was apply for funding each term for Thomas to be at the nursery and to allow him to have his 1-2-1. HTH |
| barbsy |
early years should be the ones to advise you, my son had 1-1 support at pre school which was private before he went into nursery attached to the primary school. as i remember i spoke to the local childrens health centre and was referred by them.
barbs |
| Tinkerbell |
Thanks for the advise  I'll try those
It amazes me how different LA react to kids with disabilites. My HV get free childcare and 1-2-1 support for her daughter who has nystagmus and her child is only 18 months. I have spoken with the disabilites co-ordinator and tried to speak to early years (with no luck) today. Disabilities co-ordinator tells me "Sefton will not pay for 1-2-1 support until he is on a school register at 3. She also tells me they won't (or will try not to) statement as it'll costs them money for the extra support they need". If I get no joy from EY she told me to call her back because I can go down the Parent Partnership road even though he's under school age. |
| pixie |
I don't know much about statementing for under school age children but I think that's the route I would go down.
If you request an assessment yourself then the EA have to reply within 6 weeks and if they refuse to assess then you have the Tribunal route. If a parent requests the assessment then there are time guides that the LA have to adhere to but if it's requested by others the LA can take as long as they want to. IPSEA have guide letters and all the laws relating to this and you may find it useful in making a decision of which road to take that will benefit your son most. http://www.ipsea.org.uk/ |
| Tinkerbell |
We can't even get an assessment for a social worker!!!!
We don't meet the criteria and CDW won't touch us without one |
| pixie |
I do know that we had problems getting an assessment for both our children.
We were refused for both so we went away and re-grouped and tried again. We had to use a solicitor and we got the assessments carried out that way. For our daughter we had a private assessment of her needs first and presented that to them via the solicitor and they backed down. The private assessment was legally aided too through the solicitor. It cost nothing as it was in the children's names and I acted as their "friend" in both cases. It was well worth the fight, although we are having a lot of problems with our son's school now, but that is another story. |
| myra |
i would definatley try to get him statemented, as the authorities have to follow the instuctions on it by law.
myra |
| Speeds |
The problem is that you cannot get a statement for a pre school child IF your chosen nursery is not LEA run.
That is why Thomas had one 2 one provided by a different pot of money. It was like having a statement but not quite. We had all the input but had to wait until he was about to go to school to get a statement. |
| Tinkerbell |
His nursery is with the LEA, it's attached to a children centre which is part of a school. Go in at 3 months and move round rooms until they get to statutory nursery then straight into reception.
I'll speak to his community pead tomorrow and look at the statementing process Thanks for all your advice Trish xx |
| Speeds |
Good luck Tinkerbell - if it is an LEA nursery then you can go for statementing.
Have a look on your LEA website and it should detail the statmenting process for your LEA |
| pixie |
Good luck from me too Tinkerbell.
It's just a shame that we have to always battle for everything. |
| loudmouth |
StatementingMy LEA told me i couldnt start the statementing process till he was 4...I was then told by the nas that i am allowed to start it at 2 1/2 which was when i first started to talk to the lea about it.He is now statemented on a c band,which any other year would have got him into a really good special needs school with an autism class.His year group is so big that for the first time ever,they are only accepting A and B band statements which means he has to go to the mainstream school my other two attend where the senco hates me cos i got an officail complaint put on her record 4 yrs ago....long story,will post it some other time,but he starts full time september.They've also said if he falls asleep in class,i will have to pick him up(it takes me 45mins on public transport to get there!) |
| Speeds |
The rules are ridiculous.
I am so lucky with the school Thomas is at - very pragmatic, very helpful and although we have issues they are nothing like some of you have to deal with. |
| loudmouth |
RED TAPEALL I have spent the last 10 years doing is fighting red tape,but I wont stop till all my kids are getting the help they need.Going to re-apply in july for a statement for my eldest,cos how can her brother be statemented for the same problems she's got,yet they wont statement her??!!To all of you out there...DONT STOP FIGHTING FOR WHAT YOUR KIDS NEED!!!
|
| pixie |
Well said, I couldn't agree more.
If we don't fight for our kids nobody else will. |
| Annie |
Obviously things have changed much since my daughter attended school but I can sympathise with all you Mum's having problems, by coincidence my youngest daughter a teacher just happened to mention the other day that her school which has a unit for A.D.H and Autism has endless problems trying to get pupils who are obviously in need of it statemented.
Carry on fighting all of you, it doesn't make you popular with the authorities but it is the only way. Trouble is it continues later after school for many, Annie |