UK Disability Resource of Disabled Needs

Tinkerbell · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 11:14 pm Post subject: 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

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Speeds · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:08 am Post subject:

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
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Karen, Dominic, Thomas, Zola and Belle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_hues/

barbsy · Super Member Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 570

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 · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:40 pm Post subject:

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.
_________________
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one's definition of your life ... define yourself.
Harvey Fierstein

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1853

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/
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Tinkerbell · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject:

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
_________________
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one's definition of your life ... define yourself.
Harvey Fierstein

pixie · Site Admin Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 1853

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.
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myra · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:

i would definatley try to get him statemented, as the authorities have to follow the instuctions on it by law.

myra
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Speeds · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:54 pm Post subject:

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.
_________________
Karen, Dominic, Thomas, Zola and Belle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_hues/

Tinkerbell · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:15 pm Post subject:

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
_________________
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one's definition of your life ... define yourself.
Harvey Fierstein