Mumsnet Talk

Hi I'm a mum to five and I run a preschool . I was just in the thought process of thinking of starting a special needs preschool. I was hoping for some feedback . I understand parents concerns , lack of funding, support and want to make a difference offering one to one ratios , qualified staff and support. Any thoughts, comments feedback would be greatly appreciated . Many thanks

Beware. You can only charge normal rates, no matter how many staff you have and the LA won't be any help at all, because they truely believe you can stick our square kids in round holes and all will be fine.
Sorry to be negative, I have been a director of a SN nursery for autism for two years and its been hell, mainy due to LA and funding.

Don't know a sausage about these things, but we are paying for private and would happily pay for extra support or something we couldn't get else where. We are in pre-school and have just moved to help get ready for Reception, but part of the attraction is that SEN including SALT is available in-house. We will pay extra for these services, but it beats organising it yourself / driving around plus it means that it should be integrated into every day at nursery. What a brilliant, brave idea - good luck.

If a nursery/Pre school is accepting nursery grant they are not allowed to charge for extra services. Most parents rely on that to fund 15 hours.

Thank you for the feed back.
Lisa, this is one of my biggest issues the narroq minded la.
I can see what limited space , a few hours weekly.and the.stress on both child and parent, its just wrong. Would you mind messaging me with an email, would you mind spreading some.of your wisdom. I would be so grateful x

Ruggles thank you too, that all in one location has given me more food for thought. I really want to get it right.x

DD used to attend an 'integrated' preschool run by a parent committee. same as lisa says re the funding (though there were some 'additional notional spaces' funded which gave one extra staff member). They made up the ratios by having lots of childcare students and a fairly arduous parent rota.

It's closed down now

If you opened it up first to people who have already paid for their child's ABA tutors, you'd be getting that child's 1-1 for free (and get all the accidental on-the-job staff training which comes from working with such programmes)

Yes but ofstead wouldn't allow you to have staff funded by parents, you have to show your own staffing ratios are in place before you can accept children.
You will have to pm me your email OP as I can message from my phone but happy to help.

Thank you all so much.
Lisa will do looking forward to your words of wisdom xx

Up their hourly rate for the home sessions
and call the nursery sessions 'training' or summat [yorkshire ]