team around the child meeting needed to get 2 year old funding?

[elliejjtiny]

The HV told me today that we won't get the 2 year old funding for preschool for DS4 unless I agree to having a team around the child meeting.

DS4 is 2. He has complex needs, mostly medical. He has 5 different consultants who all communicate really well with each other and us. He also has physio and OT who are really good too. I know we are very lucky with that.

He goes to a baby group at a SN preschool and in September he is moving up to the preschool with all his friends who are over 2 and going there without me for 1 morning (3 hours) a week. I was told that because he gets middle rate care dla he is entitled to the 2 year old funding which will save us £12 a week. Great I thought but now the HV has said that to get the 2 year old funding we have to have a team around the child meeting.

This is rubbish, right? I don't see any point in having this kind of meeting with DS4. We have them for DS2 as his needs are different, communication between his professionals isn't great and the meetings are useful. I've said to the HV that I'm happy for her to ask the paediatrician anything she wants to know about DS4's medical needs or she can talk to me (I'm the expert in DS4 after all). But she seems determined to have this meeting. I wouldn't mind if it was necessary but I don't see how this will benefit DS4 or us. If DH and I both go, we will have to take DS3, DS4 and DS5 with us. I don't really want to go on my own and neither does DH.

[2catsfighting]

She probably needs to complete an Early Help form (or CAF) in order for funding to be granted, but that doesn't mean that has to progress to meetings, it just identifies a need, and how that need could be met.

[AgnesDiPesto]

why would nursery funding have anything to do with HV? I agree if theres already profs involved its probably a form and the nursery attaching a report- contact the council as the funding will come from council

[2boysnamedR]

Google feet funding for your county and phone them. We had feet before we had a TAC

[elliejjtiny]

Thanks. I've already filled in the council form and sent off a copy of DS4's DLA form. No mention of tac or caf there. The form the HV gave me was completely different. It was for a "supported funded nursery place". It asked if there were moderate or severe concerns about the child, how many hours at nursery were needed and a description of why it was needed. Then there was a box to tick when the tac meeting had been done. I'm wondering if the HV has got the wrong end of the stick and given me the wrong form. The form looked like the HV should be filling it in, not me.

[AndNowItsSeven]

No the HV is wrong , your ds just needs to be receiving dla , which he is.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Also it should save you more than £12 a week. Three year finding is worth approx £33 a week 2 year funding approx £50 depending on your LA.

[AndNowItsSeven]

Term time only so less if divided by 52 rather than 39 but shod be much higher than a £12 saving.

[elliejjtiny]

Thanks. The £12 is because DS4 is starting with one session a week, same as he does at the toddler group. one session costs £12 hence the £12 saving. We'll look into increasing it gradually when he is a bit older, although with all the appointments he has I'm not sure how we will fit it in!

[elliejjtiny]

Just thought I'd update to say that we got a letter from the council and DS4's funding has been granted. HV might still push for a TAC/CAF meeting but the lack of it won't affect his entitlement to funding.

[StarlightMcKenzee]

A child's entitlement to support for a disability should NEVER be on condition of their parent behaviours or engagement levels. It is supposed to be about the child.

CAFs are optional. TAFs are optional to attend but may happen anyway. If you're worried about this you can write to each professional involved in your child's care stating that you do not give consent for information to be shared by them but are willing to work with whichever professional is seeking information to ensure they have what they need for the best possible outcomes for your child.