Is too early to decide on schools?

[Keepcalmanddrinkcoffeeeeee]

My son is due to start nursery soon, but lately I have heard about a lot of primary schools losing their TA's due to funding. I am aware how long echp can take and anxious to do all I can now to get my son into the best school for him.

My trouble is ... He's just 2 and a half ! Some parents of SN I have chatted with have said it isn't too early - 2 years isn't a vast amount of time to sort everything that needs sorted. Obviously I need to see how he copes in nursery yet too! That is mainstream but he will have a 1 to 1 in place there. I am honestly really worried about how he will cope as he doesn't like other kids much... or noise or business or singing ... yeh the list goes on ...

However I am aware kids can come on so much around this age !

My heart is set on a SN place for my sons sake more than anything. Is that bad? I feel like I am not being positive or hopeful. My son has good understanding and can talk a little bit (though very delayed) his main issues are sensory and challenging behaviours.

In a long winded way, I guess what I am asking is did you know when your dc was 2 and half wether they'd be suitable for mainstream - or not? Is it something I should not focus on for a while longer? I'm just so scared I won't have enough time to find him the right place.

[Keepcalmanddrinkcoffeeeeee]

Sorry forgot to add my son has autism

[notgivingin789]

Why do you feel settling for a SN nursery is seen as you not being hopeful ? It's not ?!!

My DS was at a mainstream nursery since he was a year old! Then started in reception at a mainstream school but I then moved him to an Indi SS just at the end of his reception year.

DS reception school at his mainstream school was a much better experience than that of his nursery. His nursery, as nice as it was, wasn't very good for SEN... they would let him stay in one corner and play. Which wasn't good as DS needed someone to teach him to learn in his environment not leave him to it. At nursery he didn't progress at all but I still kept him there, which was a big mistake !

In truth, I didn't know about SN nurseries as silly as I sounds. I knew SS schools existed but hadn't heard of an SN nursery. If I had my time again, and you could do this OP, I would of place my DS into a SS nursery for three days a week and at a mainstream nursery for the rest of the days and see how he gets on in two settings.

DS mainstream nursery was a better experience and he gained socially from there but there was still that irking feeling. DS TA had no clue of how to teach a child with social and language difficulties. He also wasn't accessing the curriculum. I could of waited to see how he got on. But I didn't want to wait, I didn't want to make the same mistake of when I prolonged his stay at his current nursery. So I moved him ASAP.

I think applying for an EHCP is not too early at all ! Your in a good stage ! I applied when DS was 3 and it took two years ( took longer as I went through tribunal). So yes ! Apply for one now !

I have also met parents who have placed their children at SS at a very young age and actually did very well later on.

I wouldn't wait, if you see something or know a place where your DS will thrive then do it ! If your in doubt ! Your DS can do a split placement, a couple of days in his SS and one in a MS nursery.

[notgivingin789]

Oops didn't answer your question.

I guess what I am asking is did you know when your dc was 2 and half wether they'd be suitable for mainstream - or not?

To be honest OP, you just don't know. Your child can have a disastrous couple of years at their mainstream school but in the next year flourishes.
Your child could have a disastrous time at SS and flourish at MS. You just don't know.


You have to do what you think it's right in your present situation. I saw that my DS has severe language difficulties and yes I could of waited and see how he did at his MS. But I didn't want to take the risk. I believe if you see something, you act. I knew that if I didn't tackle DS severe language difficulties then, he would grown up being very frustrated by his lack of communication.

[notgivingin789]

I mean DS had a better experience from his mainstream school at reception than his mainstream nursery.

[Keepcalmanddrinkcoffeeeeee]

Thank you not giving. Really sound advice. I wasn't aware I could place D'S in mainstream and SN nursery simultaneously !

I'll call the SN nursery today. Thank you for the heads up.

[Keepcalmanddrinkcoffeeeeee]

Thanks 1. May I ask is your daughter autistic? If so what was apparent at that time in her that showed she wasn't ready?

[notgivingin789]

Frusso I think sometimes we have a vision that special needs schools are for really severe children which clouds are judgment. There are also special schools which cater to children who are bright but are having specific difficulties in one area.

I met lovely parents and children from DS mainstream school. But if I had my time again, I would of placed DS in a SS nursery. There he would of learnt the core foundation skills, he probably would of been advanced in his reading. I stupidly agreed with DS mainstream school that we should work on reading once his gained adequate speech and they sent him home those books with no words in. It wasn't until DS when to SS by the end of reception that they told me that I should be working on his reading skills and the school did their part to help him and they gave me some set work to do at home to help with his reading.

I didn't put my DS into a specialist school cause I thought he wouldn't cope within a MS ( who am I to know). But I put him into a SS because I knew he was very smart but needed the right school for him that blossom.

[Keepcalmanddrinkcoffeeeeee]

Thanks guys. Im pursuing SN education. Best to keep options open