Friend's ds (prob ASD) starting nursery: questions about the school's attitude

[Wallace]

Nursery (attached to Primary school) have known since April that friend's ds (let's call him W) will be starting in August and that he will need support.

W's mum was told he could start before the holidays, but this didn't happen as they didn't have the necessary support in place. But she was told that everything would be in place for August.

Last week she was been told that he can't start beause they don't have the support - surely they can't do this, isn't that discrimination?

Anyway friend insisted he would be starting and they have found someone (another mum) who is going to be an extra pair of hands, but that W's mum will have to stay on the premises. Again

W sometimes bites (he is usually very laidback though) and my friend has been told that if he bites he won't be allowed to attend nursery. Can they do this?!

ALso W is still in nappies. Where does my friend stand on having to be available for nappy changes etc?

Thanks

[Marne]

Firs of all, the fact that he is in nappies should not matter at all, they will have to change him and they should have an area/room to change him in. Nursery's/schools are no longer allowed to turn away children who are not dry.

It can take a while to arrange a support worker, sometimes a nursery has enough staff to cover a 1:1 for a child which makes life easier, if not then they have to find someone. It sounds like they have had plenty of time to do this. If he needs a 1:1 then its best to wait until they find the rite person but again they have had time to do this.

Sorry i'm not much help. Dd2 (asd) started nursery a few months ago without any support but we have managed to get her a 1:1 for september for 1 hour per day, luckily the nursery had enough staff to do this and with help from portage we managed to get funding.

[grumpyoldeeyore]

The LEA have responsibility for child's special needs and she should complain to them - if the nursery accept government funded places for 3 and 4 year olds (which if a school they certainly will) they have to comply with LEA / government rules on SN, which means basically they have to make provision. She can ask the LEA what funding they provide to school for SN (they could have a delegated budget) or what funding the school / nursery could apply for if they don't get a delegated budget. If it were a voluntary nursery run on a shoestring you might understand it but if it is part of a school then that is terrible. Tell her to ring the LEA and ask for the Special Educational Needs Officer. If her child's needs can't be met through ordinary school resources she should ask for her child to be statemented see IPSEA / ACE / NAS websites. The LEA will then be responsible for ensuring SN are met, but thats a long process. However the LEA might put in some emergency measures. I'm assuming the child is over 3 and eligible for government funded place? Rules might be different if under 3.

[Wallace]

Thanks, this is helpful. I will be passing info on.

He was three in April.

[Phoenix4725]

does she have a aped involved or othe rproofessionals as another way is referal to pre school sn team .The playschool should really have done this if not.Ds did not have statement for nursery but through early years funding was put in place for 1-1and ds was still in nappies to

[Wallace]

The paed is really good and very adamant that he should be going 5 mornings.

An update:

Friend was completely reassured by the nursery teacher who said they would be able to cope no problem.

But then W was sent home on first day after 45 mins for biting

However since then he has been in every morning and everything has gone really well. Phew!