Daughter still napping in year R.

[User987654124]

My daughter starts school next week.

She still sleeps every day and is almost 5. She is on an EHCP and has sensory processing and hyper mobility. She gets very tired, still needs a pram for any distance etc.

The school have asked that she just does mornings until half term which I’m ok with whilst she settles. However, I can’t see her dropping this nap in the foreseeable future but don’t want her to miss afternoons of school indefinitely.

The school isn’t close as she’s at a specific school
for her needs so it’s decent drive away. It’s mainstream but with a special bit. She doesn’t just drop off on the sofa, she will usually fall asleep in the car or pram when we are going somewhere. If she doesn’t sleep her behaviour can become quite unmanageable - like a toddler in many ways. I think school will be pointless if she doesn’t have a sleep because she will become so tired she can’t function. She also gets wobbly and falls over etc.

Has anyone ever experienced this, what did the school do? Do you think I can insist on them finding a way to get her to have a sleep even if it means a member of staff taking her for a walk in the pram? I don’t want to be heartless and unfair to my daughter but don’t want to be driving back and forth forever. Her nursery refused to take her for more than 3 hours and I feel like I’m heading back to the same situation.

I don't think it's unreasonable at all for them to find a quiet spot but it might be hard depending on their set up.

Also it's very unlikely that she'll continue to need a nap for much longer.

It might be hard to imagine but she will get more stamina as she goes on.

I would proceed with the mornings, then when it's time for her to go in full time, you might need to be a bit flexible...

If she’s at a specific school based on her Echp I would expect them to be a bit more accommodating to her needs as surely the whole point of the school being named is because it can support her in the ways she’s needs supporting? I would go back to the school to discuss her needs further and whether they can accommodate quiet or rest time throughout the day? Presumably if she was there all day should would fall asleep in the car on the way home?

The Autumn term is long and tiring even for older kids. I would push for part-time until Xmas if she doesn't drop her nap soon.
I would check with the school but as a parent ime the academic learning is often in the morning because concentration levels drop rapidly in the after lunch so they generally do stuff like nativity play practice etc

@FortunesFave ‘Also it's very unlikely that she'll continue to need a nap for much longer’ can I ask what you are basing this on? People have been telling me this for so long and I do so much to try and increase her fitness. I’m pretty sure it’s to do with a medical condition that hasn’t been confirmed yet and may literally never go away (genetic.)

@Namechange13101 - she’s only managed to get to 3pm without a sleep a few times. She seems to like a little power nap (15-25 mins) between about 11:30 and 1pm. After that she is back to herself. If she doesn’t have it her other difficulties really seem to flare up.

Regarding the sensory needs, have you had an OT assessment?

Could they put something section F about facilitating a nap at the school? In the nurse's office their is usually a bed or something? Or if you offer to provide a blow up bed. But if she doesn't just drop off, I'm guessing you need to request someone to push her in a pram or something like that?

I know hypermonility and hypotonia and sensory issues and gross motor planning issues it's nothing to do with fitness or stamina. Their poor bodies are working harder than we know to coordinate and plan and do things that come so naturally to the majority. I don't think it is at all unreasonable to request that her EHCP includes rest time and facilitation of naps. It may not even have to go through the EHCP, if the school are any good they may well just figure it out themselves. If not I would request an OT to stipulate it and get it in the legally binding plan xxx

[quote User987654124]@FortunesFave ‘Also it's very unlikely that she'll continue to need a nap for much longer’ can I ask what you are basing this on? People have been telling me this for so long and I do so much to try and increase her fitness. I’m pretty sure it’s to do with a medical condition that hasn’t been confirmed yet and may literally never go away (genetic.)[/quote]
She's currently really small still. She is dealing with other stuff....hyper mobility particularly, but when children get to around 7, they do get tougher.

It may be sooner...may be longer than that...no telling of course but I've known a lot of children with various needs and they do sort of toughen up. 4-5 is very little still even without any additional needs.

@User987654124 in which case I would definitely chat to the school again as it seems very odd given that they are a specialist provision selected on her Echp, and aren’t willing to help support her needs.