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Behaviour/development

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GDA Referral

7 replies

Mumandson1 · 30/10/2024 14:46

Hi,

My son is 2.5 years old. He was the most chilled out, happy baby who loved sleep, cuddles and anything with wheels that spins!

I’ve been concerned about his development since he was 9 months old. He was late crawling, walking, wouldn’t give any eye contact, would look straight through us when we did try to engage with him and he always walks on his tip toes. Health Visitor is aware and we are under a paediatrician for this.

He has a speech delay and Speech and Language discharged him as he wouldn’t sit down long enough to complete any of their assessments.

Nursery have expressed their concerns about his social and emotional development. My son can get overstimulated at nursery and push other children due to excitement. He is built more like a 5 YO rather than a 2 YO, so he is strong and can hurt children when he pushes them. Nursery have told me that there is no malice in his pushing but it’s just because he can’t communicate that he wants them to play with him and the nursery environment can get too much for him in the afternoons. As a result, they’ve told us that their SEND team have recommended him to only be in nursery for half days.

Whenever I take him out, he screams, cries and throws himself on the floor. Or, he’ll run and run and run, not knowing what to play with but wanting to play with everything. He grabbed another child and then pushed them over, then laughed after he did it, and when I went to deal with it, he ran off and thought it was a game.

My son is so loving, so happy and will babble away to himself for hours on end and will only say certain words. We use flash cards but he won’t use what he’s learnt and put it into a short sentence.

At home and at nursery, he will not sit down and do an activity. He goes from one thing, to another, then another and back again. The longest time we’ve had with an activity is 3 minutes. He has one to one in nursery too.

We do a lot of play outdoors as he loves being outside, so will run and say ‘stop’ then we’ll do it again. He loves counting, so we count our steps and count toys.

Nursery have put in a GDA referral and have said they have seen traits of ADHD, not autism. My son sleeps A LOT. He’ll sleep for 12 hours at night and has a 3 hour afternoon nap. I think it’s because he’s on the go from the minute he gets up to the minute he goes to sleep.

The point I’m trying to get at is, has anyone had similar at nursery? What else can I do to support my son? Nursery think he needs to be exposed to going out with the children but it’s really hard when he is clearly getting overstimulated and upset by it all.

what do you do with your children that helps regulate them?

OP posts:
PolaroidPrincess · 31/10/2024 07:36

Morning @Mumandson1

I haven't got experience of GDA but just wanted to say that you'll probably get more replies if you post in the SN Children section.

Have Nursery suggested applying for an ECHP?

Has the HV also told you of any local support groups for parents of SN DC? There is a Nursery in our area that's just for SN DC, I know we're lucky to have that though.

PolaroidPrincess · 31/10/2024 19:05

Just wondering if you've applied for DLA too? Flowers

Mumandson1 · 31/10/2024 23:03

PolaroidPrincess · 31/10/2024 19:05

Just wondering if you've applied for DLA too? Flowers

Hey!

Thank you so much for your message. I’ve posted it on what you’ve recommended and I’ve received some fantastic advice!

Nursery did talk about an EHCP but from where I am in the country, it doesn’t allow us to get any extra funding.

I haven’t applied for DLA as I didn’t think we were able to get it? X

OP posts:
PolaroidPrincess · 01/11/2024 08:00

I've just read the other thread and it is great advice. Endless is a treasure trove of information and always so generous with her advice.

I don't think that the funding issue should stop you applying for an ECHP, I think you need one as soon as possible and it needs to include SLT.

And definitely apply for DLA. There are some DLA threads running in the SN Children Section but as I understand it DLA is based in need rather than diagnosis. You should get Carer's Allowance too. I'm taking it that if he's on a reduced timetable that you're not working?

1995SENNDMUM · 01/11/2024 15:20

Definitely get a DLA application in; I've had it since 2.5 for our severely speech-delayed DS, who is waiting on an autism diagnosis; you don't need a diagnosis to get it and having a referral and evidence from nursery should be sufficient.

My son is 4 next week, and he's about the size of a 6 year old so i get where you are coming from, his joint attention is very delayed but what we've found that has helped is to work on intensive interaction to improve it and encourage him to communicate, there's loads of info online but simply its about getting down on their level and coping their noises and play (unless its dangerous of course) might only get a few seconds engagement to start but its a case of working your way up gradually time wise.

Mumandson1 · 02/11/2024 12:58

PolaroidPrincess · 01/11/2024 08:00

I've just read the other thread and it is great advice. Endless is a treasure trove of information and always so generous with her advice.

I don't think that the funding issue should stop you applying for an ECHP, I think you need one as soon as possible and it needs to include SLT.

And definitely apply for DLA. There are some DLA threads running in the SN Children Section but as I understand it DLA is based in need rather than diagnosis. You should get Carer's Allowance too. I'm taking it that if he's on a reduced timetable that you're not working?

Thank you so much for all of this advice. It’s so lovely to have somewhere to go to for advice and support.

I work full time and my partner works weekends so we are ok for childcare which is why we haven’t applied for DLA or carers because I didn’t think I’d be entitled.

OP posts:
PolaroidPrincess · 02/11/2024 13:45

I don't think DLA is means tested? And it's to help make life easier for your DC. Definitely apply.

You also need to apply for an ECHP as Endless said. School is on the horizon and you want it sorted before then Flowers

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