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Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Nursery manager isn't getting it, what can I do?

4 replies

bluebellmountain · 19/08/2023 18:17

My son is 3, suspected autistic. He has chronic constipation and is an extremely picky eater.

He is toilet trained, however he will not poo on a toilet. He will only go in a nappy and if he can't have a nappy, he will just go in his pants. He is medicated and sometimes this means he regularly soils from over flow or not being aware he needs to go.

I have requested that preschool keep him in pants, and if he wants a poo to put him in a nappy but limit it to 20 mins and then change back. It works at home. It isn't working at preschool for various reasons, he won't ask, or he's asked and been told no or made to try on the toilet first. I've had multiple conversations with his room lead who says all the right things but it's still not happening consistently.

I also have concerns about his behaviour as although he is an angel when he's there, and they all love him, he comes home very upset and angry and we always have meltdowns (he also goes to a childminder and this doesn't happen with her).

Yesterday I asked to speak to the manager and discussed my concerns and she was so dismissive. She said I'm not helping him by enabling him to poo in a nappy. I know it isn't ideal but I want to create a routine and once he can go regularly then I will then start to move towards the toilet. I want to stop the soiling and withholding before school, and even if he poos daily in a nappy, it's better than pooing himself several times a day, one step at a time. She then bought up his lunch and eating and that it's not healthy or balanced. I acknowledged this but he has 5 foods he will eat, that is it. This isn't new, this has been the same since he was 6 months old, it isn't a choice for him. So I said he has what he has and that's not up for discussion, happy for them to encourage new foods at snack and tea time, which they provide but I will always send his safe foods for lunch. I then tried to explain about his behaviour at home after preschool sessions and she said they don't see any behaviour in school, he's absolutely fine so it's a parenting issue. She said if I cannot cope she will refer me to social care.

I've actually self referred to social care and it was pointless. I'm not bothered about her referring me, I'll take whatever help I get but she's just completed dismissed me and isn't willing to work with me to meet his needs.

I'm trying to change but it isn't that easy as places are limited in our area.

How can I get her to listen and work out a plan with me and not just dismiss me completely.

OP posts:
AnnoyingPopUp · 19/08/2023 18:19

It sounds like she has zero awareness of / training in autism. This probably isn’t the right setting for your son tbh. (Mum of 2 ND kids here).

Clefable · 19/08/2023 18:22

Yeah I don't think this is the right place for your child. Have they been at all supportive re: liaising with HV/getting a diagnosis/adapting things?

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 19/08/2023 18:27

Any chance he can go to the childminder full time instead? Nursery sounds like everything is going to be an uphill battle, with you getting nowhere.

bluebellmountain · 19/08/2023 18:52

No he can't be with the childminder full time, she's absolutely wonderful but she asked me to consider other options part time as he was limiting the experiences her other children got with her. Which I completely understood. He's very rigid and routined and if he doesn't want to do something he just won't. She wanted to keep him but asked me if I could cut it down to part time.

I also think a more formal setting will help with transitioning to school, the childminder is amazing but she very much tailored everything to him and school won't do that.

He's a very bright and capable boy and I think with the right support he'll be absolutely fine. We've had a crap deal with Health visitors, we had a wonderful one who just got it, got him, got me, we started to make some progress but she's gone on maternity leave now and we're back to square one! I'm struggling to get any support from any professional as all my concerns are dismissed and it's always the next milestone that will change everything. When he's in childcare he'll do xyz, when his sibling weans he'll be more adventurous with food. They come and go and nothing changes and we just move to the next stage we need to reach before they consider support.

OP posts:
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