Will it be ok to send dd with a bottle to pre school ?

[Bluecircles]

Dd is 2, nearly 3 and going to start pre school. Severely autistic.

They give the children cows milk or water but she only drinks from a bottle (unless I’m breastfeeding her but obviously I won’t be there !). Delayed development and possibly other issues . Do I send her bottle with the milk in that she drinks so that she has something familiar ? I don’t know what to do

I work in a preschool and if we have a child who is autistic we go with whatever helps that child to feel at ease, should it be bottles, soothers toys etc
Please write anything that comes to mind that you know helps to soothe, stories and toys they have a preference for and speak to the manager, they'll be keen to ensure their wellbeing. All the very best.

Please speak to the senco before she starts. I see in an earlier comment you said you would speak to them 'when' she starts. Honestly early years settings need as much information, as early as possible to provide the support your daughter will need. Processes take so much time, and it can be incredibly difficult and disruptive for everyone when a child starts and the staff have no idea of their needs because the parent hasn't said anything. I'm sure they will be grateful of the knowledge and can work with you for a successful pre-school experience for your daughter.

She’s late august so will probably be the very youngest in her year unless we defer

I did ask but they said we can have a meeting once she’s started

I'm a learning support assistant in a first school and speaking from experience please try and contact the nursery before your daughter starts. As the PP said they would rather be prepared than have your daughter upset or unsettled on her first day. Do you have an email for the nursery teacher? The nursery may need to put additional staff in place to assist her in settling in.
What are her triggers? How is she likely to cope with other children that are possibly upset on their first day? If nursery know they can put things in place.
Also. It really would be a good idea to begin the EHCP process now if she has a diagnosis.

Just to reassure you, I’m in a similar situation with my DD. No diagnosis yet but turning 3 next month and starting preschool soon. She uses other cups to drink water/squash but only drinks milk out of a bottle and this is also her only comfort item, so I will be sending it in with her and the SENCO said that will be fine.

Talk to the nursery. Adjustments can be made especially with a SEN diagnosis and I can't see why that would be a problem.

Definitely send her in with the bottle, it's what she's used to and will help her make the transition.

I would advise meeting with the senco/her teacher before she starts, so you can chat through any reasonable adjustments she needs because of her autism. Allowing a bottle of milk for snack time is a reasonable adjustment. It would be very bad practice for the preschool to object to it.

If at some point once she's settled, you want her to transition away from bottles, they should be able to work with you to help her do that.

Echo above posters, please start process for EHCP asap, it’s a nightmare now. I teach in primary and there are children who were diagnosed with autism at 2 and are starting year 2 still without and EHCP in place despite not being toilet trained and being non-verbal, therefore they can’t get a place at a special school which they so desperately need!