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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

Anyone had problems with pre school? I think they are trying to label my son as autistic

345 replies

roseability · 01/02/2011 20:15

I am pretty sure my ds keyworker was suggesting my ds is on the autistic spectrum

We are confident this is not the case, as at home and at family functions he shows no signs

We had a meeting today with the deputy head of the school (who oversees the nursery) as we had some concerns about how this has been handled

Does anyone else have experience of this?

OP posts:
OhForBoonessSake · 02/02/2011 17:10

nope, just re-read and cant see anywhere at all where you have got my back up. I'm afraid this is all your own issue OP.

roseability · 02/02/2011 17:15

you know life isn't black and white

Every situation is more complicated than we ever like to think

You guys make it sound simple, I wish it was. If everyone I know who loves my ds dearly can't understand what the hell this woman is on about and there has never been a concern raised in his life ever before. Why would I trust her over my nearest and dearest and strangers on the internet?

This includes GPs, dad, uncles, aunts, friends, HV etc

If he has been functioning and developing fine then is it not logical that I would question her suggestion?

OP posts:
coccyx · 02/02/2011 17:15

You say you want evidence of indicators of autism but over react when someone dare hint at it.

roseability · 02/02/2011 17:17

I haven't dismissed it out of hand, just questioned it

Because if a wee boy not following instructions now and then and wanting to play with castles more than other things automatically warrants a suggestion of autism, I will eat my hat

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 02/02/2011 17:17

the people you list won't necesarily be experts on autism/ASD etc and seeing someone who is, will put your mind at rest surely

roseability · 02/02/2011 17:18

what do you mean coccyx? I want more evidence yes

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 02/02/2011 17:19

I knew someone a few years back who had similar issues with her daughter's care at nursery and then when it was suggested her DD was on the specturm, she absolutely kicked against it, dismissed it totally - i appreciate this is not what you are doing- as she felt the nursery was sub standard and not able to make any sort of pre diagnosis/or assessment

turns out her DD is severely autistic and has other SEN.

if you get things resolved by a 3rd party who is not from the pre school and not a relative or friend , you can move forward

roseability · 02/02/2011 17:19

I have been at home with my ds for nearly five years. I think I am more of an expert on him than anyone Lulumaam.

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 02/02/2011 17:20

some of the thing suggested were similar to what has been noted re your DS...ont saying that that means he is on the spectrum, but it is not outlandish that it has been suggested as a possibilty

roseability · 02/02/2011 17:21

I might well do that Lulumaam but I want more evidence as I said

They told me he isn't developmentally behind in any way socially or intellectually so excuse me if I am a bit confused

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 02/02/2011 17:21

well, i totally missed my DS SEN.despite it being brought up and hinted at

I'm his mother, not a paediatrician or ed psych

i am not saying this as a criticism of you at all

what will make you feel better?

complaining aboujt the nursery nurse.. i think you shouldm she has and is continuting to behave badly

getting a proper assessment ? yes, beacuse if no issues you will relax and if there is, he can get the right support

roseability · 02/02/2011 17:22

like what Lulumaam suddenly you all know him better than me

OP posts:
silverfrog · 02/02/2011 17:22

the one reason yuo are missing out is that everyone here who has suggested you go with it, put in for the assessment while monitoring and waiting - we have all pointed out to you that the reasons you gave that your son couldn't be autistic are meaningless.

as I said earlier they all, bar one, apply to my own severely autistic child.

there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about ASD. you appear to think that there has to be osme major developmental delay apparent for ASD to be a concern. Not the case, I am afraid.

my dd2, who is developmentally (physically as well as emotionally and academically) is very probably somewhere onthe spectrum.

all we have tried ot do is correct these misconceptions, and suggest you seek advice form the experts.

and the experts are not the people who love oyur ds most. they are the professionals who are qualified to deal with this.

you have shown how you have misunderstood the criteria for ASD - what's to say that othe rest of your family are not judging by the same wonky set of criteria?

Of course, none of this is to say that your ds DOES have ASD either. again only the professionals cn tell.

but I will tell you that schools do not mention these htings lightly (speaking both form a teaching perspective and form a parents' perspective)

and what makes the nursery worker qualified? er, the fact that she is experienced in a vast range of children, not just your ds, and she has noted that occasionally there are a couple of things which are a little worrying.

as saintlyjimjams said earlier - the biggest indicator that osmehtign is not right is a child who doesn't just "get" what he is supposed to do. nurseries have seen all kinds of naughty children, shy children, extroverts, introverts, high fliers and late developers. they have seen children blossom form a faultering start, and they ahve seen children sadly fail form a promising start. and they have seen fit to raise some concerns.

OhForBoonessSake · 02/02/2011 17:23

DENIAL!!!

silverfrog · 02/02/2011 17:24

sorry, that sould say *my dd2 who is developmentally ahead

Lulumaam · 02/02/2011 17:24

ok, you are really defensive and i understand, as i posted earlier when DSs issues were raised i was horrified and angry, almost insulted...

there's no point rehashing things , i think you should get an independent assessment and complain about the nursery nurse

have a nice evening Smile

ArthurPewty · 02/02/2011 17:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

muddleduck · 02/02/2011 17:31

Op, I think you need to get off this thread.

Have a proper meeting with the nursery manager to find out the extent of their concerns. There is no point getting this upset until you know whether the concern is just in the mind of one over zealous idiot or is a real concern. Nobody on the Internet can answer that for you.

Best of luck.

saintlyjimjams · 02/02/2011 17:38

Charlotte Moore in George and Sam has a really good chapter on early signs and assessments and her experience with 2 very different boys both on the spectrum. It's worth reading (the book is worth reading anyway very Interesting and well written book).

You can also do online assessments at forepath which can help put minds at rest or be used to encourage health professionals to refer (gp's are fairly useles - I saw one once after my son was diagnosed who said 'terrible condition, traffic, terrible - girls don't get it you know' Hmm I did correct him).

PaisleyLeaf · 02/02/2011 17:39

The evidence you want is the whole point of an assessment isn't it?
They may find evidence, they may not.

silverfrog · 02/02/2011 17:40

saintly - my gp said, after telling him dd1 was ASD (which was why she wans't sitting nicely and followign the ever so patient instructions he was giving).....

"but she's a girl!"

yep, 10/10 for observation there, but more revision required I think... (especially since her dx letter was sitting on his desk at the time...)

Niecie · 02/02/2011 17:41

roseability - you have said 'we' alot but I don't know if 'we' is ds's father. What does DS's father think about it? Not the poor handling of the suggestion of SN but of the idea of SN themselves?

Also, ASD isn't black and white. It is a spectrum and as such it is virtually impossible to say that any one thing is an indicator of the condition. Only a proper assessment by a clinical pysch or a psychiatrist can do that but I think you are asking a bit much to expect the key worker to give you a list of traits which your DS has that incontravertably ASD indicators.

How much experience has this woman had of working with small children because if you have come across ASD's or any of the linked SN before, you can sometimes just tell that something is wrong without actually being able to express what it is, bearing in mind she doesn't have the years of training a psych would have. It could be something very subtle that you can pick up. I bet any of us who have children on the spectrum can pick out other children on the spectrum now, and sometimes without being sure what it is that makes us think that.

What I am trying to say is I don't think you are necessarily going to get concrete proof and points to check off a list. The keyworker might not be able to provide you with the level of proof you are looking for but that doesn't mean that her gut instinct isn't right.

saintlyjimjams · 02/02/2011 17:43

Ha ha silver

I'm not entirely sure ASD was being suggested anyway by the worker. She may have been concerned about how he'll get on in the school environment where so much more listening is required. Hearing tests always worth doing they always get done as part of any muliti disciplinary assessment anyway as mild hearing loss can cause hard to spot problems.

silverfrog · 02/02/2011 17:45

no, the OP is not sure about that at the beginning of the thread either.

I agree it is probably a general settling concern being raised, but I still see no reason to react in this way.

AvaBanana · 02/02/2011 18:22

Your reaction to other posters is really way OTT, rose. Chill out! This is NOT a normal response.

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