DS needs extra help. Should we go private? Montessori?

[luckiestgirl]

DS is 3 and a half and has some social and communication problems (not yet been diagnosed with ASD but it gets talked about a lot).

He's been going to a local state nursery for half a year, 15 hours a week. They struggle with his behaviour (hitting and biting especially when it's noisy)

We've just had a meeting saying they can only have him there if he has constant one to one with an adult, but there is only funding available for 7 hours a week for this. So he can only have 7 hours of nursery a week, and he's supposed to be starting school next September.

We're in the fortunate position that we can afford to send him to a private nursery.

Would this help? Do private nurseries allow you to pay yourself for a one on one help? Should we look for a Montessori or an alternative type nursery? Would they require one on one help, or maybe they wouldn't need that there?

Any advice gratefully received. It's a bit of a blow because at home his behaviour is fine so I forget that he's going to struggle in the usual systems.

If you can afford 1:1 help can you offer to pay for it where he is now?

They can't say he can only attend for seven hours. It is their duty to provide for his needs under the SEN Code of Practice.
Having said that I understand that financially this can be a nightmare and you really need to sit down with the SENDCo and work out how they are support your son. It very much sounds as if they need to apply for an EHCP and/or top up from the LA.
You local LA website should have a section Families Information Service which provides details of the local offer where you will find links to services that can help. Good luck

I have a 2.5 year old DS with global delay and suspected asd. The developmental paediatrician strongly recommended NOT going down the Montessori route because he needs help with structure. Leaving him to roam and do his own thing would be kicking the can down the road.

We have spent a lot of money on private occupational and speech therapy. It's been very valuable at helping us learn how to communicate and engage better with him. He will start at an SN kindergarten in September which has specialist teachers and integrated therapy, the idea being that good input at this young age will help him navigate the world better in the years to come.

We are not in the UK, so I can't comment on what your current nursery should provide, but our advice has been lots of 1:1, lots of structure and lots of early intervention therapy. I'd spend the cash meeting as many of the above as you can.