Hello,
DS is 4 (5 in Sept) and has SEN. He was previously in a special needs nursery who were absolutely wonderful with him.
Due to him and also other issues within the family, we decided to move closer to MIL and DP's family in order to gain some support. This meant moving out of our county and into another one.
First county had all of DS' information, and just as we left had prepared a preliminary statement for him. He had been allocated a place in a nurture unit, as the language units were full. He has severe speech problems.
We advised the new county that we were coming, and they said to get an address asap so that they could deal with his statement sooner. We therefore moved before the previous county had given DS a full statement.
Now that we're here, new county are saying that some reports are missing (I have to send them our copy of his Speech and Language Report), and that his other reports scream Asperger's to them. He is on the list to be assessed for autism, in the previous county, but they advised us that it could take up to 2 years for this to come through.
The lady I spoke to also said that it is likely they would recommend mainstream for him until we get a diagnosis - this is because Speech and Language Units will probably pick up on the likely Asperger's and refuse him, where as schools equipped to deal with Asperger's will refuse him because he has no diagnosis.
So I'm stuck. She's phoning me tomorrow to advise how to get him on the assessment list for this county as well, but she said that could also take at least a year. Meanwhile, DS will be stuck in mainstream, where his needs won't be understood. I don't want him to be seen as the naughty child - this happened to DP's brother and he didn't get into a special needs school til he started secondary.
We can't keep him in a nursery because he turns 5 in September so will be above the age limit.
I don't know what to do - if we hadn't moved we would have had a full statement, but no diagnosis. I don't know how to fast track this and I also don't want DS to suffer.
Sorry for the essay! Any help would be appreciated.