DS possibly has ASD, what do I need to ask at parents evening tomorrow?

[hummanahummana]

My 3 year old DS is in the very beginning stages of being screened for ASD. He's been referred by his paediatrician, so I've not yet spoken to the nursery staff about it all yet. We have parents evening tomorrow. Is there anything anyone would recommend me asking or discussing with his teachers tomorrow?

As with any child. I would ask how they are getting on at Nursery. What he likes, what he does. What he struggles with.
Is he getting any additional support ?
Did the Nursery refer him to the Paediatrician ?
Does he have some sort of a support plan ?
Are you already in conversation with the SENCo ?

No he has been seeing a paediatrician from birth for a visual impairment.

I haven't met the senco yet. The ASD Screening is a very recent thing. I'm still waiting for the nursery to complete their observation report to be sent back to the paediatrician.
He already has a QTVI visiting once a month. I'm just not sure what questions I should be asking regarding his (possible) ASD.

Some Nursery staff sometimes get quite nervous about that first conversation with parents, to express any concerns they might have. If you go to them and say "ds has been referred for an Autism Assessment, by his Paediatrician. They will be sending you a request for information. Have you had any concerns ?"

Children with VI don't appear in Nurseries that often (unlike children with ASD), so it is more than feasible staff haven't worked with a child with VI before, and might have been putting things they had noticed down to that side of things, without really thinking he might have another condition. If you say you know it is a possibility, then that opens the channels of communication much more readily.

Though I can't get my head round the fact you haven't met the SENCo, if your child has VI, and support visiting each month

I have wanted to meet the senco, but I (probably irrationally) feel like I'm going over their heads a bit.

I met with the teachers about a month ago, and they said that they believed his social and emotional development was delayed by 12-18 months. I mentioned this to the paediatrician and that, coupled with his sensory seeking behaviour, has been the main reason he was referred for the screening. The teachers were obviously really nervous about saying anything to me. I'm just worried they'll sugar coat everything when I want them to be completely honest.

Thank you, you've given me some good points to think about. I will ask why the Senco hasn't been involved.

Oh how things have changed! I am very impressed that you are getting a referral for asd with a vi diagnosis. My DD has both too, but is in her late teens now. Until just a few years ago her difficulties were all attributed to her vi. They insisted that her lack of sociability was due to not finding her friends and delayed development due to vi, sensory sensibilities because of her need for tactical input etc etc.
Get the staff to clearly state why they believe your son's difficulties can't be as a result of his VI. Imo CAMBS are keen to diagnose asd nowadays as once done they can push you out the door and off their case load, so read up and make sure you believe that your son does have asd. By the way, whilst not scientifically proven, the vast majority of VI kids I know are asd diagnosed or display many of the traits!
More important than getting an asd diagnosis though is to get all the traits your son displays identified within his EHCP and get them fully specified and supported.