Nursery Exclusion

[nothappytobeheretoday]

Good morning,

We are in the process of applying for an EHCP for our son and an assessment has been agreed. Our nursery have now said they can't cope with our son and want to substantially reduce his hours. Is there anything we can do?

Thank you.

What type of nursery is it?

Have they applied for early years inclusion funding?

Thank you.

It is nursery attached to a fee paying school.

They did but I don't think it covers very much - just a couple of hours a week?

Push the LA to provide more funding. You could also see whether your LA has any nursery special school places for those going through the EHCP process, some LAs have assessment places.

Unfortunately as an independent school the exclusion guidance doesn’t apply. The school must make reasonable adjustments as per the Equality Act, but it sounds like they have and DS’s needs still can’t be met?

This is horrible for you and your poor DS. It sounds like the nursery may be trying to 'manage' him out.
Do you have anything in writing to say they can't manage his needs? Sadly, this may help your EHCP application if a setting says they can't manage a DC's needs even with additional funding.

I would be looking around for another nursery. Do you have a Sure Start nursery anywhere near? I know a lot have been forced to close but my Ds's was a godsend when he was little as private nurseries wouldn't take him (non verbal and screamed all the time).

Make sure your local authority sticks to the legal timeframes with an EHCP, some good info here if you've not seen it already:

www.ipsea.org.uk/ehc-needs-assessments

Following as in the same situation myself.

Thank you @JustKeepBuilding and @Toomanyminifigs

@JustKeepBuilding do you know how to best push the LA? Is there a way to know who to contact?

I am loathe to move nursery again as this is the second nursery to effectively exclude him and he will be starting school in September (so many changes and upheaval in his short life!). There aren't any Sure Start nurseries nearby sadly.

I am so sorry @Coffeelotsofcoffee - I hope it all works out for you. It is an absolute nightmare.

Nothappytobehere yes I'm very stressed.
I'm a working mum and now facing the prospect of being signed off on sick
Cause without childcare I can't work
He attends just 10 hrs a week , and I was hopeful he / they could cope

His ALN worker isn't answering my calls
They're office goes to voicemail
Health visitors ...I honestly don't know if they exist anymore

By pestering them. Unfortunately parents who don’t give up and go away get better support for their DC. Email (every day if necessary) the Director of Children’s Services (you will be able to find their email address online, if you can’t and would like me to send it you PM where you are) explaining the situation, that a second nursery placement is on the brink of breaking down, the LA are currently providing early years inclusion funding but the nursery require more funding in order to meet DS’s needs and keep everyone safe. It would help if you could get the nursery on board to push as well any any other professionals involved.

Where are you in the EHCP process? Making sure the LA stick to the timescales will help. And if they aren’t use that fact in your email to the Director of Children’s Services to point of their failure and threaten judicial review.

Does DS receive DLA? If so, are the nursery receiving Disability Access Funding? Not much but every little helps.

@Coffeelotsofcoffee I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you. It is so difficult and no one who hasn't been through it seems to understand or care.

Thank you so very much @JustKeepBuilding I will PM you.