Autism and mainstream

[Mumstheword1969]

Hi all looking for some advice and people experiences in similar situations.
I have a soon to be 3 year old awaiting autism diagnosis. He is very intelligent, has been able to count to 20 and knew all his abcs including phonetic, colours and shapes before he was 2 he now knows so many animals ive had to watch programes myself to learn more and all their sounds. He has trouble communicating and doesnt try to talk or have conversations just enjoys naming things hes interested in. He struggles socially and has been going to nursery since january this year to try and help. He has fonally started to settle quickly when there and now tolerates other children being next to him playing etc although i definetly dont find this when hes out and about with me and self harms or headbuts me or other children if they come near him or into his area such as the park. We have managed to up him to 3 days a week for two hours as theres been alot of meltdowns along with way. Hes supposed to be going to mainstream in april and im really concerned. He currently attends nursery in the afternoon as its alot quieter and he has his favourite play worker. The thought of him being in a class of 30 with one teacher just doesnt sound like its going to be the support he needs but then i worry if i dont try it i might hold him back. I know obviously there is going to be a meeting soon in regards to wether they think he will need an ehcp etc. Im just asking if anyone has been through similar and what they decided and what was the outcome?
Thank you in advance!

If DS is nearly 3, I presume you mean he will be starting nursery at a mainstream school in April? If so, it won’t just be 1 teacher to 30 pupils.

You can request an EHCNA yourself now. DS will need an EHCP. On their website IPSEA has a model letter you can use.

Some LAs have specialist early years assessment places. It is worth checking if your area does.

The nursery could also look at early years inclusion funding. In some areas this is available from 2 and in other areas it is available from 3.

Thanks for you reply @flawlessflipper , the nursery hes currently at told me it would be 1 teacher to 30 and that theres actually a bigger school in my area than that with a larger class size also which they themselves said theyre not even sure how its legal.
EHCNA has been requested but one of the nursery staff said that echp is the same as icp and doesnt think they will go for that which confuses me as I thought ICP was more for development and EHCP included any kind of additional support, am I right in thinking this?

Will I get a say in the EHCNA meeting or does the board decide and then i just agree or not?

Thanks again

The current nursery is wrong. You must be in England because you mention EHCP, so the ratio in a mainstream nursery for children aged 3+ is 1:8 or, if there is a qualified teacher or someone with one of the other approved level 6 qualifications, 1:13. See here.

If an ECHNA has been requested, what week are you on?

Once an EHCNA has been requested, the LA has 6 weeks to inform you if they will agree to assess or not. While you can state your case and send evidence, it will be the LA making the decision. If they refuse to assess, you should appeal. If they agree to assess, they will proceed with the Needs Assessment.

As part of the EHCNA, the LA must seek advice and information from:
a) the child’s parent or the young person;
b) educational advice (usually from the head teacher or principal);
c) medical advice and information from a health care professional;
d) psychological advice and information from an educational psychologist;
e) advice and information in relation to social care;
f) advice and information from any other person the local authority thinks appropriate;
g) where the child or young person is in or beyond year 9, advice and information in relation to provision to assist the child or young person in preparation for adulthood and independent living; and
h) advice and information from any person the child’s parent or young person reasonably requests that the local authority seek advice from.

You will be involved in giving your views, etc. but, again, you won’t be involved in the actual decision about whether to issue or not. If they refuse to issue, you should appeal.

If the LA agrees to issue, the LA doesn’t need your agreement to finalise. They can do that even if you disagree with the content of the EHCP. If you disagreed, you would then have to appeal.

An EHCP is not the same as an ICP.