Non talker (age 3.3) - looking for words of wisdom about possibility of statement

[Boboma]

I'm interested to hear the experience of others who have non-verbal-communicating children and how you have got on with the early years of school?
My dd (3.3) uses signs to communicate and has very few sounds - 3 'words' that other people might understand and a few more that I know. She can only say 2 consonants and has limited vowel sounds. She is intelligent and understands everything though. She has good SALT support since she turned 2, with mostly weekly 1:1s and nursery doing 10 mins a day with her, trained by the SALT, plus exercises we do at home but her progress is slow. Oral dyspraxia has been thought about - but not definite yet.
In her final year before schools starts I am wondering how pushy I should be about getting her statemented ready for school? I am the type of person who is easily won over by sob stories about lack of budgets, so I'd like to be confident that I need to be shouting about getting help before I start shouting :) I find it worrying that she is struggling so much to communicate (she is very self aware about it) so really just want to do the best for her.
Thanks for reading.

I'd go for it. DS2 had one in place before he even started nursery. (sorry - 1 handed, here!!!)

Be pushy! Very pushy!

Lack of budgets are not your problem. No one else is going to fight for your child.

She can't start school without a statement if she can't talk. If she was deaf she would automatically have a statement...

Anyway, you don't actually need to be pushy. You just need to apply.

In the current financial climate only those with statements will be properly funded as they are the only ones who can legally enforce it and can't have support withdrawn / reduced [not that that stops many LA trying it on of course].
We got a statement at 3.3 [ASD partially verbal]
I would not want to be stuck on wishy washy action plus when the cuts hit.
I want to be able to have some legal redress.
I think you can't afford not to get her a statement.
You will also find schools more welcoming if you bring a pot of money with you.
Are you near an ICAN School? I have heard they can be quite good.
Also look at AFASIC I think they might have info on statementing

Thanks for your replies. I wasn't expecting such a strong response all with the same opinion! OK, so I will start applying .
Do any of you have experience about what to push for with regards to a non-talker at this age? In dd's case, there are no other issues, so we are just looking for SALT type input. Any examples that work well?

Thanks for the comment about schools welcoming you bringing a pot of money AgnesDiPesto. I has assumed that I statement would bring the opposite response (ie here comes trouble) so that's reassuring. Unfortunately we are no where near an ICAN school and don't even seem to have a school with a language unit nearby. I'll have to start digging though.

I can get my 'big boot pushy Mummy boots' on, I just struggle to know when to, so thanks everyone.

i would push for a speech unit if tahst what you want especially as seems a pure speech problem ds has lots of othe rissues but his main one is his speech .

We tried ms with 1-1 and sorry with the best will in the world it was crap , poorly trained staff and evne though they tried to encourage other dc at first to sign it soon got dropped , wa sno signing in assemblies etc.

Ds has place in speech unit this September and just on few visits i had its world apart daily speech theraphy with a salt and a f/t spealist s&L teacher and traine dlsa to 10 dc

Yup - you need to start crackin' skulls.
It's not pretty, you won't be popular but you are her best advocate.

Shout and shout loud for your daughter, because she can't.

I've seen some really good results in speech units, btw.

Go for it.

Have you seen an Educational Psychologist yet? If not, ask your GP/HV to refer you. My DS saw one at about 3 (before DX of Aspergers) and she was great, summed up his probs and needs with regard to pre-school and referred him to panel for an inclusive place.