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not really sure where i stand

8 replies

Deafworm · 09/02/2011 19:38

Hi all,im not really sure if my dd2 is even classed as SN so if im in the wrong place please tell me.

my dd2 has epilepsy and speech delay. at one stage dyspraxia was mentioned and its becoming clear that she doesnt pick things up as easily as other children, she will be 4 in april and still cant count to 5 every time. I dont mind this and in her own way shes an amazing little girl, as long as she is happy i really dont mind that much what speed she is at. she loves singing and being active and giggles all the time so please dont take my comments about her learning pace as judgment or anything.

this is where the problem comes in though, before we moved here we had a 'learning plan' (mainly tied into the speech therapy) with the nursery she was at and they asked us to come speak to the senco etc. it felt as if they took her as an individual. DH is in the forces and when we moved she had a break from nursery till september when i had to nag and nag to get a 5 minute appointment with the nursery teachers simply to discuss what to watch out with her seizures and how to handle different scenarios, really basic stuff but very important. i also mentioned the speech delay and that despite being discharged on moving i had been taking her to the SALT drop in run in the town every 6 months or so since we moved to keep an eye on it and they were happy that although slowly she was progressing. in oct/nov the epilepsy consultant re reffered her into SALT over concerns of a crossover between the epilepsy and the speech due to new meds.

fast forward to a few weeks ago and i was pulled to one side after the session and told it wasnt acceptable to wait for the refferal i needed to take her back to the drop in as 'she never speaks in sessions, we dont like to push if we dont understand her first time and really she is starting proper school in september something has to be done about it' which if im honest ive been stewing over ever since, it concerns me that they say she doesnt talk or interract in nursery as normally she talks to everyone (including the headmaster when he came to a community meeting recently) and is generally quite happy to repeat herself a couple of times.

we did as asked and she is having a full assesment with someone from the SALT team on tuesday morning, and parents evening is after school that evening. essentially this whole waffle has been about me not knowing what i should be expecting and asking from them. Im not sure if she is SN, Im not even sure what the criteria for this is, should i be expecting something along the lines of what we had at the last nursery, is it too early to worry about the speed she seems to be picking things up at? im not a pushy parent but if she has got delays i want her to get the support she needs and from what i have seen that can be a battle, adding in the frequent moving it worries me.

sorry for such a long waffle, im just not sure what we should be expecting at this stage and whether anybody should be picking up on her unique little behaviors and her struggles.

OP posts:
Ben10isthespawnofthedevil · 09/02/2011 19:41

Hi, it is definitely worth reposting this on Special Needs:Children which gets loads more foot fall. I am right at the start of the journey but there are lots of experienced posters on there who can advise.

Deafworm · 09/02/2011 19:43

thank you, i was expecting to be told i was in the wrong place, will nervously repost!

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Littlefish · 09/02/2011 19:50

I would say that it is really important that you push for as much support as possible at this stage if you, the nursery and the Speech and Language Team think she needs it. The more you have in place before she starts school, the better.

Have the nursery expressed concerns about any other areas of her development, apart from her speech.

Not being able to count consistently to 5 wouldn't worry me - lots of children start Reception without this skill being secure.

Deafworm · 09/02/2011 20:02

thanks littlefish, they havent but they say she doesnt interract or respond to them or the other children which they are putting down to speech but im not sure it is as its not really how she behaves with us around. shes amazing but she confuses me on a daily (minutely?) basis!

hoping SALT will have more to say and then back with consultant for epilepsy in march, just not sure what we should be expecting from the school as bare minimum support, i dont feel like we are getting it though.

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Littlefish · 09/02/2011 20:06

Is the nursery attached to the school she's going to attend?

Deafworm · 09/02/2011 20:18

with a bit of luck, the school is lovely and if she gets the place i know the reception teachers are amazing, theres a completely different feel with them, dd1 is in yr 1 there. I guess i just dont know if i should be worried and if i should i dont want her to fall through the cracks with moves and stuff.

sorry this has been building for a while, shes amazing and i want the best for her, she is so different to any child ive had experience with i just cant work out if she needs help or if im just overreacting due to the other bits

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Littlefish · 09/02/2011 20:24

Hopefully the speech and language team will be able to give you some more guidance.

I think you need to have a conversation with the nursery staff to discuss what, if any, there other concerns are, and whether they think she needs to be referred to the Ed Psych, or learning support team. They should be able to give you a good idea of whether they think she needs help, or will need additional support when she starts in Reception.

Why don't you make an appointment to go and chat to the Reception team as soon as you know whether she has a place. Will you find out soon?

Deafworm · 09/02/2011 20:36

I think we find out in april, thanks for the advice. will talk to nursery at parents evening and take it from there.

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