EEYAP, does the setting have to spend the extra funds on what they've said they are for on the application form?

[NatalieJane]

And, is it usual for the setting not to bring in a 'new' worker to give 1:1, but to just use one of the workers that are already there, to avoid the other children 'mobbing' the new person?

And is it true that 1:1's breach the inclusion guidance (or what ever it is) because the other children know that the child with a 1:1 is 'different'?

Am I being fed a load of old tosh so they get the funding and still do nothing? Or am I being too cynical?

I don't think you're being to cynical, do you feel a letter coming on It's not a breech of inclusion guidance otherwise no dc anywhere would get a 1:1, it's how the 1:1 operates that makes the difference. If the existing member of staff has the requisite skills then they could reasonably be expected to take over 1:1 duties but you would still expect to see a new member of staff brought in to replace their old role iyswim. Otherwise their staffing ratio would still be the same and I don't think many places have more staff than they officially have to. This mobbing thing does happen with new staff but the novelty usually wears off pretty quickly, it's not an ongoing thing and you'd expect the staff to be able to deal with it.

So what if she tells me that one of the workers will be brought in for extra hours? I have no idea how many hours each of them work now, so wouldn't know if they have increased someone's hours?

Also, I am a little bit because surely it would be very easy for an existing worker to think "while he's getting on with that, I'll just pop and help out" so it's not really spending time with him and him alone. Do you know what I mean?

Am also very that a SENCo who believes he has no issues, is suddenly willing to put a proper 1:1 in place, now there is a chance of funding.

And yes another letter, wanted to check what I was thinking is true though before writing it!

that's where you'd hope they were good enough at their job to know what is and isn't acceptable. You'd be quite right to ask who is looking after ds and when, you'd expect consistency and it to be done by 1 person throughout the week or possibly 2 if they can give you a good reason for doing this. As for knowing what they are doing, you can't as you're not there, hard I know! So you have to keep communication open, you could ask for a home school book or a hand over at the end of the session from the 1:1.

I don't know exactly how the funding works as dd3s preschool went pretty smoothly from that point of view but I would presume there will be paperwork for them to complete, they're not going to just give them a load of money and say do what you like. They should also be doing regular observations, and putting these in writing and you can always try the area senco again if you're not happy. They should also have his iep (or whatever they want to call it!) which should specify what his 1:1 should be doing.

Yes, we are already supposed to have a home-school book, I've never seen it, and I have asked for it.

There is a form to fill in to apply for the funding, then the LEA (or a panel of bods) meet once a month to decide whether or not to give funding. Apparently, SENCo and Area SENCo filled this form in yesterday, SENCo is coming to our house on Monday for me to sign it (only because she HAS to, LEA won't give any funding without a parental signature), so I will get to see the form before I sign.

His 'Targeted Learning Journey' (IEP to you and me!) doesn't mention a 1:1 at all.

I know this is kind of an impossible question to answer, but how much 1:1 should I expect at this stage? He is at nursery for 15 hours a week, while no one really has a clue (least of all nursery) exactly what his needs are as yet, is it unreasonable for me to ask that for a time (a week or two) that the 1:1 should be with him the full 15 hours, and then we can review in a fortnight and see what they have picked up on and then adjust the 1:1 hours from there? Does it work like that?

I think the home school book would make an excellent addition to your letter, especially as they've said you should have one. The amout of 1:1 is impossible to say but if you think he needs the full 15 hours then ask for it, it's a good point to negotiate down from but I wouldn't be mentioning you might want to reduce it in a week or twos time. I think at this stage it would be reasonable to ask the senco for a meeting regularly to review how the support is working, whether too much, too little etc.

To be honest I want them to be there the full 15 hours so he has at least a full weeks observations, and then I can see (if they are to be believed...) what exactly is happening while he's at nursery.

I may aswell plough on with the 15 hours, then if she has a good enough reason why it shouldn't be full time then I may compromise, a little

Thanks bigcar, you've been a big help again :o

I'm a 1 to 1 at school and looked after a child in Reception for 4 months. It's actually almost impossible to stay by the side of a child for every minute. In fact stepping back and observing and only stepping in when necessary is more what it's about. While I'm stepping back I will help other children, they ask for help, it's hard not to. But I always keep an eye out for my charge and go back to him at the drop of a hat. It doesn't help any emerging social skills to be on their shoulder constantly, as other children may hold back. The child in question may come to depend on the adult too much and see them as their best friend. After all, adults can be much nicer, better playmates. Not good for improving social skills.

Go for all 15 hours but I'd be prepared to be happy with 10, that seems the norm for unstatemented DCs. Depends what the session is like and what aspects your DS finds hard. You'll have whole group carpet time, free play time, whole group guided play time, snack time etc. Your DS will probably manage some of these better than others and may need less 1 to 1 in these times. Or he may need constant 1 to 1. Not advice as such, food for thought, maybe.

Thanks Ellen, good to see the other perspective :o

Problem is, according to nursery, he has no additional needs, so it's going to be hard for me to say 'he needs help with x, y, and z at nursery because... and that is why he needs 15 hours' I would be very happy with 10 hours, from what the SENCo said on the phone, it seems she has something like 20 mins a day in her head.

HV has just left, she is going in next week to observe him at nursery, so I may get a clearer idea of what is going on then.

Hmm, 20 mins a day, that would only cover an individual session each day on a particular issue. You'll have to wait and see what you get and ask them how they intend to use the extra support.

Thanks again :)