Another reality check.after visiting potential nursery. Is this the way its going to be?

[mamadadawahwah]

Went to the local nursery to talk to head teacher. Asked her what help there is for a child with asd. Yep, you guessed it. NONE. All she was interested in was if my son had any serious behavioural problems. Then i asked her how many kids in the class. 52! She then said that that she was "trained" in 1:1 asd intervention by virtue of taking a three week course with a local autism charity. I put it to her that it was my understanding that to be trained in ABA one had to have a number of years experience and studying. Things fell apart after that.

Will spare you the gory details but have any of you got a list of pertinent questions i can ask of the next "victim" at the other local nurseries? I need to know specifically what to ask.

many thanks

do you know a 3 week course is pretty good! alot won't have 3 hours of training.

I think you need to look for someone like ds1's ex nursery owener.manager. She loves autistic kids- when she took her 1st one on she knew nothing, had no experience, but now has read and read around, funded training herself and really understands how to work with them. She was a bit of a godsend- perhaps worht asking local parents? May be the quickest way to find someone good (that's how I found ours).

What help would you like for your child??
would it help for you to say "this is what I think he needs support with" and judge their response from there..
(said with my pre-school hat on)

My ds's SALT organised a place for my ds so all his needs could be met. Would you be able to get any such help?

Have you thought about looking at a more "specialist" playgroup/nursery.

My dd went to an opportunity group where the ratio was half ms and half sn. Worked really well and they were very experienced in all areas of sn and dd got some ms exposure as well. They also helped push for the statementing and everything else that dd has needed to get her into the school place she is in now.

Good advice. I will ask around and ask my son's salt. I should add that i ended the "discussion" with this woman by saying that "at some point, nurseries and schools will have to "deal with" the numbers of spectrum children entering the school system". Said to her that 1 in 5 kids has a learning disability and that early intervention is the key. Her response was that she had one child with asd in her classroom and they were coping very well with her. Turns out i actually know that little girl. It was her mom who told me about this nursery. She too is not very happy and is thinking of pulling her daughter out.

thanks for the info

My ds ms preschool and nursery had no training but got outside help from the social communication difficulties team through the local council. They came and assessed him, educated them and wrote his iep at 3.5, they are still writing them now he's 5. They also arranged training for his teacher. They are all autism aware now ready for any new children.