Pre-school curriculum

[MangoMonster]

How can I find out what will be expected of DS at preschool (3 years old). Haven't found much useful stuff on the Internet an don't have other children, so a bit in the dark.

If you are in england try googling EYFS [early years foundation stage].

Does he go to preschool/playgroup? If he does speak to his key worker and ask to see his development tracker. All Ofsted registered settings are required to keep one for every child.

If I find a link I will come back.

Thanks Ineedalife, not at nursery or anything yet, want to make sure I prepare him for it. He's delayed at the moment but really progressing.

There is a bit of stuff on the Direct Gov website look under parents.

Ok, probably the best way to prepare him is to take him for as many visits as possible before actually leaving him.

If you can find a setting that runs a Mother and Toddler or Stay and Play session then I would recommend that you go for a while to get him used to the setting.

Get a feel for the staff eg. how do they react when you tell them that your Ds is delayed. Do they seem keen to work with him and you?

Don't be afraid to shop around. Look at ratios, Pre schools/Playgroups have to have 1 adult to 4 two year olds and 1 to 8 three year olds where as Nurseries attatched to schools can have 1 adult to 13 children.

Because the setting I work in has a mixture of 2's and 3's we have a really good staff ratio, allowing us time to work with children one to one for some of the time.

Oh and lastly, if he doesn't settle or seems unhappy don't be afraid to vote with your feet, it might take a while to find somewhere that he really likes.

Good luck

Thanks Ineedalife, I just looked at the education.gov.uk and have managed to make myself feel hopeless, their requirements seem quite tough. Like respecting others beliefs? Using numbers accurately, understanding the difference between heavy and light? We have a long way to go... I think he'll probably definitely need an ABA shadow to get anything out of it. He needs lots of encouragement and reinforcement to try something new. We are working on it but I should prepare to find somewhere that will accept an ABA shadow.

I think those are expectations for the end of the Foundation stage which is as they go into Year one.

Try not to panic he has a way to go before then.

If they don't meet the education.gov.uk requirements do they have to attend a special school? I also have a speech and socially delayed 3 yr old.
She currently attends preschool and is happy to go (she has been in nursery since 2.5 yrs) but is very aloof with the other children and I wonder how she is actually getting out of the experience apart from playing and having fun of course!

Playing and having fun is the most important part of Early Years Education

All learning should be done through play up until they start year one (31st August after their 5th Birthday)

Social skills, investigation, comprehension, communication & understanding are the most important things (IMO)

Thanks, trying not to panic . Would be great to know in more detail what the entry level specific skills are though, can't find it anywhere.

Like Aliceinboots I'm trying to differentiate between mainstream preschool requirements and special school.

In my setting there is no formal learning at all. We encourage all the children to take part in activities but they are never forced. They access their own equipment where possible and make decisions about what they want to do. We introduce the idea of sitting for a story and singing but even this is not particularly structured.

We do have a structured routine though and se a visual timeline to help the children understand what is going to happen next.

In my area this is standard practice and this kind of preschool education is supposed to be available nationwide.

I have worked with quite a few Sn children in this setting and it has mostly been very successful. It seems to suit most children but especially those with ASD as there are not huge demands to fit in. It is the practitioners responsibility to ensure that all children can access all areas of learning but in this kind of setting we can be very creative in how we achieve this.

Aliceinboots... if children are not meeting their developmental milestones they might be placed on the Special needs register and extra support would be given to support the childs learning. If their are serious issues the Early Years SEN advisor would be asked to come and offer ideas, all with the parents permission.

Am off to bed now as I drove back from Wales this afternoon and my eyes are really tired.

I don't think there are any official pre-school entry requirements, I think it's more a case of looking at what a typical 3 year old is usually able to do in terms of self-care (feeding/dressing), and communication, and looking at getting support with anything he's behind in iyswim, with reference to appropriate professionals/early years team etc.

basically - be honest (as I am sure you will be) about your child's strengths/weaknesses, and run a mile from anywhere that doesn't seem keen to have him due to SN.

What I have been told by DD's head teacher and keyworker is that the majority of children with special needs are supported in mainstream school with additional support.
There is currently a little boy in my elder DC's class (Reception) who has as yet an undiagnosed learning delay. He is non-verbal, still in nappies and very upset by new experiences and settings. He has a 1:1 teaching assistant.
I am hoping that if my younger DC doesn't progress rapidly in the next few months that she too will be supported in mainstream.
DC is an August baby (just turned 3) so I remain hopeful there is still time for her to catch up.
I hope things continue to go well for your son mangoMonster.

I agree to no formal requirements at entry

I run a setting which goes from soon after birth to currently 14 & every child is taken on their own abilities. Each child is an individual and their education planned for them specifically

As a rough 'rule of thumb' if a 3 yo wasn't eating by themselves, standing and using a few words then we might think about having extra help for them initially but most of the time we muddle through; working out where their stage of development was and if (& what) extra help they need then organising it.

I'm not sure if that sounds critical or negative or condescending; I really didn't mean it to; just that children are children and different to each other

That sounds really reassuring. Thanks KatyMac.

Magno, one of your best arguments for an ABA shadow is that your child needs a special school placement but you are envoking your right as a parent to have him educated in mainstream.

However, in order for this to be possible for him he needs 'specialist provision' to be brought in. Provided this is not incompatable with the educational needs of the other children your argument is fairly clear and straightforward (although as you know, not a sure thing).

I didn't realise you could take that line starlight? how do I educate myself about this stuff? Thinking of having DS do one morning a week at a montessori nursery with a shadow to prepare him for preschool in september.

Well you need a statement for a start and you'll need independent experts that suggest he needs a special education but isn't mld or sld (it's okay if they say he is but your argument is stronger if not as your county will not have any special schools for average or above ability.

What's mid or Sid starlight?

Mld = moderate learning difficulties and SLD = severe learning difficulties.

And I learned about pretty much everything here, with some extras from independent experts.

Sometimes SLD means 'specific learning difficulties' which coukd cover dyslexia, possibly autism if your county has a school for children with autism, although there aren't many as LAs like to pretend that a social skills deficit require submersion in a room full of typically developing peers even though there is no research to support this.

(mld/sld - moderate or severe learning disabilities)

ooops, sorry x-posted :)