Special needs Nursery vs mainstream

[salondon]

My daughter will be eligible for nursery in Sept 2013. As of now she goes to a mainstream daycare. She doesnt have a daignosis yet, however we are pretty certain we will get ASD.

We want to try mainstream with ABA as far as possible. Can the LEA force us to send her to a special needs nursery (or school there after)?

Hi Salondon,

You sound like you are where I was this time last year. I am in Northern Ireland so it might be slightly different. Here they can't force you and we went with Nursery placement with support and held Ds back a year ie. 2 years in nursery now going into PS a year older than a lot of his class.

We went for a primary school that has integrated nursery so he moves on with most of his class. The PS school policy also is you keep the TA and she moves up the school with you. While we have had our ups and downs we have also been very lucky but a lot hinges on the school talk to Principal, Senco, Class teacher, make sure you get on with them and if possible talk to mums of other SEN kids in the school. Are they happy? Also get the possibility of special school written into your statement so if it doesn't work out you have a fall back.

Good luck!

Hi,

The la can't force you to put your child anywhere, as long as the environment can meet the needs of your child, they should let you go. Most mainstream schools have the resources to meet some children with additional needs. Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you get a statement, the la isn't allowed to suggest a school, the parents suggest one and the la say yes or no to if it meets your child's needs. So don't worry, i think you'll be fine :)

Why do you think they would want to force you ?
In our LA, special school and Res Base places are so sought after / in such short supply they would be delighted to have one family less fighting for a place.

You'd be more likely to face a forced mainstream placement with no support tbh or at least a minimal babysitting service.

If you can get them to show they are likely to offer a specialist placement, you can get the costs and request that they match it in ABA funding though.

Thanks everyone. I am being paranoid! She has 1.5 yrs before she goes to school

How about private infant schools? Can they turn us down?

I would suggest you go in with your eyes wide open at this stage. DD1 went to MS preschool and it was a wasted opportunity. She didn't see a paediatrician until she was already getting 1:1 at the MS preschool so there didn't seem a need to switch. I wish she'd gone to a specialist preschool.

She has developed so much by going to a (fabulous, I must admit) Special School.

Why don't you try and see what the local provision is like - special, mainstream, private. Try imagining your DD in each of those settings, before you set your heart on her fitting a particular one.