Pre-school and realistic 1:1 expectations...or not!?

[amymouse]

Hello,

Really looking for some advice and information on SEN in pre-school settings (all the information I can find it for from reception onwards-may be I am not looking in the right place?).

DD will be 3 in September and has been offered 2 sessions at a local preschool. When the topic of preschool first cropped up, it was agreed she would get 1:1 for her needs to be met. Now it has actually come round what seems to be on offer is an 'inclusion worker' (different from 1:1 I'm told) for one session and winging the second session on the basis that it is a small group (8 children, 2 staff). DD cannot yet walk independantly and even with a walker tires easily and has "interesting" balance. Her speech is also delayed and her social skills, mainly as her speech/mobility frequently leaves her behind other children which is turn can cause her to panic or withdraw. She is also tube fed though this should be less of an issue as they shouldn't need to feed her!

I'm seeing our Early Years worker on Friday and am so mixed up as to what I can request, what I should request, what is actually best for DD etc etc. I know there is already a disagreement as paed has mentioned statementing for primary as a future move and Early Years disagree about her needing one. I'd really hate to think I'm underestimating my daughter but I can't help wondering if they Early Years team are being a bit too positive and/or expecting too much of the pre-school. Argh! My head hurts thinking about it.

Councils fund statements and 1:1. Early years staff are council employees and most councils have a policy to fund the minimum they can get away with at 3, so in my experience is not that early years are being too positive it is that they are deliberately fobbing you off to please their bosses and follow policy. Yes your child should be getting 1:1. My son has autism, delayed speech, no physical disabilities, needed constant watching for safety (would climb or run off) and he got fulltime 1:1 with a statement at 3. Also the nursery class usually changes at 3 from a 1:4 ratio to a 1:8 ratio so either your child will need to stay in the younger class or the ratio may change to 2 or 3 staff to 16 children at 3-3.3. I would believe the paed as giving a more indep view. NHS staff often in cahoots with council to save funds so if saying need 1:1 then I would assume being honest with you. Besides its better to be over cautious. DS had speech, social targets etc which needing practising daily so needed 1:1. Pushing the safety aspect can help get 1:1.
Look at SEN Code of Practice, SEN Toolkit (on Dept for Education website) and IPSEA website for info on education funding. It is common practice for councils to delay funding until children are in school to save money. Maybe even look at specialist placements or units too - sometimes having the specialist staff to work on speech etc is more beneficial than being in mainstream and doesn't mean cant go into mainstream at reception / year 1.
Also ask for the council policy on inclusion funding so you can read it for yourself you may find that more hours without a statement are available eg my council funded 75% of nursery hours without a statement. You might be able to find the policy on the council website for yourself.
Sadly you cannot rely on councils to tell you what you are entitled to, you have to find out yourself.
Contact a family have lots of useful easy to read leaflets you can download as a starting point.

DD1 started preschool at 2.6, just before summer holidays. She went back to preschool at 2.9, within 2 weeks she was assessed and given full 1:1 support - without a statement.

She had a statement by 4.1, in preparation for special school.

To be quite honest, your DD sounds a lot more delayed than mine was at that stage, so don't be fobbed off.

DD has had 1:1 for her full preschool allocation. She uses a walker, needs help getting into and out of it, to toilet etc But has no S&L delays.
Having a good 1:1 has been so important for DD she has become so much confident. I would encourage you to push for 1:1 support rather than letting them "wing it"

Apply for a statement now, she is as entitled to access pre-school as much as a child without a disability.
Dont allow them to wing it, she will only get the best from pre-school & school if she is adequately supported.
Dont let them tell you full time support can be counter productive or hinder her inclusion or her independence as its crap, a properly trained & experienced assistant will allow her to access all the activities & participate in the session.

Thank you lots people, all massively helpful. Kaffiene, that is exactly why I feel a 1:1 would important; to increase confidence or at least keep her being confident and smiley not withdrawn and anxious. I will prepare my battle. If its turns out she doesn't need it 1:1 that is one thing, I'd just so hate to see her struggle if I can avoid it!

She sounds simillar to my dd except mine isn't tube fed. We have a really great one or one - and need it. Just to back up the other voices, don't be fobbed off.

Often, as with my ds, preschool asks for Premium inclusion grant which should fund 1-1. My ds is also delayed,altoigh he has no medical needs and he would not be able to be there without 1-1. You can search online for your council's Early years funding. I would apply for statement as well, I think it's quite obvious it will be needed ( altough they will tell you differently).

Amy ds uses a walker but other than that is fine. No tubefeeding, no slt. BUT he gets 25 hours 1-1 just for him from early years. It allows him to do what the others do, climb climbing frames (with help) as well as do stretches. Ask for full 1 to 1 for the hours amy is there. Also look at access, ramps for walkers, handrails, the bathroom, toileting the lot. The pre-school may need to get adaptions made