Guidance for reduced timetable in EY setting?

[bedelia]

DS2 has been attending nursery on a (vastly) reduced timetable since moving up to FS1. By Easter, this will have been in place for almost a full term (since January).

We suspect DS will eventually get a diagnosis of ASC, though referrals have only recently been made. He's been seen by Ed Psych and EY Inclusion, some interventions have been put into place. No 1:1 as yet, it's been hinted that this might be forthcoming but is reliant on funding from EY. We have a very vague understanding of how the length of sessions will be increased, but trying to get anything on paper or even arranging a meeting to discuss progress is like trying to get blood from a stone

Anyway... Today I got a letter from EY Inclusion saying that his referral was accepted last month but he's had to be put on a waiting list for intervention (and, presumably, the funding which would be attached)

I was really hoping DS could begin to stay a little longer after the Easter Holidays, but suspect this will put a spanner in the works! Now hoping to arrange another meeting before the holidays to discuss progress. He's only currently attending for 1 hour 20 minutes a day, which I was hoping could be increased to 2 hours soon, aiming for the full three hours by the end of the summer term.

I managed to find some guidance about reduced timetables for school-aged children, but cannot find anything applicable for EY settings. Is there anything I could quote to get things moving a little faster?

Thanks in advance for any advice

Simples, I think...
Apply for n EHCP. They may refuse to assess but appeal if they do.

In the mean time, the law is clear - the child's educational needs must be met.

If they think he needs help and have put him on a waiting list, then see if you can get a copy of the assessment. With luck it will say what he is like NOW and what he needs - now. If they have been clever they will state what he is like now, and said that he will or might need more support in the future.

If the assessment says what he is like now and what he needs now, then they are in breach of the law by failing to give it to him now for financial reasons.

Have you looked at any other types of reports that might help and might be accessed via GP referrals?

How old is ds2?, ans what if any are the diagnoses or issues?

The trouble is that nursery is non statutory educationnso it is different rules althought you can bet your bottom dollar that the nursery are claiming his full 15 hrs funding!!

Is he doing 15hrs?

If not I would ring the inclusion team and tell them you want him in for 15, The local authority will hold a pot of money for supporting children in early years!! Ours likes to tell people that they cant have more than 10 hours of one to one support funding but this is a blanket policy which is unlawful and it is about to be challenged !!

Good luck

Thank you both for your insights

Senvet, DS is 3 1/2, I've suspected for a while now that he may be on the HF end of the spectrum, and perhaps has some other things going on too. He has communication issues - though he picks new words up virtually every day, he has trouble expressing his needs and lots of echoalia (we certainly can't have a conversation with him!). Doesn't play with other children; absolutely cannot sit for more than a few moments at a time - which seems one of the biggest issues at nursery, as he needs constant supervision during group times.

He's been referred to CDC by Ed Psych, who has observed him, but not for the purpose of writing a report She's made recommendations for interventions, which I think nursery are putting into place (as am I at home) and suggested during our meeting that ASC is a possible diagnosis.

If they have been clever they will state what he is like now, and said that he will or might need more support in the future.

^ This is what I read in the referral form sent to EY Inclusion, written before he transitioned to FS1 (while he was still attending full time). His key worker (who luckily transferred over to FS1 before DS did, and his KW again now) said at the time that she felt he'd need support in place due to the higher child:adult ratio and structured sessions.

Ineed, he's attending just over 6 hours a week, certainly nowhere near the full 15! And yes, I suspect nursery is claiming the full 15 hours! I plan to call the EY team on Monday to ask roughly how long we might be waiting, and mention the reduced timetable to make sure they're aware of the changes

My biggest issue with the reduced hours is that I'm self-employed, and nursery is the only form of childcare I have. I cut down my already p/t working hours thinking the "transition period" would only be for a half-term at most, but am now utterly exhausted by the time the kids are in bed and am seriously considering giving it up altogether, perhaps until DS starts school next year. Is it worth mentioning this to the EY team?

I'd planned to initiate EHCP later this year once we have some headway with the CDC referral and a little more paperwork to support it (DS is due to start FT school next September).

I agree with chasing everyone up

What referrals have you had via GP such as Paed, SALT, OT etc?
I am thinking the 'never sitting down' would be a job for a sensory OT and the echolalia is a SALT issue (sorry if this is old news to you).
If nursery and education are going slow then trying via a GP would be worth a try.

By 3.5 years with SEN it makes sense to be getting on with planning for school in September 2016 which would imply adding to the nursery hours, not reducing them.

I just do think the answer 'you can have it but you have to queue for the money' is contrary to the law. I mean how can that bring about the best possible outcome and help early intervention?

An MPs letter might help especially if they see you as a hard working family who is just asking for what the law says you should have precisely because it saves money for the tax payer in the only-slightly-longer term when dc goes to Primary

Local councillors are looking for votes at the moment too, so might be worth a shot.

Is there anything useful in the local offer?

I'd keep the pressure to bolster the hours at nursery so you can keep a hand in at work.

Good Luck

They should have got the funding for 1:1 in place by now, its not a big process for EY usually just a short form and one professional to support which the EP could do. DS nursery kept him in the previous class (with 1:4 ratio but he essentially had 1:1) until the funding came through. The govt now gives 15 hours from age 2 for children with disabilities on the basis they need more education not less. Could the nursery not keep him in class below?

I would apply for EHCP now as it sets a statuary timescale (i would expect they will make you appeal to get an assessment anyway as thats common for most 3 year olds). It took us 18 months to get a decent Statement. By applying and appealing if necessary there will be pressure to get things in place as it won't look good to a tribunal for your child to have missed so much education. The LA won't be in any hurry if you don't push them.

Also don't confuse education and childcare. The 15 hours is childcare entitlement. But your child is entitled to education that meets all their SEN and this could (and usually should) be more than 15 hours on basis your child needs more education than other children, not less - we won 35 hours (of ABA) at tribunal when DS was 3 on this basis.

You could ask the LA about portage workers to come to the home to make up some time as he isn't really accessing nursery. You might also want to apply for social care 'short breaks' via direct payments and again could use that money (or DLA) to fund someone to perhaps look after him at home while you work?

An alternative is to look at special school nurseries or S&L units which often offer 3 full days at age 3. In some more enlightened LAs they let children go at age 3 even if they may then end up transferring in mainstream by 5. (In my LA its the opposite they force all children to go to mainstream until they have failed badly enough to get specialist)

If you are interested in ABA then there are charities which will help fund at leads initial costs (see Facebook page for ABA4ALL). I was self employed and would work while the ABA tutor worked with DS at home - we could only afford 6 hours of a tutor a week + supervision & I did some hours with him too.

Theres quite a lot of research and guidance out there to support at least 25 hours a week education for a pre schooler with suspected autism