Can I come in? I need a spot of info....

[Greenshoots]

Sorry to harp about this (I had had several threads about it lately) but I wondered whether anyone could tell me what IEPs are used for. Does an IEP always mean a child has SN/learning difficulties?

DS1 is 4, not at school yet - he goes to nursery school 5 mornings a week. His keyworker has drawn up an IEP, in consultation with the Head (of the nursery, it's not attached to a school) and the SENCO, to help my ds with his "social/personal interaction and communication problems". The Head is actually an acting Head, his real job is coordinator of the Early Years/Foundation Curriculum for the county council.

I still feel that they are not putting me and dh in the picture and that we are being fobbed off a bit. I've seen the IEP briefly, but only because I specifically asked to see it, and only in a 2-minute conversation with his teacher while my other son was waiting outside in his buggy. No proper meeting, no explanation of why he is being singled out or what they are really thinking. Twice now his keyworker has mentioned that they "have access to an ed psych" who can be called in if he isn't meeting the targets on the IEP, but I just feel that they are talking to one another and not to me .

Also, if he has an IEP now will he have one when he starts school, or will it affect how he is perceived/treated by his first teacher?

yep I know- which is whay I was saying if you have serious concerns don't be afraid by the idea of him being misdiagnosed to hold off going for assessments. I really don't think misdiagnosis happens very often in the UK- not at all if the diagnosis is done properly. I haven't come across anyone who has receieved an ASD dx inappropriately, although I have come across lots who have struggled to get the diagnosis iyswim.

Is he/Isn't he is an awful time. When you know one way or another then you can start to provide the sort of help needed, both in school and at home.

Thanks Gess, you have been so helpful. I will ask about a proper meeting next week, to talk about the whole issue and what we can do to help him, whether it involves formal investigations or not.

Good luck- I hope they start to become more open, and better at communicating with you. It's impossible when they're not sharing information properly.

Greensleeves - IEPs are supposed to drawn up in consultation with parents, and if it hasn't then you need to get in there and have a meeting with his teacher and the SENCO ASAP. IEPs are for children with identified special educational needs. You don't need to have, or be suspected of having, any diagnosable 'special needs'. Most of the IEPs I have drawn up were for children who did not have, and would not have, any formal diagnosis. And they were not necessarily permanent. Many children had them in the short term. Particularly at a time of transition. You need to know what their thinking is about your ds.

If you are concerned about AS, I would urge you to go the medical route rather than the Ed Psych. As others have said, they do not diagnose. Could you see your GP and ask for a referral?

And on a personal level, I understand very well your worries. My ds, a little older at 5, sounds very similar to yours and is causing us similar concerns. It's hard...

Chase up that nursery. Get them to explain exactly what they are doing, and why. Good luck.

Oh, OK, took along to time to type that, now superfluous, post.

No, not superfluous bbs, it clarifies what the IEP is, which helps!! I am confused though because he doesn't have any special educational needs, he is reading and writing and adding and all that stuff, he's not struggling with anything academically (and he's only 4 and not at school yet, so I wouldn't expect the nursery to be worrying about education really). The IEP the teacher had written, which I was allowed to glance at, was all about his social/communication issues and learning to play with other children etc.

I definitely do need to pin these people down and make them talk to me!

I am grateful for all the advice and input - I wonder how people get through these ups and downs without MN?

Social issues are still educational needs. How you manage in an educational setting is very much the remit of SEN. Or should be. It isn't all about academic achievement. It is good that are picking upon this really, and not just focussing on the academic side, but their communication skills do appear to be somewhat lacking - ironically...

It is ironic, isn't it?

here's the early years learning goals for personal and social development. These are part of the curriculum if you like. At the end of nursery (whether a child has SN or not) a booklet is passed onto school which lists where they are on lots of target areas- ask them to show you the booklet. This booklet is completed over the course of reception (which is part of the same curriculum as nurseryy iyswim).

here's the booklet and loads of info about the foundation stage curriculum and assessments .

I must admit I was wondering abour AS from your first posts here before you mentioned it Greenshoots. (I have 2 DSs with AS by the way). It is quite typical of AS children, I think, that they do not struggle academically-quite the opposite in fact. Your DSs nursery are quite wrong to be excluding you from any discussions about the IEP. But as someone else suggested, it is far better to go the GP route for assessment. From my own experience I would advise you do it now rather than later- the reception and year one years can really bring out any problems for children with AS and you are much better forwarned.

would agree that you are better off trying to see Pead rather than go through CAHMS route.

actually maybe ignore that as you may have to see a paed via CAMHS once you get to a certain age. I'd ask for a referral directly to a developmental paed if possible though.