Delaying school - advice please

[catgirl2]

Hi all, looking for some advice please. My daughter was 3 at the end of May. She has epilepsy (high levels of abnormal brain activity on eeg) with focal and absence seizures. She also has a speech delay and I believe (but not assessed yet) various cognition issues, issues with concentration etc. She cannot stay focussed on anything, has no sense of road danger for example and has very frequent tantrums possibly exacerbated by meds. She is due to start school next September which frankly terrifies me. I had until now thought we would delay her and request a reception start in 2019. However, it has dawned on me that she really needs proper support - ideally one to one sooner and the pre schools she attends largely let her get on with it. Her speech does seem to be coming on but there I see no way she will be anywhere near her peers by next Sept. Anyway, I m now thinking by delaying school I could inadvertently be delaying support for her. If she starts school my thinking is that they will be forced to take a little more notice? Even if repeating reception may be an option I do not want to miss windows of input for her. Please could you share any thoughts? Thank you!

Does she go to nursery? We had quite a lot of support way before school and the nursery got in touch with various teams. The paediatric team at the hospital also arranged for SALT assessments etc. In respect of school, the LA is never keen for kids to be out of year group but it does happen. You might find talking to your areas SENDIS team (Google your authority) will help. We did defer our son until he was five. It was the right thing for us. He's now senior school age and is at a special school named on an EHCP so gets lots of support.

Thanks Tainbri, yes she is at two pre school settings. Both are great but I just feel she needs more input at this stage but as her needs are not as obvious as some I am not sure that we could access a boost in support, e.g. A one to one for example at pre school age. I am just wondering if the fact she is due to start school will focus everything a bit more and some more support may be found / can be applied for each for her starting. I mentioned portage to the health visitor but was immediately brushed off saying that is more for GDD. Am am concerned about her falling through the gaps. Thanks for your advice.

When you view schools go armed with lots of questions and maybe try and speak to the Senco too. It is an unfortunate system that children have to "prove to fail" before anything will be done. Go with your instincts and you're the best advocate. I had to learn the hard way that I had to come out of my comfort zone in being assertive to get any where!

I am delaying my son who has GDD until next September when he is five. I think it really depends on the preschool. My son has had 1:1 support for nine hours a week since the age of two. On the other hand my sister was in two minds about delaying her summerborn twins - nursery were saying that they were fine but within a week of starting school she was called in by the teacher and they are now under CAMHS being assessed for ASD so in her case delaying school start would probably have delayed getting a diagnosis etc.

If you can get support from Portage I found it invaluable and I think had a much more significant impact on my son's development than SALT or Physio. Maybe your paediatricion could refer you

Just seen this, thank you dimples. I am looking into portage!