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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

My son

3 replies

ILikeMyChickenFried · 03/04/2018 19:12

I've had concerns about my little boy since he was 6 months old. He never seemed as responsive as other babies.

At 18m he was making no efforts to talk and his eye contact was patchy. We saw the HV who had no concerns.

His talking improved and by 2 he was putting words together etc.

We moved overseas. The HV had mentioned my child would be due a routine developmental check at 2.5 so we took him to see a developmental paedeatrician in our new country. She said she could see my concerns but there was nothing she could pinpoint in terms of a diagnosis.

I enrolled him in a preschool which had a special needs section. He was in the non special needs classroom but with one on one support. When we moved back to the UK by son had made great progress. His therapist at the school felt he would be "just fine" but commented his play skills were about 6m behind.

As a result of moving around it took us 6 months or so to enrol my now 4 year old in preschool in the UK. Afyer a couple of weeks his key worker has come to me and expressed concerns about his eye contact, preferring to play away from the group and also frequent spinning and shuffling which we've never seen in him before.

I called the HV who came out to see him. In his home environment my son is a confident, happy child and he chatted away to the HV, she gave us 2 ages and stages questionnaires and he didn't meet her guidelines for a referral.

I've asked her to speak to his preschool where he is clearly struggling. His behaviour at home since starting has deteriorated. We get several screaming tantrums a day which we've not seen since he was 2.

The HV wants to do nothing, just leave him for several months and then reassess.

My son starts reception in September and I am worried for him. I feel as though we are wasting time.

If the school deems he needs support will he get this without any diagnosis? Is there anything I can be doing to help him in the meantime?

Many thanks.

OP posts:
Allthewaves · 03/04/2018 23:48

The preschool can call in ed psych for a stage 3 assessment (if it's still called that as I live in ni). Have they iep in place for him? Other people can advice better but I'm sure theres early year funding that can be accessed in England.

My middle ds who was diagnosed asd at 6 really struggled through pre school - though same as yourself behaviour at home wasn't anywhere near extreme at the time. Loves 1:1 adult attention so prefect behaviour for hv or any other professional on 1:1 basis. It only became very apparent in p1 where he couldn't cope in a class situation.

Saturdayselling · 04/04/2018 14:15

Argh. Just typed a response and lost it.

Our diagnosis referral was done by nursery directly. Does your nursery have a senco? Can they put you in touch with the area senco, from the LA? They should be helpful with diagnostic routes and early years support.

ILikeMyChickenFried · 04/04/2018 14:46

I think I'll speak to the preschool again after Easter holidays. His key worker is very supportive about it. Thanks for the replies

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