Advice needed re preschool exclusion?

[Preschoolermum]

I wa hoping someone might know a bit about funding or support for children in preschool.

Basically, one of my DC has some issues around controlling emotions, and when frustrated can lash out at other children. This may take the form of a scratch or a bite, and on average I would say we get perhaps one incident report form like this per week. My child does 16.5 hours at preschool per week.

Preschool are saying they do not have the resources to cope with my DC at certain times of the day.
The INCO has attended school as a result of a complaint by another parent, and the school has told the INCO that they need support, and the INCO has said my DC does not reach the threshold and there is no funding available, and if my child lashes out, then the preschool need to send my child home.

NCO were nvolved anyway, as I initiated a GP / paediatric referral process over a year ago because of various concerns that seemed to me to suggest perhaps ASD spectrum issues.

Surely if my child needs support in controlling and processing emotions to the extent that staff need to protect other children, how can the INCO say this does not meet a requirement for funding?

If the answer is to exclude my child on an adhoc basis for these events, does this not interfere with her statutory entitlement to 15 hours per week of preschool education, which I believe is critical to her development and socialisation?

I am chasing the GP for our referral which seems to be taking forever, but I cannot see getting a diagnosis any time soon, as my child is only 3.5 and as I understand it they take years.

Any advice on what I should do, or who to talk to would be great.

I should add that we have seen SALT Speech and Language and been discharged as they see no problem with her spoken language, and they suggested CAHMS, but of course, they don’t deal with 3.5 yr olds.
We are on the waiting list for Portage.

Sorry it’s long.

Hi OP, you don't say what support the preschool have in place at the moment for your DC. Have they completed an ABC chart to try and determine what the triggers are for the behaviour? Is an ICP (Individual Child Plan) in place? Have they done assess, plan, do, review cycles? This is the minimum that should be done.

They have a legal duty to identify SEN concerns and provide support. In our area if concerns are significant and complex (and if they are being excluded they definitely are) then they should refer into Early Support (or equivalent, the name can vary area to area) for further assessment. They would need to complete all of the above beforehand though.

Technically I think DC should still be able to attend for 15 hours, but it certainly didn't work that way for us. When it became clear DS couldn't cope his hours were cut to 7 a week. Preschool applied for top up SENIF funding to pay for a 1:1, but this was temporary and has now run out. Preschool also had to submit our report from the Community Paediatrician in order to get this. Preschool are currently funding his 1:1 themselves (9 hours a week). We are in the process of an EHCP and as far as I can see this is the only way to guarantee funding and hours.

Have a look online for the SEND local offer in your area. This will give you a better idea on how everything is structured. Referral pathways can vary for instance. SENDIASS can provide support and advice as well.