Autism? 3.5 yo.

[Authenticity2020]

I am feeling a little overwhelmed by the pressure to act quickly (early intervention) vs the long waiting lists on the NHS and lack of reliable information vs the breadth of the information you can find online relating to the UK US and beyond.

I hope I’m not the only one.

Son is 3.5 and at a nursery attached to a school. Awaiting assessment for autism which could be years off.

I honestly don’t know what’s the best thing for my son.

Put him in a private nursery as opposed to primary school attached one? Look at special schools? EHCP? What therapies?

He is verbal (delayed) but scripts most of his speech, eye contact mainly with those he knows, focus and attention low, melt downs if things don’t go his way, very fussy eater, very poor sleeper. Love him more than life, all very hard sometimes.

advice appreciated so much.

Early intervention doesn’t depend on having a diagnosis. SALT and OT will help.

Support in schools is based on needs. If you think DS needs an EHCP you can apply yourself, especially if you are considering a special school. Have you spoken to the SENCO? Independent nurseries and schools aren’t supportive of SEN.

Does DS take melatonin?

SENCO said they will place him on a plan at nursery for two terms and if he doesn’t pass then they will automatically put him on a SEN plan. They will do more small group sessions.

Their intent is to keep him in mainstream classroom and fully avoid being taught by their specialist SEN teacher in a small & separate group away from peers as this is last resort/expensive.

The school is not independent as far as I know. But it is a very structured environment. Part of me thinks he would benefit from a more relaxed environment whereas the other part thinks if he stays where he is he has more chance to adapt.

Will look into EHCP. No he doesn’t take melatonin. Dr suggested antihistamines to help him sleep but I’m not keen on that.

@JustKeepBuilding sorry was meant to @ you in the reply above. Thanks for your reply.

IPSEA and SOSSEN have lots of helpful information about EHCPs. DS should have a SEN plan (IEP or whatever the school call the equivalent) already now. The nursery don’t need to wait 2 terms with some other form of plan. Without an EHCP the school is unlikely to have the funding for DS to be in a small separate group full time, even if it was needed.

Apologies, the part of my post mentioning independent schools and nurseries was in relation to the private nursery.

Some antihistamines are often used to aid sleep, but often once melatonin has already been trialed. It’s worth asking about melatonin.

I think it can vary hugely from place to place. My boy was in private day care and they were brilliant. We’re very quickly onto accessing higher needs funding and then we’re really supportive with EHCP and reviewing EHCP to secure him a special school place. I don’t know if I was just lucky with this.

I back up what@JustKeepBuilding says, don’t feel you have to wait for a diagnosis as provision should be based on need not labels.

best of luck!