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SN children

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

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Original poster

is "a two day PECS training workshop" for £65 "hosted" by my local council something you would recommend?

17 replies

aefondkiss · 20/02/2008 12:12

... I would have to get someone to look after my dd who will be off school on those days, it also happens to be my ds birthday on one of those days, and I have invited my best friend up, who I have not seen in ages, with her ds(who is my dd's best friend in the whole world)...

it says on the leaflet (which I was handed today by nursery staff person)" total cost £65 per delegate(normal cost can be as much as £270)"

it is 9 a.m until 4.30p.m each day, I would really hate to go and find it to be something I could teach myself with a bit of reading/study in a few hours

" Training is essential: Learning first-hand will teach you how to move through this structured approach and avoid misunderstandings which can prevent progress. "

we have tried using pecs at home but I keep losing the pictures and am not very dedicated, my ds hasn't had a DX yet, he has language delay and ASD traits according to consultant paed.

any wise words of advice please?

OP posts:

staryeyed · 20/02/2008 15:30

Its been so valuable for us. We tried to start PECS before going to the training with a untrained SALT and it was disastrous. It cost £140- 2 days for parents its only £270 for professionals. After going on it and being sure and confident of what I had to do MY DS wizzed through the first stages. I would say it was the best £140 I have spent on my DS (not meaning to sound like and advert)

I would say go but make sure its run by someone who is qualified and experienced enough to teach it- If you look on the pyramid site it shows the necessary qualifications they should have to teach. www.pecs.org.uk/services/certification.htm
Dont pay for second hand teaching ie someone who has just been on a basic course and passing on the info it really isn't the same and they are not supposed to do it.

yurt1 · 20/02/2008 16:15

Agree with aefondkiss. Your council may have paid pyramid to deliver the training (in which case it will be excellent) but do try and make sure they're not offering some sort of watered down local interpretation of PECS.

yurt1 · 20/02/2008 16:25

staryeyed I mean!

Original poster

aefondkiss · 20/02/2008 17:09

it says "delivered by : Pyramid Education Consultants" then hosted by my local council... maybe I should phone, why is it these things never happen at convenient times, I hardly ever have anything planned... haven't seen my friend since last August, grumble grumble, it is in-service for both her DS and my dd that weekend, we never get the chance to meet up, since she works and lives 300 miles away...

so I owe it to my ds, who is 4 on his next birthday to give pecs a go? it isn't like I can just bimble along without it?

he does some sort of pecs at nursery, he goes 3 days a week.

OP posts:

moira199 · 20/02/2008 17:15

How does he respond to the Nursery Pecs ? My experience of PECS was not positive but then the tutor was not properly trained so that kind of gets you back to needing the proper course if it is going to work. A year later, as things have turned out, I'm glad we didn't pursue PECS but I appreciate that the spectrum is so wide that it is almost impossible to advise anyone based on my limited experience.

TotalChaos · 20/02/2008 17:36

Inconvenient as the timing is, I think you should go, unless you are likely to get the opportunity to go on the same course in the relatively near future. Possibly celebrate DS's birthday on a different day that is more convenient?

IME Pecs is useful even if your child has some speech - as it helps word retrieval and building up longer sentences.

Regarding losing the PECs - what my private SALT did was make up a communication book with lots of the PECs pictures printed on a page - DS would point to the picture in the book.

yurt1 · 20/02/2008 18:04

if it's delivered by pyramid go- it will be excellent- they're very professional.

Original poster

aefondkiss · 20/02/2008 18:37

as my ds main carer it is best for me to go?

there wouldn't be any point in say my dh going instead?

ds has communication problems, but he does have speech.

I will phone and book a place tomorrow - are there any links I should read about this on the net? I think I need to read more about it all....

thanks for the advice.

OP posts:

moondog · 20/02/2008 23:26

Go go go go go go go!!!!!

You are extremely fortunbate to be offered top quality training in such a convenient place at such a cost.

You would be mad to refuse.

I speak as a salt and a huge fan of PECS.Undoubtedly one of the best things I have ever come across in 12 years in the job.

moondog · 20/02/2008 23:28

Have a llok at the Pyramid website.

Original poster

aefondkiss · 21/02/2008 11:12

thanks moondog I had a look at pyramid last night... I looked at the courses, the one for my area isn't on the website.

I will phone the council to find out more.

does everyone with ASD type problems benefit from pecs?

OP posts:

Original poster

aefondkiss · 21/02/2008 11:15

moira - I am not sure how pecs is going in nursery, they've only started using them recently, I will find out more in March when we have the next meeting with everyone involve.

I suppose if I am going to be pro-active I should do the PECS course.

OP posts:

staryeyed · 21/02/2008 12:24

PECS is good for children who dont have imitation skills. My Ds has just started imitation and its not fluent, therefore PECS is the only option for him. Children who can imitate have the option of doing Makaton or some people even mix both. If your nursery are doing it I would say for you to know how to do it and continue at home would help your DS poick it up much quicker.

aefondkiss- not everyone will say they have benefited from PECS but the reason for that is usually because there hasn't been the proper training to implement it successfully. It can also be successful for people who have limited speech.

For such a good price it wont do any harm. I would also say who ever is going to be using it with your Ds mostly should go- so if that is you its better that you go because other wise you will be teaching from second hand information.

moondog · 21/02/2008 14:05

Aefe,it's probably not there because it is a privately arranged one.Those on the website are open to anyone.

Its use is by no means limited to those with difficulties with imitation.
I have used it successfully with a wide range of people.

Original poster

aefondkiss · 21/02/2008 19:48

okay I will go... but you know, in my most petulant voice ... I don't WANT too... only because of what I had so carefully planned for that one weekend... I don't ever carefully plan weekends, ever ever.... I know, I am lucky, I will be grateful, I promise... thank you for absolutely persuading me, y'know if it wasn't for you lovely lot I would have convinced myself that my plans were much too important to give up... maybe I will meet some other parents in similar situation, it can be a lonely old life in SN world

OP posts:

TotalChaos · 21/02/2008 20:26

Agree with Moondog re:imitiation. DS has benefited from PECs to help him build sentences - and he has never had problems with imitation.

moondog · 21/02/2008 20:27

It may quite honestly be the best thing you ever did for your child.
In this instance I really advise that you put thweir needs first.

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