PI**ED OFF, just need a rant

[bigknickersbigknockers]

Just want to vent really but I shall vent and then bugger off because I have to take DS2 and DD swimming.
DS2 was awarded funding for this Early Yers thingie (sorry cant remember exactly what its called) 2 weeks ago. Since then the owner of the pre school hasnt been able to get in tough with the SENCO. I am livid. I know its only 2 weeks but I feel that every day of extra help will make the difference.
If the pre school owner doesnt manage to speak to her tomorrow I am well and truly going to hit the roof ( not with the pre school owner, just in general)
Has anyone else any experience with this sort of thing and any suggestions about where to go from here please.
Right rant over I am taking DS2 and DD swimming shortly when DH comes back from A&E with DS! who broke his arm last night

How very annoying. If you have time in the day I would suggest you try calling up Senco as well to find out what on earth is going on.

oh and if you can't get through, ask for a copy of their complaints procedure!

So you dont think I am being unreasonable then?

no - because everything takes so bl**dy long to set up anyway, why have any pointless delays. and it's pisspoor not to return a phonecall within 2 weeks.

2 weeks is a heck of a long time for the SENCO to be out of contact.

If you don't want to go down the complaints route then be devious and phone the office where the SENCO is based and say that you haven't been able to get in touch with her for 2 weeks and so are wondering whether you've got the right number. If the pre-school has only been able to reach an answerphone then do the same thing (ringing the office rather than the individual number) and say that you were wondering who was covering for the SENCO while she's obviously on holiday/off sick.

DS, now Y3, lost a whole half term of pre school provision because of incompentence like this, a then a bit more because of cock ups connected with the transport office.

I filed a very long complaint and and got a very long grovelly letter back (eventually) apologising for how the system has failed DS. Apparently some procedures got altered as a result.

Was the first of a great many battles I have had to fight involving DS2 and his entitlements. Good job I didn't know that then

I have spoken to the area team leader for SEN today and she said "It's difficult at this time of year to find someone to work with your DS because all our staff already have their caseloads" I told her that this wasn't my fault and I was extermely concerned that when DS goes to school he was really going to struggle because he cant talk very well and doesnt always understand whats being asked of him. It will take aprox 4-6 wks to employ someone else by the time they are CRB checked. basically he will be bloody lucky if he actually gets any help before he starts school in september. I presume that means we will not get back the time lost while they faff around trying to get someone to work with DS in pre school.

Ooh that's shocking, where is the funding going then?

I know exactly how you feel. Ihad the same problem with dd1 and her nursery this time last year. Except the nursery weren't going to tell me funding was through (had been sitting on it for nearly a term by the time I extracted the info), and then they still did nothing about getting anyone.

I ended up threatening all sorts - tell the LEA about mis-use of funds, Ofsted, the lot, and funnily enough after weeks of telling m how impossible it was to find someone, they got someone to start (although still didn't tell me - first thing I knew was when I met her at pick up - would have been nice to be able to prepare dd1 for someone new )

I ended up taking dd1 out of that nursery as they obviously didn't care about her (and, FWIW, if the money is not spent on what it is supposed to be spent on, then it should be returned to the LEA, according to proceedure)

I hope it gets sorted for your ds2

I am so at this!
My son recieves the extra funding at pre-school and they appointed someone that already worked there to do his one to one, and simply recruited to replace her.

It is a complete outrage that nobody has been able to get hold of a SENCo, and my blood is boiling on your (and the other posters with similar problems) behalf. I would confirm your concerns in writing to both the Early Years LEA and to the pre-school, and if your feeling like it to your local MP.

I really hope you get it all sorted, it's so distressing thinking about 'lost' time for your child.

Well i have to say the nursery have been great, the owner is someone I went to school with and I dont feel awkward around her so I speak to her all the time about whats happening with DS. She has been told by the SENCO that she does nothing, all she has to do is wait until someone is employed by the area team leader to work with DS.When I spoke to the area team leader yesterday she basically said that he would get someone when he starts school in sept but it could take weeks to get some help at nursery/pre school.

Just a quick update.

The nursery owner had a visit today from the early years SEN teacher and they have set up3 mor visits over the next2-3 mths. Also the area team leader has agreed that 6-8 wks is too long to wait to employ someone to work with DS, so they have agreed to let one of the staff who DS knows well to have 2 hours a day working almost 1-1. I say almost because it was felt that they didnt want to separate DS from the rest of the children and I agree with this. I shall remain on their case so to speak though becaue if DS does not get someone specially trained by sept when he starts school the shit will really hit the fan.