Worth transferring DS to preschool with SENCO provision?

[mayflowers9]

DS (2.7) is on the pathway to an ASD diagnosis. He is currently in nursery several days per week and loves it there – he happily runs in, the staff feedback that he has had a great day playing, doing crafts, etc. When we walk past his nursery on days he doesn't attend, DS cries that he's not going in. There are about 18 children in the room each day.

We are considering sending him to a preschool with an award-winning SENCO provision, where he would qualify for a smaller room for children with ASD and SEND. I was really keen to send him to this preschool to help prepare him for reception and give him extra support where he needs it. However, the term-time only hours and earlier finish time are an issue for us. I searched for wraparound care with a childminder and haven't found anything yet. I am considering switching careers to accomodate the hours (also thinking ahead to reception), but that will take some time. I'm also concerned that the change might be upsetting for him, particularly as he will have a new sibling soon.

My question is: should we go for it and rearrange our working patterns sooner to accomodate? Would a specialist preschool give DS a significant advantage, if he enjoys his current setting?

I think this probably hinges on whether the pre-school can provide support that his current nursery can't - e.g. lower ratios; regular visits from SLT, OT; access to resources; teachers with particular training. Would his current nursery apply for an EHCP to get that support in place where he is now? (Maybe you've got one already)

If you feel the current nursery are helping DS's development and are proactive about seeking advice and support from SLT and OT, I'm not sure you need to move him.

It's not always true, but as ratios increase above 3 and demands of older classes at nursery increase, some children struggle more. So they might be a decision to revisit in 12 months.

Are you sure DS would be in a smaller room? Even in nurseries who have a SEN unit, not all DC with SEN will be in the unit.

Have you spoken to the potential nursery about what support they will provide. Sometimes just because they offer something doesn’t mean every DC will be provided with it and some placements with good SEN provision have stretched resources because they attract families with DC with SEN.

Have you spoken to the current nursery about what support they can give DS? Have they involved the Area SENCO? If you have them, have they involved the specialist teaching service? If early years inclusion funding is available from 2 in your area, have they applied for that?

Thanks @BusMumsHoliday and @perpetualplatespinning for your replies.

I should have mentioned that DS's current nursery haven't been at all helpful with putting additional support in place, even though I have followed up numerous times and they have promised to meet with me and DH to discuss a support plan. This has been going on for more than six months.

DS would definitely be in the smaller SEN room, with eight children and four teachers. Unfortunately, they will no longer have a SALT onsite, which was one big draw for us, but the staff in the SEN room do have special training around speech and language, encouraging turn taking and social interactions, etc. We will be visiting the preschool soon, so I'll be sure to ask more concretely about what support is there, particularly visits from SALT and OT.

I did wonder if the smaller classroom would ultimately be good for DS, or if he would benefit from being around more children and learning from them. Maybe I am looking at it the wrong way, though, and a smaller class size would encourage closer relationships, or at least more attention from teachers. Currently, he's happy to play alongside other children, but prefers to explore on his own.