Mainstream preschool vs early intervention preschool

[Fleur06]

Hi everyone, seeking opinions on my son’s final preschool year before primary school in Sept 2027. He has just turned 4, has an autism diagnosis, is minimally verbal, just a few words inconsistently. He has good understanding, gentle, affectionate, not toilet trained, and does parallel play. No sensory issues and well regulated.
We have an offer of a place at an early intervention* *preschool for his second and final year of preschool but I’m torn on whether to leave his mainstream crèche/preschool.

He's been there for the last three years and they are so kind to him. He has a 1:1 care in a class of approx 20.
It’s local to us and handles hot meals. He is very happy going each morning. While his 1:1 is so loving and caring I do have some reservations on whether or not he’s being pushed enough to reach his full potential. He loves playing outdoors and they facilitate that as much as he wants but his interaction with peers is limited and his participation in the preschool day activities is also not as much as we would hope for to prepare him for primary school.

The early intervention preschool where he has been offered a place is for children with an autism diagnosis. It has a good reputation. There are six kids in the class and 4 adults. Teachers there are trained to work with autistic kids. This preschool is further from where we live approx 11km and it would mean a significant commute each day due to traffic. We do have a kind offer from family members to help with this as we both work.

The easier option logistically and emotionally would be to stay where he is. But I’m worry if we don’t take it he would miss out on an opportunity to develop further in the next year before he starts primary school. I know he has so much potential.

I would welcome any thoughts or personal experience!

Thanks!

Difficult decision if DS is happy and settled. However, if you have been offered the specialist placement, I would take it if you can make the logistics work.

Does DS have an EHCP? If not, you should request an EHCNA and these early years specialist placements can often help with that process.

That is a difficult one as he does enjoy his current setting and it’s convenient for you. I was in a similar position last year – DS loved his mainstream nursery and we were offered a place in an ASD preschool classroom. We decided to send him to the specialist class and I’m so glad we did. His teachers have really worked with him to build skills that he’ll need for school (sitting and listening, responding to prompts, engaging with learning materials). Each teacher has a good grasp of SALT techniques and a speech therapist visits the school as well. He has come on so much and I’m so grateful to them. The school also helped with his EHCP.

I’m another who thinks that although the logistics will be tough, I’d go for the specialist setting too.