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SN children

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

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Original poster

Enhanced Support Worker-what do you do when they are ill?

11 replies

chatee · 19/05/2003 16:47

my dd aged 2.9 months has just started at a local pre-school playgroup and loves it but has a support worker, today i was told that if the support worker was ill on one of the sessions then dd wouldn't be able to attend-what are your opinions ladies please
they did say if i stayed on the day that is ok but i am planning on working on one of the mornings and would already be in work(starting early as dh would take her to playgroup)and of course dh would then also be on his way to work!!!
what about in september(that is her pre-school year)and she is entitled to attend
i don't know what to think here it's got me a bit annoyed/worried on many different issues especially as dd loves it so much and her real only friend attends as well
for those that don't know dd has cerebral palsy and uses a walking frame-is TOILET TRAINED(yippee but that's on the proud thread)
any comments/advice please

OP posts:

Jimjams · 19/05/2003 17:58

tricky one I guess. AT least they're being honest with you. At school they're not really allowed to exclude if the LSA isn't there, but I suspect they can at pre-school (and I have heard of schools trying). My ds1 does attend his nursery when his support worker is away but I know they can't do much with him then and he tends to wander a bit. The whole thing isn't fair though is it really. Portage (one hour) counts as one pre-school session, so he's only entitled to 4 sessions (a 'normal' child gets 5). It makes finding/keeping jobs for us mums of SEN children particularly hard! Perhaps ask them why they couldn't cope? Maybe it could be sorted- tricky one for you though.

Original poster

chatee · 19/05/2003 20:26

thanks jimjams-i think i am going to have to hope that the support worker(and her 2 children) are fit and healthy but won't know how to sort out the work situation....can't see that going down well with work..aaaaggggghhhhh!!!

OP posts:

lou33 · 19/05/2003 20:59

Didn't want you to think your thread was being ignored , but you have got me stumped! I'm now wondering if the same situation will crop up with ds2 when he starts nursery. I am a sahm so that would make it easier, but only if I didn't have an appointment for example.

Have they said why they would not be able to cope? Does dd need one to one all the time, or only during certain activities?

Congrats on toilet training btw. Ds2 (26 months )peed all over me yesterday, and thought it was very amusing!

Original poster

chatee · 19/05/2003 22:56

no they haven't said why but i will be asking, the main reson she has the support worker is because of her walking frame-moving chairs out of the way, helping her to the toilets(they are up 3 steps)but all the children are accompanied when they ask to go to the toilet(so that shouldn't make a difference), outdoor play. It all revolves around the use of her wheels and basically just keeping an extra eye on her.There are 3 staff for the playgroup of 15 children plus 2 support workers(one being for dd)so on the odd occasion I don't see why it couldn't work,but then again I can see there point of view(slightly)but why should my dd be deprived??
the mums rota is being abandoned next term as they don't need the extra help-just had a thought.....what do you think-
keep the rota and it is only used in an emergency ie:staff member/support worker ill?

OP posts:

Jimjams · 20/05/2003 09:42

sounds a good idea- the mum'd rota thing. It sounds to me like they're being a bit awkward (or underconfident? Are they worried about her falling and them being liable or something?). I agree that it does seem unfair (and very difficult for you if you're working). Have a chat with them.

lou33 · 20/05/2003 13:03

Doesn't sound like too much to try and work round if the support worker is sick. I would think that not all children are there every day, so their staff child ratio might not be compromised. Sounds like an excellent idea to gather names of those who can help out in emergencies, you should definitely suggest it.

EJsMum · 20/05/2003 13:48

Congrats on the potty training Chatee, or rather DD !

Both DS1 & DS2 took ages to take to the potty and didn't want to know until they were about 3.5, am hoping DD (9mo) won't be quite as lazy !!!

Original poster

chatee · 17/06/2003 22:22

Just to update
Today I was speaking to an Area Assessment Officer from the local Education Special Needs Service and mentioned the problem, he was astounded and said that this can not be done as it is discrimination,he advised me to tell the nursery to call him for a chat so he can help them.(They have never had a child with special needs before in the pre-school)

OP posts:

lou33 · 17/06/2003 22:30

Good news Chatee, i hope this gets sorted quickly.

fio2 · 17/06/2003 22:40

looks like it will go well then, it is most probably lack of experience-worrying about litigation and all that- that had worried them

Caroline5 · 18/06/2003 08:55

On the mums rota thing, I was doing rota the other day and the playleader wouldn't even allow me to take a child to the loo because I hadn't been police checked! I suppose this is a good thing, but it does mean that the rota mums are quite limited in what they can helpfully do with the children (rather than just washing up etc).

This is likely to arise with my dd too if she goes to the local playgroup ever - they've never had an SEN child before either.

Hope your playgroup gets things sorted out quickly for you.

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