Anyone have experience of "Nurture and assessment units"?

[lou031205]

DD1 was observed by ed psych last week for statementing. She spoke to me today. She feels that DD is too complicated to assess in one or two sessions, and feels she needs further assessment.

Mainstream - she's not sure DD could access the curriculum. Would def need 'high' support, but says county don't give 'full 1:1'. (Blanket policy, I know, I know).

Special school - generally categorised MLD, SLD, PMLD. She's not convinced DD has LD, because despite her attention span she has picked up colours numbers, etc.

SAL unit - DD has too many other issues for them to be interested in her.

She wants to look into what sort of Nurture and assessment placements are available.

But, she has warned me that if she gets a place in a N&A, the LA might hold off with the statement while assessment takes place!

HELP! I don't know what to think.

Thanks tclanger. Not nurture in that sense. I think it is a place for in depth assessment of educational needs so that suitable placement is identified.

No, I think you'll find tclanger is right

My ds1 (ASD) spent his first year at MS primary in a nurture group and still spends one afternoon a week. It was absolutely brilliant for him as it focuses on communication and social skills to enable children who are either not ready for school (because of their home experiences) or have difficulty coping with MS classroom because of their SEN eventually to reintegrate into the classroom. It made such an impact on him and really helped him. I would recommend anyone who gets offered a place in a nurture group for their child to take it up. There's more information about them here.

WetAugust, what do you mean by "I think you'll find that tclanger is right?"

I am struggling here. DD has a brain malformation, evidenced by MRI scan. This results in GDD, Epilepsy, sensory processing difficulties. She has physical difficulties.

There are behavioural elements, and she is emotionally immature, by the very nature of GDD, it is global.

But DD is not a child with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, and an EBD setting would be wholly inappropriate for her.

Why would a child like DD be sent to an environment for children who are likely to fail mainstream placement as a result of their behaviour, when what she needs is an adapted learning environment to help her succeed?

I am feeling completely let down here. Preschool identified DD's SN over 1 year ago. She has been on EYA+ for over a year. She hasn't changed. She has always been a mystery. Always been complicated. Why now, when I finally take control and insist on statementing rather than waiting for them to take action, do they decide that DD is too complicated to identify her needs accurately without extended assessment?

lou - not sure if this is local to your or not, but read this information about this nurture assessment unit - it most definitely doesn't seem to be a unit for kids with EBD, but for kids with learning difficulties/developmental issues.

www.oakmeadow.hants.sch.uk/naupol.pdf

I would ask the ed psych about speaking to the units that would do the sort of placements she has suggested, so you can get a feel for whether a placement or m/s would be better for your DD.

Thanks totalchaos, that looks more likely. Unfortunately ed psych is newly qualified & not familiar with our area, so she is trying to find out what is available.

lou

when i said "I think tclangeris right" I meant that the nuture group was, as she said, primarily to get children reintegrated back into mainstream. Many of the children will be EBD, so it's not just aimed at SEN.

Basically they are attempting a quick fix to long-standing SENs and if their primary purpose is just to get the child back in mainstream then they are attempting the solution before they have fully assesse the problem.

I think the term 'nurture group' is probably used in different ways in different LAs. There's a nurture group in DS's primary which is mainly for those with LDs rather than behavioural problems. I've heard of the term used in secondary schools as well, where they have pupils around NC level 1/2 (at age 11). There are other units which are for EBD pupils to get them back into mainstream, which they call the inclusion unit here.

lou, if you're hoping for a statement, it sounds like a BIBIC assessment would be ideal for your DD. They do lots of standardised tests for all sorts of children and will write a report and recommendations with all the results. If you're on a low income they have funding available as well.

www.bibic.org.uk/

WetAugust - thanks for clarification. Stress levels through the roof, couldn't work out how to interpret your comment, so thought I'd just ask

sugarcandymountain - I have had a telephone interview with Bibic & a woman was meant to phone to take my £50 and set a date, but hasn't. Need to chase it.

Thank you tclanger. It really is stressful, especially when the Ed Psych says "It's my job to tell you where DD needs to be, but I don't know".