Question for Smellybill, hope you don't mind

[Kurly]

Smellybill hope you don't mind me posting this but I didn't want to hi-jack the other thread. Hope this is not inappropriate and feel free to tell me if it is!!

My son has been referred to a child development centre for 12 week placement and you are the first person I have come accross whos child has already been to one.

Is there any chance you could give me a brief idea of what to expect? Am feeling very lost at moment and struggling to get an idea of what they will do for him there and what the outcome is likely to be.

He is almost 3 with 18 month speech and langauge delay, social interaction problems and possible developmental delay.

No problem at all!

My DS1 was 3.2 when he started his stint and at that time was pre-dx, though was dx before the end of it (not as a result of the development nursery place).

The development nursery was run by a Nursery Nurse experienced in Special Needs and a nursery assistant. (we live in a rural area and they held the nursery at a local health clinic but were from the main CDC).

DS1 was in a group with 4 other children, all roughly the same age and with similar difficulties - not sure if that was how it was planned or just how it worked out. I can't remember how many sessions a week it was held it was 2 or 3 for 2 hours a session.

It mimicked a preschool session really, a couple of choices of activities then snack time and story/circle time. They did a combination of observing the children and encouraging them to take turns, play together etc etc. For DS1, who was already at preschool, towards the end of the 12 weeks they went and observed him there and gave the preschool their recommendations. We had a midway parent feedback and a leaving one too. I think a report also went to the SALT and Paediaitrician who he was under at that time.

I did waiver about removing him at one point as it was starting to affect him at his normal preschool - going from a group of 5 with 2 staff back to 20 or so with 4 was hard on him but I agreed to give it another couple of weeks. I'm glad I did as it highlighted how well he was able to function in small groups with support, rather than being a bit lost and very passive and quiet in his normal preschool so was good evidence for getting his 1:1 funding there.

I think things like this depend a lot on the staff running it, the nursery nurse was fantastic and genuinely interested in helping the children gain new skills and sort out issues with preschools etc.

Definitely worth a try, I hope your son enjoys it and you find it a useful experience too.

My DS is also at developmental playgroup. Very similar to SmellyBill's experience and very positive as far as I can see, he has only been attending for three weeks.

It's two hours twice a week, the children are aged 2.6 to just four. Five children to two nursery nurses although often due to illness or appointments there are only three or four in total. Once a month the session is at the local beacon Sure Start in the sensory room.

The placement length is a term to one year depending on how the child goes. Again, it's very good IMO for target-setting. Ds has already been allocated a 1:1 in mainstream pre-school and it has highlighted areas of strength and difficulty in just a few sessions

Thanks for replying its reassuring to hear that its been positive and that it helps with other provisions as well.

That is our big concern at the moment as DS only has situational understanding of simple instructions and takes along time to adjust to and understand changes. It is difficult to see how he will manage at school. Am hoping that development centre will help get him the support that he needs.

Thanks again

No problem, hope it works out well for your son. Be good to hear how he gets on when he starts.