Education – early years …

Contact offers a range of pages that cover education & learning with Special educational needs (SEN).     They set things out clearly.      Click icon to browse.

Early Years

Lincolnshire Council sets out general information under the heading Early years education.      Click icon for the help with costs page.^updated      Also:

• They have directories for childminders and nurseries – selecting for the NG31 area here.^new
• They have search for childcare: including childminders and nurseries – selecting for the NG31 area here.^new
• At ages 3-4 ALL children qualify for 15 hours a week free education.     Some may also qualify for free places aged 2.     updated
• At ages 3-4 ALL children qualify for 15 hours a week free education.     Some may also qualify for free places aged 2.     See: In brief     Lincolnshire: ages 3-4     aged 2     updated
• If your you have concerns about your child’s development and he/she is attending nursery then that would be the obvious place to start.
• ESCO could be another option.      Click button to find out about it.

Children’s centres

It could also be well worth a try making enquiries at the Sure start children’s centres nearest to you.       Click icon for Grantham centres or Wider area to find more of them.

They do not always seem to advertise all their services on-line and selected centres have quite a bit to offer pre-school children with additional needs, so it might be worth making a phone call.

Mainstream school

With mainstream schools, smaller ones may provide a more calm and adaptable environment for pupils with additional needs.

The National Autistic Society has several pages about Education.      Click icon for our highlights about mainstream school, including guidance on coping with school and considering alternatives.

The National Autistic Society says that your local authority should let you know about available schools and explain why they are placing your child in a particular school.     Here is the Lincolnshire local offer for children with special educational needs.

If mainstream school would/does not meet your child’s needs a special school placement may be called for.     Your child/teenager will usually need an Education, health and care plan in order to get a place.^Ϯ

If your you have concerns about your child’s development then the SENCo at your child’s school would be an obvious place to start.

Extra support

Contact also has a page about extra support in school.      Click icon to view.

The Good schools guide also sets out what support should be made available for children with special needs but no EHC plan.      See their SEN support page.

Diagnosis & school

Getting what your child needs may put parents up against difficulties and obstacles.       Professionals may try to fob you off to begin with suggesting that things might sort themselves out – perhaps partly because they do not see your child at home.      Click icon for some tips and weblinks about diagnosis and school.       In brief:

• Your child’s GP (family doctor) can to be consulted for a referral.      And if you think things are dragging on too long for your child’s well-being then the GP might think it appropriate to try to speed things up.
• The SENCo at your child’s school could alternatively make a referral for an autism assessment.

Start at school

Do you want your child to start at school in September?     If so, be sure to apply for a reception place at a school before the closing date in January.     Click icon to find out about applying for a place.   

Here is the top level page for school admissions in Lincolnshire.

Includes school transport.

Ϯ Direct links in menu.