Special educational needs nursery calls for more support

Becky McClean started as a child minder two years ago and now manages Special Steps

A nursery has called for more support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Special Steps looks after 20 preschool youngsters in Stourport but said its waiting list was full of parents in need of help.

At the start of term, 56 Worcestershire children missed school due to the lack of provisions for their needs.

The council has been contacted for comment.

Support for SEND children under the age of five offered by Worcestershire County Council is currently under review after it shut nursery assessment units last year.

Parents across the country were taking part in demonstrations on Friday calling on councils and the Government to do more.

"A lot of children here have attended mainstream [nurseries] and haven't coped, it's overstimulating and there's too much sensory input for them," said Becky McClean, 30, the manager of Special Steps.

The nursery reduces the number of children it cares for a day to eight in order to provide a quieter and more relaxed environment.

Elliott's mother says he has reached development milestones since adding the specialist nursery

One of the children that attends is three-year-old Elliot who has global development delay.

Those with the condition may take longer to gain movement, speech and social skills than other children of their age.

Since starting at Special Steps more than 18 months ago, he has been able to reach key milestones, his mother Catherine Marsden has said.

She added: "When Elliot was about six or seven months old we noticed a few development issues, when he was 10 months old I was due to go back to work so I phoned a nursery and they said, 'no not interested', the second nursery said, ' no sorry', then I thought, that's it we've got nothing."

When the tot reached his first birthday, Ms Marsden came across the Special Steps nursery.

"Not only has it been great for Elliott, it's my independence as well because having a SEND child is extremely difficult."

Catherine Marsden says the nursery has helped give her back some independence

Access to pre-school services helps to make sure children who may have special educational needs do not miss out on an early diagnosis.

While the local authority offers assessment classes for pre-school children, in recent years the offer has been reduced.

Ms McClean said: "Often we're waiting nearly two years to see paediatricians, a lot of the time that's for children with severe complex needs that really need that support.

"The parents really need the diagnosis and the time to come to understand their child and their needs."