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Good evening, does anyone have any experience of portage and senco? Colie
Hi Louise,
I was supposed to have a portage worker when my son was 2 but I refused and they have asked me again now he is nearly 3 and as I'm getting my head around everything I have agreed and will be seeing her next week I think, I've seen a lady from senco who went into my sons preschool to see him and we spoke and she told me he does have special needs and we are working towards certain goals for him. He has shown signs of asd from about 18 months and adhd, I'm a single mum and really struggling to come to terms with it, everyone wants their baby to just sail through life. Half of me knows the way I act is terrible for my son because I don't want him to think he is bad for having special needs but the other half of me is thinking he'll be fine and the staff don't have a clue!
I know what you mean, Colie. My youngest had some learning difficulties and I really struggled with it, worrying if it meant I was a bad mum. I also hated the idea of anyone "interfering" and of labelling him. In fact the support he had through primary school meant that by the time he got to secondary school he did Ok and was in middle sets for things with no special needs input.I explained it all to my son not by saying he had learning difficulties but that some things were hard for him so he had an extra teacher.
If we take "feelings" out of the equation it is actually ace that you are being offered help as this is the age where they learn so well that work done now will reap dividends in the future and I have heard a lot of parents complain because they are NOT offered help. Do try it and see how you go?
I feel like I would rather him have too much help rather than not enough help, they want him to have caught up by the time he starts primary school and if not they can then speak to the primary school and get things ready for him to make it as easy as possible for him adjusting. The health visitor got in touch with the pre school before we went and so they were ready for him and now he loves it there.
It sounds quite bad but sometimes it is a good ''excuse'' we were at the shops yesterday and he was having a good day but still making funny noises and trying to run, I could feel everyone looking at me and I felt so embarrassed and was trying to hold onto him, the shopping, my bag etc and in the end I apologised and said he has special needs and the people in the shop went from being annoyed to being quite nice which made me feel better because they werent thinking I couldn't control him and there was a reason behind his behaviour.
How old is your son now Louise?
Yes I know what you mean about the excuse thing, my son had very poor hearing for a while and so used to go round sniffing everything, which was a bit embarrassing. My son is grown up now, Colie and he has a clutch of GCSEs, a BTEC and a full time job and is witty and charming. And this was the little boy who could hardly speak till he was 4, that they wanted to put back a year at school....I just want to encourage you, Colie 
Thank you Louise, the biggest thing I worry about is his future so that is fantastic to hear :-)
My friend recently had her son diagnosed as downs syndrome and her cousins 6 year old daughter has been diagnosed with autism so where as before I felt I had no one to talk to I feel I can chat to my friend and her cousin about it more now and I find it very helpful being able to come onto forums like this.
Hi Colie,
It really does help to have others that are in similair situations to talk too, here is a link for ADDISS The ADHD Information Service where you can get support, resources and information.
Hello Colie
I think there will be a few people on the boards who have had some dealings with the Special Needs side of things, less so for the portage. Portage, for those who don't know, it a service where families with pre-school children with extra support needs, receive home visits and work out a programme of learning with the parent(s) to help in development.
Are you in touch with these services, Colie?